FUSE at 15 Essay Writing Contest Winners
1st Prize
Entry No: 31
Remie D. Puno
JICA Lao Elementary School, Ormoc City
(Visayas)
2nd Prize
Entry No: 39
Felices Pascua-Tagle
Manuyo Elementary School
(NCR)
3rd Prize
Entry No: 29
Estrelita Peña
Kabasalan National High School
Division of Zambo Sibugay
(Mindanao)
Consolation Prizes:
Entry No: 9
Arnel Tipay
Tarlac National High School
Entry No: 21
Cecile Ilidan Vizcaya
Marikina Polytechnic College
Entry No: 36
Clarizza G. Gatmaitan
Jacinto Ponce Elementary School, Tangos, Baliwag, Bulacan
Entry No: 33
Emily D. Dolot
Congressional National High School
Entry No: 10
Gregoria S. Pacquing -Bado
Iligan City East High School-Sta. Filomena
Entry No: 30
Josefina Obra
Batanes National Science High School
Entry No: 15
Loreta Manabat
Orani National High School
Entry No: 23
Lynson Ablaza
Port Towns Elem School, Maryland, USA
Entry No: 22
Mariglenn Aguilar
Balumbato Elem School
Entry No: 16
Mary Jean Romero
Baras Rural Development High School
Entry No: 5
Micheal Arevalo
Cabitan NHS, Masbate
Entry No: 38
Ms. Flora Arcenal
Erico T. Nograles National High School, Davao City
Entry No: 40
Noel Christian Moratilla
St. Scholastica’s College
Entry No: 35
Raya David Pararuan
Diliman Preparatory School
Entry No: 28
Roberto Santos
Sta. Rita Elementary School, Tarlac
Entry No: 8
Roland P. del Rosario
Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School
Entry No: 26
Suzette Belandres
Victorias City
PRIZES:
1st Prize : PhP 15,000.00
2nd Prize : PhP 12,500.00
3rd Prize : PhP 10,000.00
Consolation Prizes : PhP 5,000.00 each
List of Entries
Passion for teaching, anyone..? Says who? Most teachers know it is a burning desire to make a difference for pupils and persevere to keep on with their level of effectiveness as teachers. Passion for teaching means being able to take the tiring daily activities, meet the needs to utilize the limited resources available to attain the daily teaching goals, the endless stress and still want to come to school the next morning determined to teach and touch the lives of pupils. A teacher should never be tired of attending, the same old in-service seminar workshops to augment the knowledge of the subject areas they teach. At least, they just know… in an idealistic point of view. Honestly speaking I am one of them, but despite the fact that having this passion; I know that this perspective should revolutionize to a certain degree.
Until sometime in November 2005 (my 14th year of somewhat fruitful teaching), I was called up by my principal handing me a memo citing that I am recipient of FUSE (FOUNDATION FOR UPGRADING THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION, INC.) a 52 hours Telecourse Seminar Workshop for Science. I was also informed that this is a non government organization that caters to help upgrade the standard of education in the Philippines as conveyed on its acronym. I was very excited though it would consume my Saturdays and Sundays for my family. Aside from conducive to learn training rooms and free provisions of food, and its venue, which is almost two hours and a half travel time from Pulilan, Bulacan to Makati, knowing it is rather different from seminar/workshops we usually attend to.
During the seminar workshop, we are trained how to use multi-media as visual aid for teaching. The trainers discussed to us the use of CD-ROMs they provided offer a more engaging learning experience, with text, audio, video, and animations used to deliver information. The vivid pictures present along with bulleted text as an audio narration by Dr. Lourdes Carale provide the primary content of the topics. Basically, this package of CDs is purposely to endow with complete and comprehensive background information for teachers and 3 volumes of lesson guides/manual, the basic facts about Biology, Physics, Solar System and Earth Sciences. The use of multiple media optimizes learning styles easily: through auditory, kinesthetic, and visual. Students’ engagement increases with the use of multi-media device because it is self- paced, highly interactive, increases retention rates, and reduces cost of teaching materials. Additionally, I realize that times are changing and so are pupil’s needs; they are more inclined to technology like televisions, computers, net surfing and other gadgets through which teachers should be keep updated with the current trends and issues to meet the gap between them and the learners.
Typically, I use textbooks provided by the school and PELC (Philippine Elementary Learning Competencies) as guide. It’s a fact that teachers should be resourceful enough to effectively deliver its daily learning tasks by merely utilizing cut out pictures and colorful drawings to catch the pupils’ attention on manila paper or cartolina if the teacher is gifted in arts, but it is truly tiring and time consuming on our part.
A wise man said and let me quote it: “Learning starts from the womb and ends at the tomb and to stop learning is to stop growing”… It was October 23-27, 1995 at University of Sto. Tomas when I happened to attend FUSE Trainers’ Training in English in collaboration with other Training Agencies in English proficiency like CETA and UST. Since this (FUSE) Foundation of Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. will celebrate it’s 15th Anniversary this coming December, 2009, I am indeed very honored to be a part and recipient of its first year implementation of the noble endeavors of this Foundation. I want to thank God for the people who conceived the idea that gave birth to this Foundation. I would rather say that they are God’s instruments in carrying on the sacred task that God has entrusted to mankind, that is teaching and mentoring.
I had just arrived from the province at that time and I was seeking for opportunities to be trained while waiting for an employment. I taught English as substitute for a teacher on leave at Negros Oriental High School in Dumaguete City for a year and when my term ended I came to Manila to seek for greener pasture. I got the information about the training in the newspaper and I marked the date in my calendar and looked forward to attend that wonderful event. I paid the registration on the first day of the training and had the opportunity to meet a lot of friends.
The first day as usual was more of welcoming the participants and giving an overview of the contents of the training and orientation. The facilitators were very good and inspiring. They employed varied strategies to make us learn and appreciate the beauty of teaching English. It was a national event and it made me realized the value of knowing not only the content of the event but also knowing people and relating with them. We were divided into groups and were given assignments for the next day and I looked forward to a novel way of presenting our part. I happened to be in the group of participants from (P.N.U) Phil. Normal University, (P.W.U), and other schools which I can’t remember anymore. The participants in P.N.U and P.W.U made an impact on me because we spent more time together knowing about each other so I can’t forget them. I learned a wonderful lesson in life that we are remembered when we make an impact to the person by taking time to know them personally. They became my real friends that every time we meet in any event and conference we still reminisce our happy times together at the FUSE training at U.S.T.
FUSE had indeed ignited my passion for teaching by inspiring me to excel in teaching English literatures through their programs. After the seminar I got hired as Literary instructor at Philippines Women’s University that gave me an opportunity to practice what I learned from the trainings. I was given another break when I was hired as Guidance Counselor at Manila Science High School where I am now permanently assigned.
People and events may come and go but the most important is how we cherish the memories and be able to put into practice and share to others what were taught to us. The FUSE training was one of the best memories that I continue to treasure and the things that I learned made me a better mentor and now a Guidance Counselor at Manila Science High School. As I looked back with gratitude the wonderful things unfolded fifteen years ago, I can only humble myself and thank God for people and circumstances that helped me what I am now.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude and beautiful feelings to be able to write this article that will serve as document for the wonderful things that happened since the establishment of this Foundation, the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc.
Thanks to all of you, especially to the founding president SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO and all the staff behind this foundation, Happy 15th Anniversary and may you continue to grow more and make an impact on the lives of the teachers and people everywhere in the Philippines.
Teaching is the best profession!
When I was a child I admire my auntie and older cousins who are teachers. At that young age I have already high regard with teachers. Teachers are the most respected persons in every community. With that aspiration, I promised to, myself that someday I’ll be a teacher.
I become part of the system during the year 1992.My first year in teaching were very inspiring and really enjoy the job I’ve chosen. If there are seminars or trainings I volunteer myself and I do actively participate, because I believe that it would increase my personality as well as my profession.
But as time passed, I feel that I am no longer interested with those kinds of activities, maybe because I am growing old. I almost hate attending seminars and trainings especially in Science and Mathematics. I don’t want to sit the whole day listening to the speakers who are just making oral reading in front of the participants as they present their topics. As if I’m just wasting my time and money because almost all training and seminars nowadays requires registration fee which I think too much too high the cost that what I expect to learn.
FUSE has changed my insight about seminars and trainings. Last May 22 & 23, I was about seminars –workshop sponsored by the FOUNDATION FOR UPGRADING THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION. I’m here, they introduce to us the use of CONSTEC VCD’s in teaching SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS. The sponsoring agency had awaken and bring back my interest to participate in this kind of activity. I have a thought that I really need to upgrade my learning’s & insights for the benefit of my pupils and other to come. I don’t say that what I have learned before is no longer effective but I strongly believe to the saying “LEARNING MORE, EARN MORE”.
