Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria
Professor
Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria serves as a professor at the University of the Philippines Open University and has held the position of Chancellor since 2016. Additionally, she served as the President of the Asian Association of Open Universities from 2017 to 2019 and currently chairs the Asian MOOCs Steering Committee. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Bandalaria has actively contributed to the development of course modules for open online courses and has been engaged in teaching through this mode of instruction. Her extensive research focuses on open online courses and the integration of Universal Design for Learning into Open Educational Resources (OERs) and online courses. Dr. Bandalaria has authored/co-authored numerous journal articles and book chapters in the field, and she is frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses at national and international conferences. Recognized as a dedicated advocate of open education, she played a pivotal role in pioneering the development and implementation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Philippines. These MOOCs, utilized as OERs, represent a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of education in Higher Education Institutions across the country. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Bandalaria has spearheaded the #OPENFight initiative at the university. This initiative is designed to support educational institutions in transitioning from traditional classroom instruction to remote teaching and learning. By doing so, she ensures the continuity of learning during these unprecedented times.
Research Interests
Advocacy and Social Mobilization; CSR Communication; Online Teaching and Learning; ICT4D; Distance Education; Development Communication; Telecentres; Education; Technology; Philippines
Email Address
Virtual Office Hours
Flexible. [Insert schedule link]
Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy in Development Communication
Cognate: Sociology
University of the Philippines Los Banos, 2001
Master of Science in Development Communication
Cognate: Animal Science
University of the Philippines Los Banos, 1995
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Major Field: Agronomy (Plant Breeding)
University of the Philippines Los Banos, 1982
Website
Book Chapter
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2005. e-Learning for Development: The Case of the University of the Philippines Open University. Chapter 14. Perspectives on Distance Education (Educational Media in Asia). Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver. Pp 189-201.http://www.col.org/PSedmediaasia/EdMediaAsia_P3.pdf (pp67-80)
Technical Journal
Dela Pena-Bandalaria, Melinda. 2011. Learner Support Services: Going Beyond the Usual Notion in Open and Distance eLearning. Journal of Open Education Research (Shanghai, China).
Dela Pena-Bandalaria, Melinda. 2011. Ensuring Quality Education in Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) through Virtual Learning Communities. AAOU Jounal 6(1): pp13-23
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. Building Global Learning Communities: Issues and Challenges in the UP Open University Context. Asian Journal of Open and Distance Learning. 1(1) pp41-48. http://ajodl.oum.edu.my/fajodl/201106/03080129Article_5.pdf
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. E-learning in the Philippines: Trends, Directions and Challenges. AACE Journal.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2007. Impact of ICTs on Open and Distance Learning in a Developing Country Setting: The Philippine Experience. The International Review of
Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 8, No 1 (2007), ISSN: 1492-3831. http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/334/792
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2003. Shifting to Online Tutorial Support System: A Synthesis of Experience. Indonesian Journal of Open and Distance Learning. 4(1): 32-41.http://pk.ut.ac.id/ptjj/41melinda.htm
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2002. Selection and Use of Communication Technologies to Support Distance Education Learners: A Philippine Case Study. The Journal of Development Communication. 13(1):76-86.
Training Course Modules
Flor, Alexander G. and Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. Course Module for ICT-Based Extension Management and Delivery Training. Developed for the Curriculum Commons under the auspices of the IDRC.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. Development Perspectives for Community e-Center Managers. Developed for the Philippine Community e-Center Program.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2010. Promoting your Telecentre. Developed for the telecentre.org as contracted by the IDRC. Conference Proceedings:
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2007. ICT for E in the Philippines: The Past, The Present and the Future of Distance Education in the Country. 8th APRU Distance Learning and Internet Conference. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. December 12-15, 2007.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2005. Creative Use of ICT at the Office of the University Registrar, UP Open University. Proceedings of the 4th e-Learning Conference, 25-26 August 2005, University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2002. Converging Technologies and Users Towards Conducive e-learning Environment: Lessons from Experience. Proceedings of the 1st e-Learning Conference. August 2002, Manila, Philippines. (http://www.asiaelearning.net/aen_conference_2002/aen_report/philippines.pdf)
Semi-technical Journals:
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 1994. Where are the agriculture graduates? Agriscope Magazine. June 1994 issue.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 1994. Laguna Duck: A Better Alternative. UP Los Banos Newsletter Full Edition. July 1994 issue.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2013. Collaboration in online courses: Drawing insights from the learners for effective course design and learner support services. Paper presented during the International Council for Educational Media (ICEM). 1-4 October 2013. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2013. MOOC- to MOOC+: Applying the ODeL Quality Framework to Fill the Gaps. Paper presented during the 25th World Conference of the International Council for Distance Education, 15-18 October 2013. Tianjin, China.
