Learning for Eternity: University's Computer Lab Brings BYU-Hawaii to the Philippines

Chad Compton, associate academic vice president in BYU-Hawaii, said he visited the city of Manila in the Philippines to establish a computer lab within the Manila Philippines Institute of Religion (MPIR) to help the young single adults (YSA) obtain a higher education and become more marketable.

 “The lab is a gathering place. We have some YSA in the Philippines who we think they would go to college if they have the right opportunity and support; but they can’t because of economic issues. Online education would help them. Part of the priorities of the church is to help YSA to get as much as education as possible. We are trying a pathway that we have never tried before,” said Compton.

From Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, Compton spent time with the YSA Institute teachers and local stake presidents to explain the concept behind the computer lab. “Internet and digital devices provide a dramatic change in communication. It drops the cost, but increases the need of new tools for instructional technologies and media,” he said.

Since not all YSA can afford the cost to own a computer, the lab provides free new tools to students that allow them to gain an education. “They are now available to study with technologies, but still decrease the cost,” Compton said.

For students who cannot afford college education, they can now earn an overseas college certificate or associate’s degree without leaving their country. A student can get a certificate from BYUH by earning 15 credits or qualify for an associate’s degree by earning 60 or more credits.

Compton explained how the lab benefits both people within the Philippines as well as students planning to attend BYUH. Students can take advantage of the lab by taking credits online that work toward their nine-semester plan. Students can also improve their English skills and be exposed to the United States education system before setting foot on campus. Students will more confident as they prepare to transition into life in America.

This Fall Semester 2012, there are 35 students taking online classes from the lab and the majority of them are taking at least two online classes, which include EIL, religion, student development, biology, music, and ASL.

In October 2012, senior couple missionaries will serve in the lab as mentors to assist the students. “Right now there are only institute teachers helping in the lab, but the church is planning to employ Filipino alumni from BYUH to help in the lab to provide technical and teaching supports to the students,” said Compton. “If we see success, we might build more labs. Our next plan might be to do something in China and New Zealand.”

“If you are in the Philippines, you’ll probably notice how eager we are to continue our education by all means,” said Sid Francis Balubal, a Filipino sophomore who is majoring in psychology. “Filipino customs treasure education as a key to success. An online class is a great alternative if they [YSA in the Philippines] cannot afford to come here. Filipinos will always be grateful of any help rendered to them, especially if it is for their own benefit.”

Agreeing with Balubal, Kit Alfonso Nadado, a sophomore majoring in English education who is also from the Philippines, said, “there are a lot of them [YSA] who dream of going to BYUH, but money is meager. Their parents cannot support them, so the dream remains just a dream.” He said it is a fulfillment of a dream to YSA in the Philippines to have this computer lab.

Holding a different opinion, Eugene Aloc, another Filipino sophomore majoring in supply chain management, said, “I know the online class would save them [YSA] some money; but in the long run, it is still too expensive because they won’t get I-WORK scholarships.” He said without the I-WORK scholarship, it is too expensive for YSA in the Philippines to seek college education physically at BYUH or through online classes. “My point is that because of poverty, they [YSA] wouldn’t have the opportunity to have it [education],” said Aloc.
 
See this article on Ke Alaka'i

New Semester in a New Country: Students weigh in on how to combat culture shock

Fall Semester has started and new students on the BYU-Hawaii campus might experience some kind of culture shock regardless if they are from the United States or international.

Masa Narita, an undeclared major from Japan, shared his experiences with culture shock. He said, “Men here wear skirts and couples kiss in public areas. If I get a job in PCC, I might need to wear skirt too. It feels so strange but also very funny. About kissing, I would pretend I see nothing.”

“I found people speak English very fast!” said Saiya Ogaki, an accounting major also from Japan. “It is challenging, but I am motivated to learn from them. I will study hard and make many friends from different countries. We can help each other.”