On the early part of June 2009, I started using the CD’s given by the FUSE. And I found out that with the help of telelessons learing is easy to facilitate. Children were so interested with the lessons. Aside from they are learning, I have observed that they are happy watching the TV. They don’t get bored instead it serves as their relaxation time. During discussions, children can answer questions based on what they have viewed unlike when the discussion is between the teacher keep on taking and the children holding their books and after 60 minutes everything disappear from their minds. The use of CD’s had helped much to lighten the loads of teachers but of course with the guidance of the teacher while viewing. Another is that children imitate how the teachers on the television pronounce the word. They keep on repeating the words they hear. Though its just a play for them, I am very thankful that what they are doing can be considered as additional knowledge for them.
Teaching is the best profession!
“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards; and curiosity itself can be vivid and wholesome only in proportion as the mind is contended and happy.”
Those words quoted by Anatole France, a French poet and novelist, serve as my guiding principle as I go on with my journey in this noble but challenging profession.
Teaching is a continuous learning. Having been a teacher for more than twenty-years, I have applied variety of strategies to motivate my students and encourage them to participate in class discussion, but still I found them insufficient. Not to mention the innumerable seminars, workshops and trainings I have attended in English, Social Studies and Journalism which have nourished my teaching career and refreshed my skills. Who can ever say NO to my immediate superior or to the Division Supervisor in English when he/she tells me to attend trainings/workshops held in different parts of the country? Although I am sacrificing my time away from my family, I believe that such opportunities would enhance my talent and professional growth.
To be one of the FUSE participants is a great honor. I consider this a very rare chance – to be chosen in our division to attend the two-day training conducted by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education Inc. (FUSE) in the Pearl of Orient Tower, Roxas Boulevard, Manila last June 2008.
As I stepped on the floor of that elevated building, I felt amazed and curious to enter the conference room. Wow! Anyone can exclaim such word of admiration.
FUSE makes a difference. When the first speaker, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Tayao, introduced to the trainees the Vision and Mission of the FUSE, I became more interested of what the foundation is all about. We were enlightened that FUSE is a non-government organization composed of educators who voluntarily engaged themselves in upgrading the standard of education. Just imagine that these educators are mostly prominent personalities in our country is notable.
The focus of FUSE concern is teachers’ development. The speakers were very eloquent as they elucidate to the participants new insights and learning. All the Macro-skills in English were discussed – Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, Grammar and Literature. We had our workshops that tapped our talents and skills. Honestly speaking, I told the second-day trainor, Ms. Marilou Madronio, that such training was quite different – very fruitful! This was the only training in English I have ever attended that tackled strategies in Literature.
FUSE provides everything. What was significant was the distribution of teacher support materials like books and video CDs of 45 one-hour telelessons divided into six segments of the English language.
As demand for quality education grows and gets tough, every member of the academefaces a huge task and great challenge to be very effective and efficient in uplifting our deteriorating educational system. The government on its part does its gargantuan duty by implementing feasible measures aimed to fully address this alarming condition of Philippine education. One of these measures is to hold different seminars and trainings geared towards improving the present standard of education. But, are these programs the optimum need of every mentor to be effective and productive? Do they provide the needed skills useful in the teaching and learning process? Some say yes, but others say no.
Those who say, “Yes”, have certain points to ponder about. One of which is, why our current educational system is deteriorating based on the very poor mean percentage score (mps) in the annual National Achievement Test for English, Mathematics, and Science in spite the numerous trainings conducted for mentors? For instance, English Proficiency has long been our country’s pride and treasured legacy. It has been our trademark among other countries as being proficient in English for over a century. However, several studies and surveys indicate an alarming decline among Filipino youth’s proficiency level in the said language nowadays. In fact, according to the study in 2006 conducted by the European Chamber of Commerce 75 percent of the Philippines’ annual 400,000 college graduates have “sub-standard English language skills.” Then, Dr. Edilberto De Jesus, former Secretary of the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) observed that the ability to understand and speak English was a waterloo among Filipino nurses. Undeniably, they fared well on required technical and patient-care skills but failed in language proficiency, particularly in the Test of Spoken English (TSE) where only 16 percent of the examinees passed. These facts are attributed to the poor mastery of reading and comprehension skills among the Filipino youth.
Those who say, “No”, have few good points to think of. One of which is, do teachers really apply and use learned skills and techniques in their teaching tasks? Are they open to change and innovation?
As mentor, I do consider teaching both a fulfilling commitment and duty to people and God. It is a painstaking devotion that requires right teaching skills and desirable values. It is likewise an exciting journey to multi-faceted dimensions of human affairs and unending wonder and beauty of life. It is, therefore, a task too challenging and inspiring to do.
Talking about the current status of Philippine education is inordinate. Reports about being the 39th of the 42 and 36th of the 38 can be colloquial. Everyone may concur that we are helpless. Degrading details from the region is rampant especially in National Capital Region where booming population of student per classroom is unresolved. Failing achievement tests were the usual proof. Every teacher is murmuring about their problems and every added day is hopelessness. Despite that fact, I have entered education for a no-one-may-believe reason: to give my little contribution to uplift the educational standing of the Philippines.
As I enter the field while being much of idealistic type, I met a more unexpected reality. whines of some of my co-teachers. Looking forward to each day, I opt to see that there is always the best way to solve problems. I always prepare my lesson and even invest to my audio-visual materials as though I will be a teacher without end. However, we cannot be forever strong. Each day is a minus to our strength. Dealing and understanding our client is not unending. Teachers also need to be understood for we undergo wear and tear. I felt that I was all alone in advocating ‘I can help in uplifting education in our country.’ Optimistic and young, still believing I am not all alone.
I have never heard about FUSE before our training in one of the colleges in our locale. The FUSE training seems just an ordinary teacher-training on which teachers attend for the following reasons: acquiring certificates for promotion or gaining service credits when held in summers.
I seldom attend seminars unless I am compelled to. Anyway I am not yet into promotion. I am not even to service credits since our local DepEd is discouraging those to prevent teachers from getting absent in regular school days. Usually, I am annoyed to some local training since the plot is just like usual telenovelas of predictable outcome. Experts though, usually came from Manila. I do not question the commitment of local trainers. Who should contest their dedications that spend their lives in imparting learning to their students? Commitment is one thing, but competence is another. Their ability needs more stimuli. Seminars should be conducted not just to compensate the execution of whole-year program
When I enter the room, teachers there seem so excited that my first reaction made me sound dubious about what is going on. The proctor was very strict about the attendance, that she did not promise that I can receive the certificate since I was late. I was never much affected about the certificate thingamajig since it is the least of my concern. I am after those things that made my co-teacher 360 degrees turn from usual bored to interesting attitude. I heard an apparently expert teacher. Later I realized it was just a video played before the teachers. In the video, there was an expert demonstrating some experiments. She was Dr. Zen Domingo. The video is called CONSTEL.
Teaching is a noble profession as a quote says and as the State entails the teachers as major part of the education system. No one can question the role played by teachers in the society. The time they spend in school and at the end of the day, bring home their school works. One of the tasks of a teacher is to stand firm and upright in his/her decisions so the students can look after his/her as a role model. However, do not go beyond his/her capabilities, strengths and weaknesses and accept the reality that at times he/she has a heart and a mind to mingle within his own self.
The effort of holding high the morale and dignity of the young minds is neither easy as ABC nor 123. Teacher’s self-empowerment to fight hostility within them and with the society takes a strong effort and courage. Teachers, too, cross the bridge of urbanism, self-reliance and self-confidence in their chosen profession. They must not be left behind by their students. Though the students changes every year, they never get aged inside the classroom! However, from a young and ideal teacher as I started teaching, through years, I aged. I started to leave my teaching materials in school, and deliver my lessons in a repetitive manner that everything I say comes from the lesson plans I had prepared two years ago. Yes, that is true! That is because I trust my stock knowledge and I think it will not quit off from me. I forgot to look at my students, sitting in teary eyes because of sleepiness in the manner I deliver the topic for the day. With all my effort everyday I felt exhausted at the end of the day and wanted to push the time and the remaining hours of stay in school to come to an end.