Bandalaria M. (2013, October 21). Panelist: Attrition, Accreditation, and Assessment. Special Preconference Symposium on “MOOCs and Open Education around the World” at E-Learn 2013, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bandalaria, M. (2013, October 21). Panelist: Expert Insights Session on MOOCs and Open Education. Special Preconference Symposium on “MOOCs and Open Education around the World” at E-Learn 2013, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2012. Informal Communities in an Online Learning Environment: Implications to Learner Support Services Framework. Paper presented on the 26th Annual Conference of the Association of Asian Open Universities. 16-19 October 2012. Open University Japan, Chiba, Japan.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2011. Learner Support Services: Going Beyond the Usual Notion in Open and Distance eLearning. Presented on the 25th Annual Conference of the Association of Asian Open Universities. 29 September 2011. Penang, Malaysia
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2011. Transforming Asia by Empowering its Marginalized Communities: A Model of Convergence, Collaboration and Cooperation in ODeL. Presented on the 25th Annual Conference of the Association of Asian Open Universities. 28 September 2011. Penang, Malaysia.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2011. New Approaches to Open and Distance Learning for Effective Human Capacity Building: A Case Study of On-the-Job Training for Teachers in the Rural Areas of the Philippines. Presented on the 24th ICDE World Conference. 3 October 2011. Bali, Indonesia
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2010. Ensuring Quality Education in ODL Through Global Learning Communities: The UP Open University Experience (To be presented on the 2010 Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities on 27 October 2010 at Hanoi Open University, Vietnam. Judged as one of the six finalists in the Best Paper Award)
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2010. Capability Building for telecentre Workers in the Asia Pacific Region (Panelist). CapabilityBuilding Track. Europe Telecentre Summit 2010. 13-14 October 2010. Budapest, Hungary
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2010. Contextualizing telecentre Courses for Local Implementation: Implications to the Learning Management System. 25-27 August 2010. University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. Academic Records Management in an Open University: Context and Challenges. 18 November 2009. Teachers Camp, Baguio City.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. DevCom in the Digital Age: The Convergence of 1 and 0. UPOU Colloquium. 8 October 2009. AVR, UP Open University, Los Banos, Laguna
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2009. Building the Capacity of the Knowledge Workers: Initiatives, Progress and Relevance to eSkwela. 1 April 2009. Matabungkay Beach Resort, Batangas.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008. E-learning in the Philippines: Trends, Directions and Challenges. AACE Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. 17-21 November 2008.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008. The Telecenter Academy in the Philippines: A Multisectoral Convergence of Mission, Vision and Practice. Telecenter Stakeholders Forum at eIndia2008. New Delhi, India. 29-31 July 2008.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008. Telecenters as Tool/Venue for Digital Inclusion of Filipino Women. Telecenter Stakeholders Forum at eIndia2008. New Delhi, India. 29-31 July 2008.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008. Session Chair, Capability Building for CeC Knowledge Workers, 4th Knowledge Exchange Conference, 3-4 April, 2008, Manila Peninsula
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008 Direction and Future Development in Records Management: From Imagination to Realization. Annual Conference of the Philippine Records Management Association (PRMA). 22 May 2008, UP Los Banos, Laguna
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2008. Records Management: QuoVadis? (Direction and Future Development in Records Management: From Imagination to Realization?). Philippine Records Management Association Annual Conference, Heritage Hotel, Manila, 28 May 2008.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2007. ICT for E in the Philippines: The Past; The Present; and the Future of Distance Education in the Country. 8th APRU Distance Learning and the Internet Conference 2007, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, December 12-15, 2007.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2007. Support Services to Distance Education Students: Going Beyond Instructional Content to Promote Learning. 21st Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities. 28-30 October 2007. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2005. Education for All Through the Mobile Phone: The University of the Philippines Open University Experience: 19th Asian Association of Open Universities Conference, 15-17 September 2005. Jakarta, Indonesia
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2005. Creative Use of ICT at the Office of the University Registrar, UP Open University. 4th e-learning Conference. 25-26 August 2005, Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2004. Records Managers of the 21st Century: Who? What? Where? Pre-Conference of the 10th Annual Conference of the Philippines Records Management Association. 12 July 2004, Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2004. Putting in place the Support Mechanism for the elearning System of the UP Open University. 3rd e-learning Conference. August 2004. Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2003. Predicting Learners’ Satisfaction in an Online Learning Environment. 2nd e-learning Conference. August 2003. Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2003. Industry-Academe Partnership Towards Improving the Quality of Life: The Case of the UP Open University’s Master of Professional Studies in Development Communication Program. 17th AAOU Conference, 12-14 November 2003. Bangkok, Thailand.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2002. Converging Technologies and Users Towards Conducive e-learning Environment: Lessons from Experience. 1st e-Learning Conference. August 2002. Manila, Philippines.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2000. Thirty Years of Research on Distance Education in the Philippines: Findings and Implications. 14th AAOU Conference. October 2000, Manila, Philippines
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2005. E-learning in a Third World Country: The Philippine Experience. 3rd Conference on e-learning Applications. 15-16 January 2005. The American University at Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2004. Ensuring Quality in a Technology Driven Learning System: The Case of UP Open University’s e- and m-learning Programs. 18th AAOU Conference, Beijing, China. November 2004.
Bandalaria, Melinda dP. 2001. Selection and Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Effective Delivery of Student Support Services. 7th Symposium on Open and Distance Learning. Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 12-14 November 2001. 2 November 2013