Sho Sasaki, a psychology major from Japan, said even the weather can leave students with some shock. “Hawaii rains a lot and very suddenly. I would bring umbrella and jacket with me wherever I go. Culture shock is a good thing. I learned to accept the way it is. From all these different experience, I can grow and to be a stronger person.”

Food size is something that varies quite a bit from country to country and can catch new international students off guard. “Food in America is double sized compared with Japan.” said Megumi Suita, an IDD major also from Japan. She said when she ordered a single scope of ice cream, she was given a “giant” scope. “From now on, I will share the ice cream and split the cost with my friends, so we can save money and eat it all. I don’t like to waste anything!”

Other students who have experienced culture shock and learned to adjust to it can provide insight to newer students who are still shaken up. “When I first got here, I literally could not make friends for about the first three months,” said Barbara Shelton, a senior majoring in political science from Saudi Arabia. She said culture shock is inevitable and it would happen to anyone. She encouraged students to take culture shock as a good experience. She said, “If you have culture shock, then just go for it. I have moved around 13 times and every time I experience a little bit of culture shock. It’s hard, but you can sit and feel uncomfortable, or you can get out and party. For me, I like to party!”

Even students who originate from the United States get initial culture shock. “When I first came to BYUH, Polynesian men were greeting me with hug and kiss on the cheek.” said Jennifer Herrera, a senior in communications from Texas. Although she is an American, Herrera said she experienced culture shock like international students. She agreed culture shock is a good thing because she got to explore and learn from other cultures. She advised new students to keep an open mind and to accept new things.

Paul Buckingham, director and counselor from BYUH Counseling Service, defined culture shock as “an exposure to cultural value in communication, relationship, and problem solving that are so different and opposite to your own framework reference that makes it different to cope with. It doesn’t mean right or wrong. It just means different.”

Buckingham extended a special invitation to students who are struggling to visit the counseling service. “Don’t feel shame. It is not a shame to have problem.”

See this article on Ke Alaka'i

Modernity Examined in New Cinema Class

A new class that begin this Summer semester, Special Studies in World Cinema, allows for in-depth exposure and understanding of the culture in one of BYU–Hawaii’s target areas. Yifen Beus, associate professor in the International Cultural Studies department, developed the course and defines it as an opportunity to explore and examine issues that rise from the impact of modernity reflected in sino phone cinemas. Sino phone cinemas are productions by filmmakers specifically from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

In the class, students define and characterize modernity, cultural and national identity, historiography and cinema, as well as the inequality between the urban and rural, gender and sexuality, and the negotiation between traditional and modern living through film study. Modernity is the change from traditional values and ways of thinking to more contemporary perspectives, which matters to students since it analyzes the world in which we live today. By doing so, all students regardless of their cultural background, will have greater understanding of modernity and the impact it has on the people and cultures portrayed in the films.

Inspiration to build the curriculum for this class came from many sources. “China has risen to become very competitive in international politics and economy after several waves of vigorous modernization, and its government is ambitious to promote its cinemas to rival Hollywood,” explained Beus. “Many of these films have won international acclaim, but are not taught on this campus. To offer such a class in the context of Chinese cultural studies and the study of film medium within the humanities will provide a small window into the screen culture of a nation that has encountered the challenges of modernization,” said Beus. “Another key issue is the study of cultural identities of the ‘Chinese’ people--namely China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Chinese diaspora.”

Beus said the selection of films “largely depends on their treatment of certain themes and topics. I tried to choose works that depict effects of modernization, such as issues on migration, individual and collective cultural identity shift, ethnicity, environmental and social impact, and human rights.” She continued saying that some of the best selections are “films by directors whose work can typically represent the Zeitgeist of a particular era or historical juncture or that belong to a specific movement or generation.” The final factor in a film being considered for the course was that it has “been distributed with English subtitles in a playable format.”

The study of modernity is pertinent to any major or discipline because it is affecting people and cultures around the world.

See this article on BYU-Hawaii University News Room

In addiction, I wrote another version the same topic for the college student magazine.  

Beus teaching new film class that explores modernity through movies

 

Under a lot of finger pointings.......but once again, Iosepa was launching in faith. 