Despite that, I have no doubt that I wanted this career at my young age. But it is also true that I need to accept the reality that my students need something more than I can offer to them. I want them to enjoy their stay in school as I enjoy my high school days long time ago. I want them to remember me in the future as an energetic and enthusiast teacher never runs a story to tell and activities to perform in their chemistry class as they learn the balancing equations, chemical formulas and the mathematical operations for chemistry. Before my love and passion of teaching fades, I encourage myself to attend several invitation workshops, seminars and trainings that I believed will uplift my audacity for teaching. One of which is the FUSE invitation in April 2005 and October 2008. Two different years, different presenters, and different techniques I had encountered and learned. At first, what is in my mind is what will these people (I am referring to the presenters and staff, and founders) bring to us as classroom teachers, something new perhaps. There it came, the first presenter discussing all about the objectives of the two day seminar. Hmmm… it sounded interesting. I remember, Ms. Evelyn Ibuyan welcomed us through an activity in chemistry using colored solution and dermatograph pen. It was followed by different stories that allowed the tears of the participants to flow and laugh at times. The second time I met her, I learned another activity that involved “magic” in the eyes of my students when I brought it in my classroom. Now, I see my students laughing and talking. I discover that video clips and other video materials can be use as part of my lesson and not the entire lesson itself.
“Teachers you’re our country’s hope
You will save our land
FUSE is here to help you cope
Lend a helping hand…”
Fuse Hymn, lyrics by Isagani R. Cruz
Frantic was how I would describe the day my Department Head told me with enthusiasm that I was to render a teaching demonstration for the In – Service Training Seminar of our school. Indeed, I was already on the verge of panic and desperation, when I suddenly ‘unearthed’ a stack of compact discs and modules underneath the heap of paper piles inside the bottom drawer of my desk. BINGO! The angels must have heard my incessant supplications. Looming before my bewildered eyes are the most precious things I have kept inside my drawer – the CONSTEC teaching materials, which I have acquired from a 16 – hour Teacher Training, courtesy of the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc (FUSE). I was vastly overwhelmed, that I thought I have felt the same joy that the Israelites must have felt when upon praying to the Lord they have received their ‘manna’ from heaven.
True enough, these materials were my saving grace and my tools for having outstandingly carried on a teaching demonstration that I have never dreamed of being able to deliver. And then came a surge of realization that I have pondered on for the next few days after my commendable teaching demonstration. One question was lingering – “What are these materials really for?” For a couple of weeks after the FUSE training, I have totally forgotten that I have in my possession powerful teaching aids that I can utilize in my science classes to make my teaching more effective and meaningful. Subsequently, I was asking myself a string of questions – “Are these materials intended to impress my superiors how technologically equipped I am when I teach? Would it make a difference in the way my students perceive Chemistry as a subject matter if I introduce these materials to them? Is my attempt to use it in the class worth it?”
After our grueling yet mind – enriching training, I have heard some of my co – trainees lament on how bothersome the use of CONSTEC materials to them will be. The technology is quite complex for them and the operation of the needed tools to run the materials is something not germane to them. Surprisingly, I was in total agreement at that instance, for I was just too oblivious of the benefits that I and my students would get from using this technology. Never did I imagine that one day in my too ordinary life as a classroom teacher I would indeed imprint a stark difference in my Science class because of FUSE and the CONSTEC.
Emancipating finally from my reverie, I brought a lap – top to school one ordinary Monday to finally prove the worth of my precious CONSTEC teaching aids. There was a sudden gush of whispers from my curious students when I stepped inside the room replete with the tools of the modern times, so to speak. Seeing me with those tools in my loaded arms was enough to arouse their curiosity and get hold of their attention for the next 50 minutes of my contact time with them.
I prepared some clips from the videos for my lesson and I was enthralled by the hovering interest in the atmosphere. Each time I click on the lap – top, sighs of wonderment were ringing to my ears. The usual humdrum of the first day of school every week was finally history and the room was teeming with perky, wide – eyed students. It was a different class and I was feeling a different sense of fulfillment. At the end of that eventful day, it was as if a floodgate of excitement was opened for me and my students. For me, because I have certainly found the best antidote to an afternoon of tiring, lazy Science class. For my students, because they seem to look forward to a lot of things that are reposed inside the mighty CONSTEC cd’s. Now, I humbly admit that my skepticism about the use of technology inside the classroom was pointless. Technology is definitely a gift to improve our way of life, and not an obnoxious burden mthat we have to live with.
Teachers, like me, must know for a fact that technology is man’s most powerful tool in changing his fate. To the present times, its products are improved, fortified, and developed to fill in the need for progressing. It must be remembered that technology was once a dream made come true as a result of man’s endless quest for comfort. His passion for comfort has bred this ingenious spawns of technology, which must be utilized across all professions, age, creed, and color. We, therefore must befriend the fruits of technology and be acquainted with their rightful use. CONSTEC is a sheer proof of technology for education. For me it is the FUSE’s response to quench the educational system’s thirst for quality education.
As the first stanza of the FUSE hymn tells us, their hands are reaching out to the teaching force to constantly improve the quality of education that we give our students. It is the FUSE’s dream to produce a “community of committed professionals aware of critical education issues and taking voluntary action to help attain quality education”. Let that be our dream too. We Filipinos value the fruits of education tremendously because we are one in conviction that education is our key to rise from the quagmire of poverty, desolation, and corrupt social structures. To perpetually inflame our hearts with this faith, we teachers, must be able to convey our duties excellently.
In our hands, as teachers, was and is being laid the mightiest task of all time, that of effecting change as mentors. And the secret to doing this is simple – we have to live the legacy that is FUSE and see our students metamorphose into the young productive individuals that we hoped them to become.
Teachers…“Let us all move forward, educate our nation”.
Type of Training: Teacher Training
Full Name: Roland P. del Rosario
Position: Teacher I
Complete Address: #50C Mercury St., W. Fairview, QC
Mobile Nos: 09192685194
Fax Nos: none
Email: roland_delrosario@yahoo.com
School Name: Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School
School Address: AFP Road, Garcia Hts., Brgy. Holy Spirit, QC
An old Chinese proverb says, “a teacher for a day is like a parent for a lifetime.” My students are my academic “children,” and when they grow intellectually, I value my part in contributing to that growth.
Education has always been very important to me, and it has always been an integral part of my life. I see myself as a lifelong learner who will always be learning through research, experience, and interaction with others. One reason that I desire to be a teacher is that I want to share what I have learned about learning, teaching, and working with children and adolescents, but also look forward to learning even more from my students.
One of my undergraduate professors once told me that all he desired, all that he hoped for, was to help his students learn. He explained his desire by asking me to imagine myself standing on his shoulders and seeing a little further into the horizon, and thus seeing beyond his scope of vision. I hope to achieve the same goal: to help my students see at a greater distance into the horizon than I can see.
Teaching is extremely challenging. Before I had the full responsibility of teaching a class of students, I had a very naive view of how much energy, time, and planning would be involved. It was surprising to me how complex, demanding, and rewarding teaching could be. Words cannot express the gratification in successfully teaching a student. Since my first few days in the classroom, I have spent much time reflecting on what my perspective of good teaching is, recollecting my impressions of teachers, mentors, and most importantly, my first teachers, my parents. I have also critically analyzed my own teaching strengths, weaknesses, and style, which has inspired me to experiment with new strategies and to consult with more experienced teachers for their advice.
In the conceptualization of learning, interestingly, most high school teachers agree that one of their main functions is to facilitate student learning; yet most draw a blank when asked how learning occurs. This is likely due to the fact that their ideas about this are intuitive and based on experiential learning, rather than on a consciously articulated theory. The task of articulating a conceptualization of learning is therefore difficult.
What is the role of the teacher with respect to motivation, content and assessment? How can a teacher respond to different learning styles? How can a teacher help students who are frustrated? How can a teacher accommodate different abilities of students?
In today’s Information Age, I believe it is imperative for teachers at all academic levels to employ technology in their instruction, in particular because it is so prevalent in our society. There is not one facet of life that is not tied to technology in some way. However, I also believe it is important to utilize technology in meaningful ways and with purpose. Simply using technology for technology’s sake defeats the purpose.
Further, technology should be used to make things easier and more efficient, not to make things more complicated. Technological literacy is vital, and will become increasingly important as schools become more and more dependent on technology.
Indeed the training in FUSE made a difference in my teaching. Through the aid of FUSE videos, the motivational activities became more interesting and appealing to students. Motivational activities in the form of questions, situations, scenarios and cases that require creative and critical thinking, were delivered and carried out well. The different components of the lesson such as the summary of the previous class session, outline of recent topics, assignments and answers to homework were organized and delivered in an interesting manner as well. Moreover, cooperative learning approach was easily employed because of the varied resource materials available. Indeed, with the integration of FUSE videos, I was able to take my students in a journey where they can see authentic applications and concrete examples for the concepts discussed in class. FUSE videos, serve as the spring board for many classroom activities. Specifically, the FUSE materials provide students to work in pairs or groups of three up to five on a short problem. Specific instructions were flashed on the television screen, regarding mechanics in sharing ideas and coming up with a common solution and this strategy gave the teacher the opportunity to move around and give immediate feedback to students while the groups are working. At the end of activity, students are given the chance to be more critical and creative as they compare and discuss the various solutions to the problem.
