What can I recommend for the improvement of the Fieldtrip and Seminar Program?

To make the fieldtrip better I think we needed more time to prepare. Maybe if we had more time we might have been in to companies where their core business is IT related or the companies we’ve been might have been more prepared and presented someone who is IT knowledgeable. But with regards to the travel agency I have no problem. The travel agency we had did their job nicely and the fieldtrip was a success. But maybe next time the whole 4 days can be allocated for business and technical visits and the last day can be a bonus for the students where the whole day is allocated for having fun and going to very memorable places.
Also about the grouping. Most of the students complained that it no fun when you’re not around your friends at times like this. Maybe it would have been better if the groupings were by section so that those who know each other are on the same group and bus.
And I think that’s all there is to it.

My advice to those who will take their Fieldtrip and Seminar program in the near future.

My advice to those who are going to take the fieldtrip next year is to prepare early and plan well. So they won’t experience what happened to us. Where there are two students who failed to pay the necessary amount and we had to let them borrow money so that we can pursue with the fieldtrip. Also I would like to tell them that if they are going to Manila they should tell their parents as soon as possible. Because the expenses are very high and it’s always better to plan ahead.
And I suggest they schedule the fieldtrip sometime after the finals so that no projects and requirements are delayed and no subject schedule will be sacrificed and things like that. Because what happened to us is we crammed to finish our pending subjects and had a series of makeup classes to cover for the time allocated for the fieldtrip. It’s annoying because now we don’t have a sem-break.
That’s all. I just don’t want them to experience what we have. Good luck and God bless them.

fieldtrip overview

The fieldtrip was a five day company tour in Manila. We were divided into 4 buses for the first and last day and 3 buses for the 2nd to the 4th day. Different buses go on different companies but the travel agency made sure that all the students have equal experiences with regards to technical visits. Also scheduled with our trip to manila was our national seminar which was held on UP diliman Campus. The first day only had a single company visit because it was already noon when we arrived in manila. The succeeding days had at least 2 company visits and some sightseeing.

Day 1.

We travelled for manila and then headed to our lunch destination after the plane landed. We visited the ByanTel then and learned about their Networking. It was just a short discussion though. After that we had our daily fun run and it was on MOA for today. We spent the rest of the afternoon there and also had our dinner at a restaurant nearby. And it was resting time after.

Day2.

Woke up early and prepared for the departure for the national seminar venue at UP Diliman. We had our breakfast at Grills and Sizzles located on Examiner Street. We headed to UP after that. In UP we had our national seminar at UP ITTC with guest speakers to talk about different things related to IT and CS. The first speaker talked about effective thesis writing. A topic our facilitator personally requested because we needed it. The speaker told us that when working with a thesis it is important to manage your time and if you lose your interest in what you are doing then do something else that would get you back working after. It was full of knowledge and very informative. The second speaker talked about data visualization. A very interesting topic for me, but that the speaker failed to get the students attention because the example used at the presentation of the topic. We could not relate with the example that he has chosen that was why we lost our interest to listen. Then the third speaker started his speech. He started it with an introduction of showing us their educational offers and other stuffs like that. After that he proceeded with his topic. After the third speaker the next speaker woke everyone up. She talked about multimedia and showed some of her works. She also shared what the requirements are to be in her spot. Then the last speaker for the day started his speech. He was a foreigner teaching in Up. He is a game developer and that was his topic he shared with us how to get into that career, what are the skills needed and how to actually get there.
After our seminar we had our luch and headed straight to UP ayala TECHNO HUB. There we visited Seachange who showed and endorsed us VOD or video on demand and IBM who offer free servers for use and is leading in the world of innovation. That is what we did on our second day.

Day3.

We went to ASTI and watched their developers as they presented their projects like the bayanihan linux OS, the multi tester, the GSM device for PC and other projects. After their presentation we had our lunch and headed for the Social Security System head quarters in East Avenue, Quezon City. There we learned how SSS works and their benefits. Also their networking and data security representative gave us some info on how and when they started to automate their services. He also told us about their server and the backup server located outside the city. After the seminar and discussions we then toured their facilities. After touring the technical visit for the day was over and it was now time for having fun and it was on Tutuban mall and dinner was on us. We did some window shopping and some walking and got tired and went back to the hotel and rested.

Day 4.

Day 4 have a single company visit scheduled and it was on hitachi GST where terabyte hardisk drives are born. As usual it was breakfast and then travel. As we arrive to hitachi GST we were given a clothe to cover our shoes and then started the tour on their museum type room where their history is written. After that very short tour we were then made watch a video about their history and the development of terabyte hardisk drives. After the film showing we then toured the facility where we watched all the processes a wafer goes through before it becomes a data writer. After the tour we headed for our lunch venue which was on max’s restaurant in Tagaytay where the Taal volcano was our background as we eat. It was an amazing view seeing the top of the volcano. after our lunch we travelled to people’s park in the sky to buy some souvenir items and more sightseeing. Arriving at the park we feasted our eyes with the views and the variety of available souvenirs in store. But it was all in a rush because the best part is yet to come. After the short shopping spree and sightseeing we then headed to the most awaited part of the fieldtrip the enchanted kingdom ride all you can adventure. And there I have experienced the best ride of my life the roller coaster of the enchanted kingdom was the best. But unfortunately it was the only ride we got on to because of the time. But it was all worth it. It was so tiring that we got back to the hotel and rested.

Day 5.