Riding the Waves of History: Iosepa Canoe Carries on Hawaiian Voyaging Tradition

My article was quoted by Deseret News in Utah on June 18, 2012.

BYU-Hawaii sisters encourage others to start careers while going to school

Original article that I wrote for my college magazine Ke Alaka'i, please see

Career While in College, Student Start Early to Pursuit Their Dream

Women’s Week brings Awareness and Appreciation of Womanhood

Beginning Monday, August 6, through Sunday, August 12, the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding is hosting a project comprised of activities and events supporting and celebrating womanhood. The purpose of the project is to drive understanding, peace, and the general well being of women to students and members of the broader community. It will also give the opportunity for wholesome social interaction between women from diverse backgrounds.

Kaylee Huchendorf, project leader for the women’s week, is a junior in Intercultural Communications Studies from Idaho. As one of the students who put the activity together, she said she has “a deep belief in the power of women in creating peace at home, in their community, and in the world.” She hopes that through the project, women on campus and in the community might be empowered and strengthened.

“I hope when people hear about the activities, they won’t feel there is discrimination toward men,” said Huchendorf. Women and men are welcome to participate in all of the activities; and she specifically recommends the activities on Thursday and Sunday for men to attend since issues addressed will focus on understanding women and challenges they face. “We would appreciate the men’s support,” said Huchendorf.

Women’s Week details:
Monday: booth display with schedule of events in the Aloha Center (all day)
Tuesday: “Mix-n-Mingle” women’s social (7-8 PM, Ballroom)
Wednesday: free yoga lessons (7:30-8:30 PM, Dance Studio, Old Gym)
Thursday: academic forum on special topic in women’s studies (11 AM-12 PM, Little Theatre)
Friday: free movie night (7-11:30 PM, Little Theatre)
Saturday: community service project (location and time TBA)
Sunday: fireside entitled “Lessons Learned from Women in the Scriptures” (7:30-8:30 PM, campus Stake Center Chapel)

For students who are interested in learning more, there will be a series of lectures about women’s studies in Fall semester that have been organized by Andrea Henson, a junior majoring in International Cultural Studies. Activities and lectures will address contemporary issues concerning women as individuals, in families and in career situations.

See this article on BYU-Hawaii University News Room

Biology Students Research in Saipan

Dr. Roger Goodwill, professor in the Biology department, led 10 students to Saipan for field study from June 9 to July 2, 2012. The trip was made with the purpose of exposing students to practical experience, to gain an understanding of what field biologists do, and to gain research experience for their resumes.

The field study included scuba diving, snorkeling and reef walking to collect sea animals to be preserved as laboratory specimens. Students set up a makeshift workshop using microscopes and preservation solutions. After the specimens were made, they were shipped back to Hawaii to be identified by students in a campus lab. Noting that the work does not end in Saipan, Goodwill said, "We were there for three weeks, but the work continues long after."


Besides working in the field, students also participated in three NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) meetings where the topics of discussion included preservation of endangered coral, whale diversity, and sharks. "While we were there, we took advantage of our surroundings," said Goodwill. "We want students to experience more than biology field work - we want them to meet professional people. We want to help students to build their network."

They also visited a WWII battlefield in Saipan, learning some of the history and the culture of the island. Goodwill advised biology and biochemistry students who are interested in participating in future field studies that "the easiest way is to become involved in the mentored research program – teachers can get to know you." For this field study, students were picked from the marine biology group and student workers in the Museum of Natural History. He reminded students to participate with a cooperative attitude. "We prefer good team players," he said.

Stephanie Chan, a junior majoring in biology from Hong Kong, was one of the students who went on the field study trip. "This Saipan experience helped me understand more about what a professional researcher does," she said. "I strongly recommend other students prepare to participate in future field trips by working and studying hard so they can have the opportunity as well."

The next biology field study trip will be in November 2012 to the Big Island and Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and will focus on the study of birds.

See this article on BYU-Hawaii University News Room