Learning through the FUSE videos is most likely to occur when students become personally engaged with the material and perceive the subject matter to be directly relevant to their own lives. Topics like electricity and light that needed a lot of imagination can now be presented in the context of reality through the use of FUSE videos. This reminds me of an ancient Chinese proverb which says: “Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand”.
I firmly believe that my ministry in teaching is an opportunity to inspire and empower. As a teacher, it is my goal to enhance student learning as a transformative experience. Ideally, I want students to feel personally changed by their participation in a course I am teaching. One way I work to encourage students to challenge existing boundaries is by teaching them to make the familiar strange and question how they have come to know what they believe to be true about their world. This helps students see boundaries, whether personal or social, as constructed and affords them an opportunity to challenge and move beyond them. It is this movement “against and beyond boundaries” that both empowers and transforms learners.
Arnel Jon-jon F. Tipay
arneltipay@yahoo.com
09082770576
1248 Molave, Brgy. San Isidro. Tarlac City 2300
Tarlac National High School San Roque, Tarlac City
ICEHS-Sta. Filomena
E-mail: gpbado_25@yahoo.com
“ To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” This quotation of Confucius struck me a lot for it made me realized on my purpose as a teacher. As a secondary teacher for nineteen (19) years, I have lived the exact opposite of this adage. I teach because this is the course I finished and I have no choice! (I was a working student then. Though I aspired to be a nurse; my benefactors allowed us only to choose the low-priced, low-cost and second-rate courses like Education, Secretarial, and Liberal Arts!) Now that I am married, I viewed teaching as an opportunity of augmenting my family’s income in maintaining the provisions at home and sustaining the needs of my growing kids. These were my only motivations to work as a teacher then. Though contented with ordinary life, I still have this unexplainable emptiness within and continue searching for it. I never thought teaching was rewarding.
These injurious views were totally erased when I was required by my principal to proxy a fellow in a seminar two summers ago. It was a three-day Training- Workshop sponsored by MSU-IIT and Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. (FUSE). The training eliminated my pessimistic assessment of government officials as generally corrupt. Not with Senator Angara. He invested greatly on education, empowering FUSE members in providing skills and materials to teachers in the country. The materials in our school are judiciously used by teachers and students in the three core subjects. Teachers nowadays need to inject technology because students can learn better with the aid of technology.
Secondly, the summer training inspired me to develop my own teaching materials. Ms. Ruth Alido, presented us with her own materials: games, oral interpretation readings, vocabulary materials. She encouraged us to develop our own too. With the infectious enthusiasm shown by her, I developed my own kind right after the training. Hence, I came up with anagrams, vocabulary materials and other mind games which I applied to my students. I walked an extra mile from developing simple materials in class. I did an action research which lead me to the development of an instructional material on speaking skills and soon to be out in the market pending upon the release of copyright permission. It was then my advocacy to bring students to division, regional and even national declamation, extemporaneous, and oratorical speech contests which we always won if not first at least second or third place.
The speakers were not only experts; they were living examples burning with zeal to teach teachers on how to teach. Another interesting and impressive speaker during that seminar was Dr. Teresita Ignacio. Even at her twilight, she is an epitome of an ideal teacher in these modern times! She shared her teaching experiences and unparalleled teaching prowess. I was enamored by her British twang that led me to enroll in an IELTS class and eventually shared with my students. She was oozing with warmth as a person, commitment, dedication and charisma as a teacher. I welcomed her invitation to participate in the PALT International Conference in Manila Hotel December of 2007 at my own expense! From that conference, my perspective of teaching was radically changed. Dr. Ignacio was instrumental in my desire to aim high! I realized then that education is a continuous process and a lifetime commitment. Next month, I will be presenting a paper on: Development and Validation of ICT-Enabled English Lessons at the 5th PALT- TESOL International Conference at the Manila Hotel. I was among the lucky 24 public school teachers who passed the SMART Scholarship Program. We were awarded MA-IDT and hope to graduate in March. With these as my qualifications qualifications, I was promoted to Master Teacher I.
With all these inspiration from the FUSE training experience, I am now convinced that we cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own. I believe education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change our world. And the only person who can act on it is a passionate teacher. The torch ignited by FUSE will surely be passed to the students in its seamless grandeur and beauty. May the fire of FUSE keep on igniting to touch teachers as well!
The school is the place where students learning and their future educational success take place. As a facilitator of learning, planned to fully infused the 21st century learning skills, the passion to teach is my major key component to provide enthusiasm and environment conducive to students’ life long learning. I supposed that the way students learned depends largely on the teachers’ facilitating skills creative design. Right now, the teachers are tasked to face the great challenges in the attainment of the 21st century.
Philippine education of which information communication and technology plays an important role in infusing effectively the 21st century skills. The powerful vision of the 21st century Philippine education brings together the business community, foundations, education leaders, and policy makers for a common good – ensure every student’s success as citizens and workers in the 21st century.
In response to this great endeavor, The Foundation of Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) conducted a series of training nationwide to upgrade the standard of Philippine educational system. Likely, FUSE also provides the teaching support materials to the trained teacher participants. The said training offers me an opportunity to gain additional content knowledge and teaching skills thus improving my capability and confidence in teaching Chemistry. Furthermore, it significantly boosts my passion to teach Chemistry and empower me to share the teaching skills acquired in the training to my contemporaries.
This new teaching methodology that I learned from FUSE bestows a unique experience on my part. The well designed video episodes enhance the students’ full understanding of the different concepts of Chemistry and its applications in the real world situations. It also provides non-linear access to information, allowing students to understand a very abstract concept of mole in particular. It allows students to access information in depth, affording complex representations of fundamental concepts and comprehensive illustrations of more abstract topics. In this way, it broadens my teaching perspective towards the attainment of deep life long learning of my students.
Furthermore, the video materials given to me by FUSE do not end up in unlocking abstract concepts but rather a precursor in the designing of my Performance-Based Learning (PBL) activities. The PBL activities moved to a more student-centered view of learning and require a fundamental shift in my role as a teacher. It is no longer that the teacher seems predominantly as a dispenser of information, but rather as a facilitator of the student’s learning. The introduction of problem-based learning with a consequent fundamental change in the student –teacher relationship has highlighted this change in the role of the teacher from one of information provider to one of facilitator. It is not only a pure mastery of core subjects, but moving beyond the focus on basic competency in core subjects to promote understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes; as such the students act a certain role to play – in combating the global climate change as an example.
Dept. of Chem, Col. of Sci. & Math.
MSU-Iligan Inst. of Tech, Iligan City
9200 Philippines
mobile: 09167849781
Everyone knows that teaching demands significant personal investment. It requires both intellectual and emotional commitment. Teaching loses its heart without commitment and passion. Sustaining such passion is intimately connected with their commitment; and commitment is related to the sense of professional and emotional identity. It is this combination of the emotional and intellectual which results in teaching at its best. Teaching loses its heart without commitment and passion.
Passion is defined in the Oxford Dictionary (1989) as ‘any kind of feeling by which the mind is powerfully affected or moved’. It is a driver, a motivational force emanating from strength of emotion. People are passionate about things, issues, causes, and people. Being passionate creates energy, determination, conviction and commitment. Passion can lead to enhanced vision which is the determination to fulfill a deeply held goal. Bringing a passionate self to teaching everyday of every week of every school term and year is a daunting prospect. It is stressful not only to the body but also to the heart and soul, for the process of teaching and learning are rarely smooth, and the results are not always predictable. Sustaining this passionate commitment is yet very challenging.
There are many factors which help or hinder effective teaching and learning. The primary factor in good teaching depends much on the inner qualities of the teacher such as the continuing strive for excellence in herself, caring for and fascination with growth, and a deep commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for each student. Other significant factors are the family histories and circumstances of the parents, the students, and behavior in the classroom, the leadership and learning culture of the school, the perceived relevance and value of the curriculum, the teacher’s knowledge, skills and competencies and the effects of government policies. In these changing times, teaching requires more than a content knowledge and classroom competencies. To teach effectively and to keep it going on is not easy and even more difficult to achieve without the proper support from the school administrators.
Teaching in large colleges and state universities offers exceptional opportunities for both experienced and beginning teachers. It is a rewarding lifestyle choice that gives the teacher a tremendous opportunity to continually develop skills in an environment that is encouraging and supportive. However, there is also a big difference (problem) between those who teach in the most disadvantaged communities or areas of extreme socio-economic deprivation than others. Our country has thousands of dedicated teachers that brave poverty, dangerous roads and shoddy facilities to bring education to the country’s most remote areas.