Last day of the fieldtrip and we checked out of the hotel early and travelled to our first technical visit which was on TTI and there we listened to a lecture about telecommunication and how it works, the use of routers and repeaters and some other topics about telecommunication. Also we toured their facilities and saw what repeaters look like. After that discussion we then climbed to the second floor and saw a wireless antennae used for acquiring wireless internet connection. Then the speaker explained how it works. Then we went to their roof top to see a satellite dish and learn how it works and after that discussion about the satellite dish and how it catches signals it ended our TTI tour. It was no lunch time and time to travel to the lunch venue. After a quick lunch we then headed to the MMDA headquarters to see their facilities. There we were shown the MMDA’s server which was still DOS based and very outdated but the presenter said that they are just waiting for a decision from the upper management to upgrade their system. After that very short tour we went to their monitoring department that has a lot of monitors showing different parts of the Manila roads and highways. What we were seeing was live feed from their cameras installed all over Manila. While there their representative explained to us what they are doing there and what they usually do. After the discussion they made us watch some accident file videos and most of them are caused by motorcycle or reckless driving. That was the last technical visit scheduled for our fieldtrip. After that we then travelled to SM and spent the rest of our time there before our flight back to Davao. When it was time to go we then travelled to NAIA to wait for our flight back to Davao and it was the end of our fieldtrip.

That is what happened during our 5 days fieldtrip to Manila.

Day5 fieldtrip

Today, I went on a company visit to Telecoms Training Institute (TTI) and MMDA.
What I learned?

Telecoms Training Institute (TTI)

I learned or rather heard about repeaters and their functions and purposes. Different kinds of connections such as wired and wireless. Two types of repeaters. How much their tools cost and other things about telecommunication connections and networking.

MMDA

They are still using DOS based software for their traffic light controls and traffic monitoring system. Also the technologies they are using are both foreign. They also want to upgrade their server to a window based server but they are still waiting for the higher management’s decision.

80% of traffic accidents involve motorcycles and more than 10% of this is the motorcycle is at fault.

What I liked?

I liked how the presenter in TTI showcased the equipments while talking about how they work. It was as if we were his students. And also in MMDA I liked how the presenter presented their server and how he entertained our questions. also i liked how the MMDA shared some of their documented videos with us. especially the video where the roads were being flooded by bagyong Ondoy.

What I didn’t like?

I didn’t like the rooms in TTI they have no air-conditioning unit. It was so hot.

Day4 fieldtrip

Today, I went on a company visit to HITACHI GST.
What I learned?

There is 3 type of hard disk drive categorized by sizes which are the 3.5, the 2.5 and the 1.8.
3.5 are usually used in our desktops while the 2.5 and 1.8 are usually the data storage used for mobile gadgets.
For 3.5 hard disks their largest data storage capacity reaches over 20 terabyte. Over 300Gigabyte memory storage for 2.5 type of hard disk drives. And about 80Gigabyte for 1.8 type of hard disk drives.
They also showed us the process of producing data writers.

What I liked?

It was very interesting. Especially because we are IT students and we use computer that has a hard disk drive inside. It was just good to know how they are being made. How data is being stored inside the hard disk. And how they managed to expand the storage capability of the hard disks they have developed.
They made us wear their uniform jacket. It made me feel more welcomed.

What I didn’t like?

It was so boring how they made us wait in a room for our turn for the facility tour. They made us watch a video that was played twice in a row.

Day3 fieldtrip

Today, I went on a company visit to Advance Science and Technical Institute (ASTI) and SSS.
What I learned?
ASTI

ASTI have a lot of projects these are the ones presented to us.
They were the ones that developed the open source operating system Linux Bayanihan.
GSM Data Terminal.This product enables computers to send and receive text messages, just like an ordinary cellular phone. It uses any mobile phone SIM card, and there is no need for Internet connection.

SSS

They have 2 servers running. One act as their main server located within Manila and the other act as a backup server located outside Manila.

Also SSS offers assistance to almost all misfortunes a member experience. And they have a very strict and secured ID system that is why it was proposed that SSS ids should be universal.
They have an amazing system for capturing multiple registration from a single person.

What I liked?

ASTI

They were very kind when giving us information and presenting their projects.
They were very innovative. And they entertained our questions very well. They enlightened our ignorant minds.

SSS

First of all they gave us foods. Next is they have the warmest welcome in all of the companies we’ve been. Also they gave us a speaker who is very well educated in information technology. He managed to answer all of our questions and satisfied our hunger for information.

What I didn’t like?

Swlike in the 2nd day, I don’t find anything to unlike.

Day2 fieldtrip

Today, I went on a company visit to Seachange and IBM.

What I learned?

IBM
I learned that IBM now is selling 5 different types of software 2 of which is being developed internally and the rest are being outsourced. These softwares are:

• • DB2 and Information Management: Information on demand
  • Lotus: Communication, collaboration, and productivity
  • Tivoli: IT service management
  • Rational: Business-driven development
  • WebSphere: Business process management

Also IBM have two servers running open for any advocates to use.

Seachange

I learned about their product software Video on demand or VOD. It is made up of two components which are the Axiom on demand and the Media cluster.
Axiom on demand is a content delivery platform that is used for faster video buffering.
Media cluster is their media server.

What I liked?

IBM

They gave me a genuine IBM bag.
They offer free server services without any charges.
They treated us very nicely.
They gave us a lot of information and was warm in welcoming us.

Seachange

They have a very nice crew that entertained us as we toured their facility. They were funny. They were less formal than the other companies we have visited. One of their workers was actually just wearing shorts while working. It was nice to see that there are actually companies that don’t give much care of what their employees are wearing.
They showed and presented a lot of their projects. They didn’t limit us to just one project but rather showed us almost everything from those being developed until those that are already released.

What I didn’t like?

I was actually contented with everything that there is nothing that I don’t like with both companies.