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Instructional and Curricular Excellence for Southeast Asia

It is widely seen that the school head should be able to effectively promote the quality of education in their respective schools. Thus, instructional leadership is a priority area for school heads in Southeast Asia as this has a strong impact on strengthening their role as educational leaders.

In this light, SEAMEO INNOTECH initiated the Instructional and Curricular Excellence in School Leadership for Southeast Asia (ICeXCELS). This is a project under LEARNTECH – eXCELS that aims to develop and pilot test a modular, learner-centered and flexible learning system. It incorporates multiple delivery methods such as print, CD, or the web.

Through LEARNTECH – eXCELS, INNOTECH is currently developing a number of multi-modal modules whose main beneficiaries are the Southeast Asian School Heads. These modules range from topics (to name a few) on instructional leadership roles; leading curriculum implementation and enrichment; promoting the use of technology for instructional purposes; and introducing innovation in instruction. A total of seventeen modules are in the development stage at this point.

The ICeXCELS course is an integration of LEARNTECH – eXCELS’s two modules on “Affirm the Instructional Leadership Roles and Functions of a School Head” and “Lead Curriculum Implementation and Enrichment”. Hence, curriculum development is put in the context of the influence of the school heads in improving the teaching and learning process.

The first module provided a clear outline of the roles and functions of the school head in curriculum development. It likewise provides a challenge for continuous improvement and for building the school as a learning community.

In this vein, the second module focuses on the basics of curriculum development and implementation and curriculum leadership. Moreover, it prescribes guidelines for making the curriculum effectively respond to the school’s changing realities. Since the summer course correlates instructional leadership the key participants of ICeXCELS were primary and secondary school administrators.

LEARNTECH – eXCELS earned support from Department of Education – National Capital Region (DepED-NCR) and the Philippine Elementary School Principals’ Association (PEPSA) in promoting the course. In particular, DepED-NCR nominated school heads from various schools divisions for eXCELS. Twenty-three (23) school heads schools in the NCR participated in piloting the course.

The module is self-instructional and is delivered in both print and interactive media. This gave the learners enhanced flexibility in taking the course at their own pace. Learning duration was a total of 24 hours, which was completed in two weeks (15 May to 15 June 2006).

Facilitating the course activities were SEAMEO INNOTECH tutors who were assigned to three teams. The tutors provided feedback, monitoring, and guidance to the module participants.

Aside from self-study modules, the participants were also encouraged to take part in online discussions on the course Flexible Learning Management System (FLMS). This then becomes the venue for the learners to interact with and get feedback from each other and their tutors.

Moreover, the ICeXCELS was developed using a user-friendly, Moodle-based on-line FLMS. As such, more flexibility in accessing the course was made possible. Announcements, calendar, and additional resources through free access to online journals were available in the FLMS as well. “Tip of the week” that discussed relevant topics about the modules was also posted on the FLMS.

A number of module assignments were incorporated in the course. Ultimately, the participants were required to submit their Learning Portfolio, which consists of their reflection paper on the course, an action plan, and a self-rating checklist. The tutors then evaluated, provided feedback and rated the learner based on their learning portfolio.

A Revalida (Revalidation) and Closing Program were held on 03 July 2006. During which, the learners were interviewed by the course tutors and the Director for Programs Mr Philip Purnell.

Following the completion of the course, the module participants would receive their rating card based on their output for each of the module component and of their performance in the course as a whole.

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