Teaching in more rural areas is no easy task. It is recognized that many students in rural and remote areas have limited opportunity to interact with hands-on experiences designed for students (such as museum exhibits or science centers) and sourcing of science resources locally can be very difficult. Schools in the very remote areas with crumbling facilities often offer none of even the most basic supplies like electricity and tap water and teachers have to put chains on their motorcycle tires in order to ride the muddy roads to work.
The teaching of science, particularly in introductory chemistry at both the secondary and the postsecondary levels has been a big challenge to teachers. One of the problems encountered by teachers in teaching chemistry and other pure sciences has been the laboratory course which is intended to provide the student with “hands-on” experience into the workings of chemistry and to compliment the main lecture course. Oftentimes the teaching of vital laboratory skills and techniques has been left in the hands of untrained teaching assistants. But the major problem is when the teacher handling the subject is less competent in the sense that his field of specialization is different. Somehow it could create a feeling of inadequacy at being unable to engage in thorough learning of the subject.
It is a fact that our system of education lacks the strength to implement its mission and in addressing this kind of situation. However, it is very fortunate to know that there are other institutions whose advocacy is to help alleviate this situation. One of them is the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. (FUSE). The workshops and trainings given by FUSE are very significant in helping improve the standard of education and also in uplifting the morale of the teacher and also helping them to become more prepared and equipped as devoted educators and even train them to be future trainers.
The teaching resource materials provided by FUSE, such as reference books, Telecourse Video-CDs and Teaching Support Materials are a very effective alternative approach in understanding thoroughly the concepts in science and arts, in the absence of facilities and materials needed to carry out effective learning. These materials promote a deeper comprehension and understanding of the principles, and to provoke a shift towards scientifically acceptable concepts. Students learn more profoundly from a multimedia explanation presented in both words and pictures than in words alone. With improvements in multimedia and computer technology, the teacher can facilitate faster learning because visualization tools allow the student to visually demonstrate the dynamic nature of the submicroscopic world and be able to relate it to the macroscopic or phenomenological level or real world.
Despite the circumstances in accepting the challenges in helping to upgrade the standards of education, it is very astounding to know that the FUSE, hand in hand with the educators, never cease to continue rekindling and igniting the passion in unselfishly educating the Filipino youth.
Ochando National High School
Ochando, New Washington, Aklan
Teaching is in my blood. But the sparks of passion for teaching was ignited by the approaches, teaching strategies and techniques taught by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE). The FUSE techniques integrated in the Telecourse for Teachers of English aims to upgrade the teaching competence of teachers.
I am deeply moved and very grateful to the FUSE, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS now DepED), the Philippine Normal University, the University of the Philippines College of Education, De La Salle University, to Mr. Lucio Tan, to former senator Edgardo J. Angara, the People’s Television Network and the writers of the different segments that I have availed of this training. They have truly inspired me to ignite my passion to teach effectively and competently.
Through FUSE training, I have discovered that in teaching Grammar, English should be taught as a second language. Years ago, before FUSE training was conceived, I just focused in teaching grammar and how to construct the structures correctly. It was very plain, simple and usual teaching for the sake of teaching grammar. But I found out it was unproductive. I later learned in FUSE that when teaching grammar structures, I should be getting my students to learn a large number of different bits of knowledge and skills such as how to recognize the examples of the structure when spoken, how to identify its written form, how to understand its meaning in context and produce meaningful sentences using it.
I have concentrated in the structure and neglected other skills which the students should learn from me. I spend a lot of time in getting the grammar right and forgot to give practice in using the structures to convey the oral aspect satisfactorily. The Telecourse in English presented ways on how grammar can be used meaningfully for successful communication.
As I went on viewing the telelessons and using the Teacher Support Materials, I have learned many ideas on how to teach grammar lessons correctly using the different strategies.
I have learned from FUSE that I have to teach grammar meaningfully, functionally and appropriately using the Pyramidal Approach. Before, I just teach grammar simply by presenting the grammar rules, discuss how it will be used then give evaluation to test if my students learned from the lessons I have taken up. Presto! This was the overt way of teaching grammar.
Another failure on my part before the FUSE training was that I rarely teach specific lessons and skills in listening. My students are not trained to listen critically. They are not taught how to adapt a listening cycle suited to the oral stimulus and to their purpose for listening. I have assumed and taken for granted that listening skills will just develop as a matter of course.
After viewing the Listening Telelessons, I realized that listening skills must be developed and different types of listening must be taught to enable my students to comprehend, analyze, respond to, assess and benefit from what they hear and listen to.
My students don’t know how to listen effectively because they got difficulty in understanding or deciphering the listening text they have listened to, hence, they got low scores in the Listening Comprehension. It was a great frustration on my part, seeing the low results in the Listening lessons. This means, I am not an effective teacher at that time.
The FUSE fire keeps on burning in me. It inspired me not to stop there and give up. It taught me that I have to teach my students the different listening styles such as Marginal, Attentive, Critical and Appreciative Listening and on what styles the students have to use in different listening situations. They should also learn the Listening Process so that they can understand, remember, evaluate the listening text and respond correctly to the said texts.
I use the FUSE’s Whole Text Repeated Approach in Attentive Listening, thus, my students achieved high performance in Aural Comprehension. I have learned that the listening texts are repeated several times to the students to accomplish a specific listening task each time I read the text while my students listen. It is a very effective technique. I use the sample materials given in the Teacher Support Materials. I am using the different texts and speech events which require students’ attentive listening to speeches, instructions, directions, and newscasts.
Finally, I also hope for a FUSE Training for the second time for other teachers in English who have never attended FUSE training and also in other subject areas such as Filipino, Mathematics, Social Studies, Values Education and Technology and Home Economics (TLE) so that, they too, can share the FUSE training benefits personally and professionally for students high performance and can feel the passion burning in me.
A million thanks… Keep the FUSE passions burning!
Ochando National High School
Ochando, New Washington, Aklan
Teaching is in my blood. But the sparks of passion for teaching was ignited by the approaches, teaching strategies and techniques taught by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE). The FUSE techniques integrated in the Telecourse for Teachers of English aims to upgrade the teaching competence of teachers.
I am deeply moved and very grateful to the FUSE, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS now DepED), the Philippine Normal University, the University of the Philippines College of Education, De La Salle University, to Mr. Lucio Tan, to former senator Edgardo J. Angara, the People’s Television Network and the writers of the different segments that I have availed of this training. They have truly inspired me to ignite my passion to teach effectively and competently.
Through FUSE training, I have discovered that in teaching Grammar, English should be taught as a second language. Years ago, before FUSE training was conceived, I just focused in teaching grammar and how to construct the structures correctly. It was very plain, simple and usual teaching for the sake of teaching grammar. But I found out it was unproductive. I later learned in FUSE that when teaching grammar structures, I should be getting my students to learn a large number of different bits of knowledge and skills such as how to recognize the examples of the structure when spoken, how to identify its written form, how to understand its meaning in context and produce meaningful sentences using it.
I have concentrated in the structure and neglected other skills which the students should learn from me. I spend a lot of time in getting the grammar right and forgot to give practice in using the structures to convey the oral aspect satisfactorily. The Telecourse in English presented ways on how grammar can be used meaningfully for successful communication.
As I went on viewing the telelessons and using the Teacher Support Materials, I have learned many ideas on how to teach grammar lessons correctly using the different strategies.
I have learned from FUSE that I have to teach grammar meaningfully, functionally and appropriately using the Pyramidal Approach. Before, I just teach grammar simply by presenting the grammar rules, discuss how it will be used then give evaluation to test if my students learned from the lessons I have taken up. Presto! This was the overt way of teaching grammar.
Another failure on my part before the FUSE training was that I rarely teach specific lessons and skills in listening. My students are not trained to listen critically. They are not taught how to adapt a listening cycle suited to the oral stimulus and to their purpose for listening. I have assumed and taken for granted that listening skills will just develop as a matter of course.
After viewing the Listening Telelessons, I realized that listening skills must be developed and different types of listening must be taught to enable my students to comprehend, analyze, respond to, assess and benefit from what they hear and listen to.
My students don’t know how to listen effectively because they got difficulty in understanding or deciphering the listening text they have listened to, hence, they got low scores in the Listening Comprehension. It was a great frustration on my part, seeing the low results in the Listening lessons. This means, I am not an effective teacher at that time.
The FUSE fire keeps on burning in me. It inspired me not to stop there and give up. It taught me that I have to teach my students the different listening styles such as Marginal, Attentive, Critical and Appreciative Listening and on what styles the students have to use in different listening situations. They should also learn the Listening Process so that they can understand, remember, evaluate the listening text and respond correctly to the said texts.
