iSchools Ahuy!: March 2010

The state universities and colleges (SUC) writers of the iSchools Project convened on March 15-17, 2010 at the University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City for the iSchools Content Planning Workshop and Commitment Setting. The activity aimed to prepare the writers for the activities of the Content Development component of the Project, strategize how knowledge management (KM) and development communication concepts and principles can be applied/adopted, set commitment to meet the objectives of the Project, and draft action/communications plan of the SUC partners.

Starting right. CP Calma, project staff of iSchools, facilitated the “Getting-to-Know-You Portion” where the participants got to introduce themselves in a different way and know the other writers since many were new to the Project. Levelling of expectations about the meeting, the co-participants and the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) followed.

CP Calma oriented the group on CICT while Ms. Toni Torres, Project Manager of iSchools, discussed what the Project is all about and where do the writers fit in as a journalist/field correspondent, technical writer, documenter and press relation (PR) person.

Ms. Bambi Torrecampo explained the online examination that she designed and gave to old and aspiring writers and she highlighted how the group fared in terms of the questions given. With these issues clarified, next was more serious work.

Inputs. Mr. Joseph Torrecampo presented the basic concepts, framework, tools and techniques of KM. He emphasized that the “purpose of KM is for the writers to value their practice and outputs not just as tasks to be done, and deadlines to be met, but as writing for a higher purpose”.

Mr. Jose Torres Jr., a multi-awarded writer, discussed Media Relations and how it can be done the easy way to influence public opinion. He also explained how the SUC writers can access this function. Most of all, he emphasized the media situation in the real world and the advantages and disadvantages of practicing media ethics.

Outputs. Mr. Torrecampo introduced the Free Mind software which can be used as a tool in coming up with strategies and activities to realize a goal. The group was divided into clusters, namely: Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the brainstorming sessions and drafting of the cluster communication plan which incorporates KM and media relations. Each of the resource speakers gave their comments and suggestions on the plans presented by the cluster representatives and clarified issues raised during the open forum. The SUC writers also submitted their individual activity plan based on the cluster communication plan.

What’s next? CP Calma presented the next major activities of the writers, namely: Basic Online Writing Techniques Workshop, Advanced Online Writing Techniques cum Production Workshop, Terminal Report Writing Workshop and Camp Blogs. With the new scheme of incentives to be given to SUC writers as discussed by Ms. Toni Torres, the PMO hopes to meet the objectives of the iSchools Project because the writers are committed to write for a higher purpose, writing with the “aim of being contributory to the nation’s development”.