I use the FUSE’s Whole Text Repeated Approach in Attentive Listening, thus, my students achieved high performance in Aural Comprehension. I have learned that the listening texts are repeated several times to the students to accomplish a specific listening task each time I read the text while my students listen. It is a very effective technique. I use the sample materials given in the Teacher Support Materials. I am using the different texts and speech events which require students’ attentive listening to speeches, instructions, directions, and newscasts.
Finally, I also hope for a FUSE Training for the second time for other teachers in English who have never attended FUSE training and also in other subject areas such as Filipino, Mathematics, Social Studies, Values Education and Technology and Home Economics (TLE) so that, they too, can share the FUSE training benefits personally and professionally for students high performance and can feel the passion burning in me.
A million thanks… Keep the FUSE passions burning!
Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. Japanese Proverb.
Teaching is a demanding profession. As a teacher, we are expected to be equipped with the necessary technical knowledge and skills needed to become a competent facilitator and manager of learning. We are also expected to manifest personal attributes, attitudes and values that will surely enhance your image as an effective role model.
I am indeed very much privileged to be one of the participants for the Training of Physics Teachers on the Use of CONSTEC VCD’s and Teaching Support Materials at 12A Pearl of the Orient Tower Condominium, Roxas Blvd.,1240 Ermita Manila last September 13 and 20, 2008.
The Teaching Support Materials (TSM) are intended to assist teachers in maximizing the use of continuing studies via Technology (CONSTEC) VCD’s specifically Teaching Support Materials for High School Physics. A Telecourse for High School Physics Teachers, This telecourse is composed of a total of 40 episodes. Episodes are primarily for teachers use although it is the teachers’ prerogative to show selected parts of the video to the students.
Background information is available as reference for teachers, giving additional information useful in deepening the class discussion. A suggested viewing guide is also available for teachers who may want to show selected parts of the video to the class. Post viewing activities and Teaching Tips are provided to aid the teacher in creating an interactive and / or integrative learning atmosphere while achieving the lesson objectives.
A Teaching support material that will be helpful in the planning and preparation of our lessons, making teaching support material for High School Physics a wonderful and meaningful learning experience for our students.
It was a short span of training but left a mark in my mind. The trainers shared with us their wisdom, expertise, and instructional competence with the aid of video lesson we believed that it would mean less talk; less board work and even less conflict with our difficult students but more of students learning.
Worldwide, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is radically transforming aid, setting a new trend the way we live.
Science is fun. I became a teacher because of my desire to share the excitement of science and some of the joys and frustrations in learning about it. The test tubes, Glass tubing, Erlenmeyer flasks, Florence flask and other simple laboratory materials give me a certain feeling of excitement. Doing simple experiments give me a touch of a scientist’s life. I experience a sense of power in manipulating variables to achieve my desired result. The anxiety of waiting and frustrations of failing and constantly repeating experiments is incomparable to the sense of fulfillment and happiness experienced when the long awaited result is achieved. Science for me is something that invigorates the spirit and stimulates the thinking ability.
This burning desire to share my love for science was at a peek when I entered the teaching profession in 1995. I am full of ideals, ideal classroom, ideal laboratory materials and equipment, sufficient chemicals etc. I believe that science contrary to common notion of being difficult could be made easier to understand and fun with a good teacher.
My first day in school was a baptism of fire. I was introduced to the reality of science teaching in the province. Laboratory rooms were use as classrooms. Simple laboratory materials and chemicals are scarce. I remember there were only 10 test tubes, 5 beakers to be used by almost 2000 students of the school. These test tubes were for display, film canisters were used as substitute in experiments. Chemicals were either expired or not available. There were no laboratory tables to perform experiments. I tried requesting for the needed laboratory materials and chemicals only to find that it is of the least priority of the school. I discovered that most education managers would prefer to spend on the physical improvement like fencing, painting and the likes rather than the laboratory materials and chemicals which were not visible to the visitors. The lack of concern of school heads on the procurement of necessary science teaching aids may not be visible but result of achievement examinations cannot deny this fact.
The excitement was turned into a concern. The task of teaching science becomes daunting. Making science subject easier and fun become a trying experience for most science teachers. Most of the time science teachers have to buy their own teaching needs out of the meager salaries received, however in most cases the beauty of the lesson was sacrificed because of the in availability of the materials and chemicals required in the lesson. Trainings for science teachers were focused on improvisation, making use of available materials in the community in place of the simple laboratory materials. Most chemicals however are not available. This practice became boring and tiresome in the long run.
Touching lives, training teachers, shaping the nation
12A Pearl of the Orient Tower Condominium, 1240 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila, how will I forget this place? It served as a nursery… a home. True to its name, it’s a house of treasure. I found not just one pearl but a set of them – the pearl of wisdom, the pearl of courage, the pearl of hope, and the pearls of every virtue. Yes, it was once a home, that after the first Saturday of the two-day seminar-workshop I underwent with FUSE Inc. when I participated in the 16 training hours for English CONSTEC VCDs and Teaching Support Materials (TSMs), I just didn’t want the feeling of going away from the place. In fact, I was in nostalgia when we were separated. I wanted more stays. I wanted to return soon. I simply wanted home.
Equipped. Rejuvenated. Overwhelmed. These are what I exactly experienced during the said seminar-workshop. The moment I set my foot at FUSE, I was captured by the state-of-the-art facilities. The cozy halls where we had our opening program and trainings were truly conducive for learning. Also, the wonderful people working in it were inspiring. I keenly observed how they moved and worked. They were undeniably amazing! Along the hallways, I saw the pictures of some notable people behind FUSE. As far as I remember, there I saw the chair of the training committee, Ms. Evelina M. Vivencio, Ph D., Mr. Salvador H. Escudero III, the president, Mr. Lucio C. Tan, the benevolent man who donated the VCDs and TSMs, and former Senator Edgardo J. Angara who funded the projects on CONSTEL Science and English, the telecourses for Science and English Teachers, as approved in the General Appropriations Act of 1994 and 1996 respectively. Each of these people reflected the extension of God’s hand. But the most significant thing to note about my very first encounter with the foundation was when it changed the route of my teaching career. It gave me an unforgettable u-turn that suddenly shifted me back to my utmost passion – teaching. I was reminded of my profound desire to see children sitting calmly and attentively listening to me as I mold them into well-rounded individuals – those who take responsibilities, stand for righteousness, and care enough for the family, the country, and the environment. It gave a spark to the candle of my vocation. Until I found my self deeply falling in love to education and to teaching which I know God has bestowed upon and has entrusted me. Its fervor fell afresh on me. The TSMs, the VCDs, the hand-outs, the FUSE founders, the speakers, the cooperating agencies and its supporters… all of them radiate a rainbow of colors that brought impact to my life. They caused me to teach to the best of my ability, but this time, in full battle gear. FUSE paved the way to my career’s greater heights. Its heartbeat and compassion I felt and experienced. Its mission and vision I highly regarded of.
After the seminar-workshop, the time I reported to workplace, the Bataan School of Fisheries, I couldn’t help but share the good news of having the VCDs and the TSMs for I know all the English teachers in our department would be profiting a lot.
As a teacher, it has been my burning desire to make a difference between me and my career… to make a difference for students enlightenment from their frustrations, roadblocks, great challenges, disappointments and other disturbances that could create pressure or worst could result to failure of learning.
It is undeniable that in our situation as Ivatans, it has been embedded in our culture to remain simple, steadfast and resourceful at all times. Though honestly speaking, resources were very scarce, where should I turn to? This probably had influenced my early days of teaching. I was the conventional teacher, shy, and introvert at that as an effect perhaps of my lack of exposure to trainings. I displayed simplicity in my teaching methods and strategies, vague as I would consider it for I present minimal resources available around me and feel patient wherever fate leads me… this zealous track of time treated me for sometime .
In fact, it is still stunning in my mind when I was asked to come out with a demonstration teaching. Of course, I was reluctant because first of all we were asked to introduce one strategy in teaching. What am I to show up anyway? My visual aids made out of old calendar pages? Well, nothing’s wrong! Though, confidence was totally out of the scene. The only thing clear to me that time was my textbook… very conventional, I thought. What else can I do to improve and satisfy both my superiors and my clients? Here, my burning passion to teach for quality education was revived. I tried to get out of my humble shell and started to crawl in search for self- improvement. I began enrolling in my masters’ degree. There I learned theories. Moreover, I learned on classroom management but strategies and other secret spices in achieving the holistic approaches to teaching were far from my expectations. Graduate studies as I realized was not enough. I needed to discover more of my skills.
I needed more exposure to the reality inside the classroom as I can’t deny the obstacles that go with it. Again, where will I start, I asked my self . . . until a year thereafter, I was chosen as one of the trainees for the Foundation For Upgrading The Standard of Education. . . popularly known as FUSE. This training sparked the hope in me . It lifted me to another dimension. It was like a beacon of hope from darkening skies so to speak because it paved the way towards the fulfillment of my aspirations.
Evidently, teaching for me turned from the conventional style to a higher level of strategies in learning presentations. It improved my teaching skills obviously. For this I began enjoying my teaching. I gained confidence, as a result of my exposure to technology introduced by the FUSE Team to the Ivatan teachers. Scarce resources turned out to be abundant and adequate. This said abundance was coupled with holistic approaches in teaching language which made it perfect for struggling teachers like me. It equipped me with enough knowledge in my subject matter particularly teaching English as a second language. This made the difference. I earned confidence as I learned more from these technologies offered to us by FUSE.
Not everyone is born, with an innate ability to be an effective teacher. Rather, it is an important skill acquired through dedication and effort. Being a teacher required a tremendous amount of commitment; a long – hand motivation, and an unrelenting passion to succeed far beyond expectation of others, while retraining a resilient connection between students and other colleagues.
Successful teaching is not about the passion I ignite in my students. If my students are assionately studying their lesson each week and eagerly looking forward to their next lesson everyday something is missing. My students imply that group lesson were not effective but I can guarantee I had nothing to do with the group lesson and everything to do with the teacher inability to ignite the passion.
So how do I ignite my passion to my fellow Science teachers and to my students? Here are my five top tips.
Firstly, I must be passionate about teaching to e ven begin to have a chance. I must be excited about watching any students develop and improve everyday. I used FUSE videos in my grade VI science classes. I captured the interest of the Grade VI pupils or in the science lesson through interesting and meaningful presentation of science concepts. I provided my pupil with support instructional materials that will make every science lesson enduring and interesting.
Next I need to find out what ignites each student my students for example respond well when praised in front of their student. When I have my demo teaching in our school I invited my parents to watch my demo teaching with the use of these videos. My students were very active to participate in the class discussion, when I will asked questions to my students, they were very confident to answer my questions. I’ll never forget to praise my students.
I’ll keep them moving forward. I’ll see to it that my students make progress no matter how small in every lesson. Through the assessment evaluation I’m giving to my students. It’s my responsibility to check if my students are progressing.
Build confidence: Confident pupils will make faster progress. I will always try again. I’ll keep saying “GO NOW YOU CAN DO IT”. If my students is struggling the exercise maybe too difficult or too fast. I’ll find their starting point and build from there. Pupil’s confidence is critical.
Communication with parents. I believe that parents have important role to play with their children. They were may partners for the success of my student because of the help of the parents and open communication, it is of great help to me and to our school. It’s really very effective and it was tested and proven.
“Learning is good in and of itself … the mothers of the Jewish ghettoes of the east would power honey on a book so the children would know that learning is sweet. And the parents who settled hungry Kansas would take their children in from the fields when the teacher comes”. Ever individual has the right to teach and to be taught. To provide every child, youth, adult, attending public school, college or universities is one that of we must possess. The kind and amount of education will cause him to live the most happily and usefully according to the Philippine democracy. All the learning leads him to contribute to the development and preservation of a peaceful, cooperative and equitable world order. Learning makes up the better world.
Teaching and learning are bonded to each other. The relationship between teaching and learning, what and how teachers teach, and how and what learners learn has long been controversy. The two sometimes extreme positions adopted by those who engage in it can be loosely described as, on the other hand, “traditional” and, on the, “progressive.” The inclination of traditional teaching is to ensure that these taught acquire a prescribed body of knowledge and set of values. This seeks to convey what is already known and, at the same level, approved. From the nature of teaching, a number of things follow the systematic transmission of knowledge and values from teachers to learners need to proceed smoothly, which requires well-behaved learners and disciplined environment.
Due to slow progressive way of learning and teaching, many school reforms, the Department of Education acknowledge to raise academic standards of teaching which can be automatically result in higher achievements of students. The opposed view, describe as “progressive” starts from the learners rather than from any predetermined body of knowledge…The Foundation for Upgrading the Standard Education, Inc. (FUSE) establishes challenging and higher academic standards of curriculum. Aligning of local policies such as testing, professional development and accountability programs which aims to foster student mastery, more rigorous and challenging academic content and the need for the students to be able to apply that content. This program has also the objective of considering the needs of the youths, appraise and resource for serving this need, to recommend procedures, facilities and programs which seem to be the most effective way in solving problem and lastly is to popularize and promote desirable plan of action through conferences, publication and demonstration.
“All can walk part of the way with genius,” insisted by a 19th century educator. Making one child a genius one needs to have a great advancement. With the help of the recent modern technologies, educational capabilities increase correspondingly. Distance learning is one of the most dramatic technology–changes occurring in education. Distance instruction centered that it enables the learning to gain information which is not that costly. Some distance program uses the print media and telecommunications.
My first exposure with FUSE educational media was in 1999. It was a weekly program aired over a local television station. On Saturday mornings, I would tune in to the tube before anybody else at home does. I was a second year college student then.
I never imagined that my Saturday habit will matter. I only sensed it was necessary to watch CONSTEL, though I never knew why. All I knew was that the program was
interesting, especially their science topics.
I saw the FUSE materials again after 8 years. It was when I entered my master’s. One of my professors used a CONSTEL video to sample us a unique approach in teaching grammar. After that, I made up my mind that at first semester’s opening, I will teach my lead lesson using the techniques I saw.
Thanks to one of my college directors, I was able to attend the free seminar offered by FUSE. I also received free instructional materials from them. It was a great experience for me. I learned a lot.
I do not know how it happened but I got blank sometime after the seminar. Although I knew that the kit is useful, I felt totally ignoramus like I never attended the lecture. I did not know how to begin.
Besides losing my momentum, there were other problems I had to bear. The perpetual lack of books and other reference materials was punishment. My worries waxed when I was assigned to teach a new specialization course in language. It was terrible, so I was forced to conduct online research. The Internet did provide materials for my classes to use, but the contents were verbally challenging that slower ones found them difficult to grasp. Research funds did not come easy either.
I spent many hours desperately squeezing my brain for answers. I got drained thinking what to do next.
It was then that I remembered the FUSE kit. It was just the break I needed, since there were no other options left. I only had to borrow a disc player and a monitor. The kit that had been idle for some months will find its use for the first time. I sighed relief.
I tried it.
And it worked. After the first session, a student approached me and asked if she could borrow the video. She felt a need for it. A gush of excitement gripped me when I heard her remark. It was my first success.
The next teaching days were smooth-sailing. Students were happy to experience a renewed class. They learned and enjoyed the subject better, and the results were all favorable. Since then, whenever I have problems on references, I would reach for the discs and teacher support materials for information. Then my worries are over.
The kit helped me construct lesson plans and syllabi even on tensed subjects with much ease and confidence. Aside from the good content, it provided technique suggestions which I also shared with a group of student-teachers who have shown particular interest in the materials. I was another success.
I endorsed the kit to my fellows, but some were unreceptive to it. There were a few who consented, although they were hesitant. They were not doubting what the discs contained. They were just thoughtful if they could really use the thing. But they tried them nonetheless.
I thought the materials would be a solo enterprise for me. I got more excited when I learned that those who tried them had an easier time teaching. That was good news, knowing a simple offer sparked a change.
I never doubted sharing the instructional kit with others. Through the support materials and my fellow teachers refresh their methods and add to their knowledge. I believe that a good teacher is someone who could not only teach well, but one who sincerely shares himself, so that others learn. As there is dignity in moulding a student’s intellect, there is also dignity in affecting other teachers with your teaching. That way, they truly can enjoy being a teacher.
And the best thing about FUSE is that it upholds the biblical truth ‘What you receive, freely give’, spoken by the wisest Teacher for all time.
CECILE ILIDAN VIZCAYA
10 PDPM Village Magsaysay St., Parang, Marikina City
School: Marikina Polytechnic College – 2 Shoe Ave. cor. Mayor Chanyungco St.,
Sta. Elena, Marikina City
Tel.: 947-4469; Mobile phone: 09287095788;
Email: bluestar_icon@yahoo.com
Passion for teaching, anyone..? Says who? Most teachers know it is a burning desire to make a difference for pupils and persevere to keep on with their level of effectiveness as teachers. Passion for teaching means being able to take the tiring daily activities, meet the needs to utilize the limited resources available to attain the daily teaching goals, the endless stress and still want to come to school the next morning determined to teach and touch the lives of pupils. A teacher should never be tired of attending, the same old in-service seminar workshops to augment the knowledge of the subject areas they teach. At least, they just know… in an idealistic point of view. Honestly speaking I am one of them, but despite the fact that having this passion; I know that this perspective should revolutionize to a certain degree.
Until sometime in November 2005 (my 14th year of somewhat fruitful teaching), I was called up by my principal handing me a memo citing that I am recipient of FUSE (FOUNDATION FOR UPGRADING THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION, INC.) a 52 hours Telecourse Seminar Workshop for Science. I was also informed that this is a non government organization that caters to help upgrade the standard of education in the Philippines as conveyed on its acronym. I was very excited though it would consume my Saturdays and Sundays for my family. Aside from conducive to learn training rooms and free provisions of food, and its venue, which is almost two hours and a half travel time from Pulilan, Bulacan to Makati, knowing it is rather different from seminar/workshops we usually attend to.
During the seminar workshop, we are trained how to use multi-media as visual aid for teaching. The trainers discussed to us the use of CD-ROMs they provided offer a more engaging learning experience, with text, audio, video, and animations used to deliver information. The vivid pictures present along with bulleted text as an audio narration by Dr. Lourdes Carale provide the primary content of the topics. Basically, this package of CDs is purposely to endow with complete and comprehensive background information for teachers and 3 volumes of lesson guides/manual, the basic facts about Biology, Physics, Solar System and Earth Sciences. The use of multiple media optimizes learning styles easily: through auditory, kinesthetic, and visual. Students’ engagement increases with the use of multi-media device because it is self- paced, highly interactive, increases retention rates, and reduces cost of teaching materials. Additionally, I realize that times are changing and so are pupil’s needs; they are more inclined to technology like televisions, computers, net surfing and other gadgets through which teachers should be keep updated with the current trends and issues to meet the gap between them and the learners.
Typically, I use textbooks provided by the school and PELC (Philippine Elementary Learning Competencies) as guide. It’s a fact that teachers should be resourceful enough to effectively deliver its daily learning tasks by merely utilizing cut out pictures and colorful drawings to catch the pupils’ attention on manila paper or cartolina if the teacher is gifted in arts, but it is truly tiring and time consuming on our part.
Education in the 21st century offers a lot of promising menus making the challenges more demanding and highly competitive. New discoveries on modern approaches, strategies, and high technologies are in store for us educators. So, the next big question is- “How can I cope with the demands of teaching and learning for the 21st century to divert students’ attention to engage in learning?”
As I look back for more than 10 years in this profession, I made a lot of realizations and discoveries that sustain my passion for teaching. Reflecting on those trying moments being a newbie tempted me to back out. I felt the effort I was giving was never enough to have extras for luxuries. However, knowing that there are kind hearted individuals willing to invest on education inspired me to continue my quest.
My victory inside the classroom is not but my doing alone, what we have is the collaboration of many minds working together to better ourselves. Each of us is involved in the process of aiming the target. Therefore, two heads are always better than one. Though patience is a virtue, I’ve come to realize that sometimes it is good to ask especially if you don’t have.
When I attended the seminar of FUSE, it helped me broaden my horizon to understand what support means. By just listening from the participants the issues they have made me feel good because I am not alone in my plight. Seasoned and new teachers learned from each other. We built the network of support initiated by FUSE.
FUSE provided us a venue to assess ourselves in terms of engaging our students to the maximum learning they should have in the field of Science and Technology. The experience allowed me to self-evaluate whether I am preparing my students to the next level of learning. Their education must prepare them to enter a world that is located on the information highway.
With FUSE providing us learning materials like the VHS tapes, it made my approaches a bit lighter though it did not solve the whole puzzle, but a piece to address some new ways to deal with students. Using the videos tapped almost all of my students learning styles especially the visual and auditory learners. I used the videos to support myteaching to let them see the real actions.
It is frustrating seeing how skeptical students can be when I am presenting facts to them even how hard I’ve tried. For them learning is seeing, seeing is tantamount to believing. They need proof to visualize my teaching and to concretize their learning. These videos helped them see what I meant. And for that reason I understood them, Science is abstract anyway.
“I would rather be a teacher than a salesman. Though a salesman makes a lot more money than I do, I would not change places with him for he sells washing machines and fountain pens and cars and other material things; I sell ideas.
I would rather be a teacher than a stenographer. Though she may have a mahogany desk in the magnificent office of some great chief of industry for she helps write letters; I help write careers. She touches keys, I touch lives!
I would rather be a teacher than an artist, fascinating as the subject might be in its wealth of beauty, color and symmetry. For an artist paints on canvass; I paint pictures on the memories of little children. An artist makes impressions on tablets of clay; I make impressions on the tablets of soul.
I would rather be a teacher than a great business executive. For he works with facts and principles that grow.
I would rather be a teacher than an accomplished musician. For a musician plays on violin and piano strings; I play on the heartstrings.
I would rather be a teacher than a potter. For he shapes vessels of clay; I shape destinies.
I would rather be a teacher than a statesman. For he deals with finished citizens; I deal with future citizens.”
This is my favorite poem by an unknown publisher. It was handed to me by my favorite professor, Dr. Olive Legaspi of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. It was taken from the yearbook of De La Salle Lipa. It dawned upon me that these were only some of the reasons why I wanted to be a teacher when I was a young girl, why I took up education in college, why I am still a teacher now, and why I would not leave teaching. Before it was a dream, now it is a passion.
As a young girl, I always dreamed of becoming like my mother who is still a teacher. I must say I got my dominant genes of patience and passion from her. I could not compare anyone else in her passion in teaching because as she grows older she becomes more passionate in her job. She manifests the need to be updated in everything and to make her students the best. Every year, students flock our house on weekends because my Mom is training them for a contest, this activity starts a month before the event. Her efforts does not go futile, her students always win. Thank God I had a mother who is always a model of passion and enthusiasm in her job. I am not surprised why I followed her footsteps and became a teacher too.
It is not only my Mom who lit my passion in teaching but my teachers as well. I had very good English teachers in elementary and high school who confirmed my desire to become a teacher and to share knowledge to others. I admire them so much. I also have a big respect to my other teachers. My words are not enough to thank them for their incomparable skills on building my foundation of education and seat of knowledge.
I first put my fancy into practice when I volunteered to become a Sunday School teacher in our Church. I was in high school then. I was very enthusiastic and modesty aside, my students had a strong attachment to me. I was very pleased when they answered my questions correctly especially if they identified the values from the Bible stories we discussed. My daughter hopes to become a Sunday School Teacher too.
When I went to college, my first choice really was to take up Education for I want to share knowledge to others and make a difference on the lives of my students as my teachers touched and made a difference in my life too. I was idealistic diligent in my studies. I poured my time in studying and in singing in a chorale. When we held a concert, I took the effort to have a copy of our video which later on in my years of teaching was used by my co-teachers in the PE department for their lessons in music, specifically folk and Asian songs. I was also able to use the video in our church for I help in teaching the choir of vocalization technique, breathing and correct placing of voice.
When I was a new teacher, I discovered this television series of CONSTEL in Channel four. I love to watch this series because I really learned a lot and I always try on class the lessons techniques that I think were applicable to my lessons. Years after, this desire in me was doubled when I was given a chance to attend the FUSE seminar. I felt honored because I met one fo the brains behind CONSTEL. I remember how eager my colleagues and I were in distributing the CDs and manuals to each of us for study and reference then we would exchange. While I am pursuing my master’s degree, I felt luckier for I met another professor who worked with Dr. Sunga in making the TV series. Dr. Ruth Rozul is still my professor now. They have both touched my life long before I met them in person. They did not know that they had kept me alive, awake, alert and enthusiastic as the song goes. Like them, I would really rather be a teacher because I want to deal with the future citizens of our country and I want to make more teachers like my mom, my professors and me.
Ruchelle A. Baysan
ellechur@yahoo.com
To come up with a competitive Philippines in terms of the educative system so as to produce high quality learners is still far from reality. Sad but true, we lack the many factors which will give this dream its place in the limelight. Based from record, Philippines lag behind among other countries in terms of competencies on formal education.
It is no secret that the government, the Deped to be particular, is making a way to improve our quality of education. Seminars are being offered up to the national level and even to the international level. Administrators try to organize school-based seminars on different ways on how to motivate students so as to gain higher achievement rate among their clientele, the students.
True to their mission, improvements are expected. But just like a child of these generations… playful and easily swayed by environmental factors… learning becomes hard for them when motivation does not serve their mood right.
Reports show that books in public schools have typographical errors, so embarrassing. Not to forget that we also lack facilities and materials to show practically what is to be actually seen and proved. Science is exact therefore; any idea is to be proven. Basically, we use observation when we do experiments. Sad to say, resources are not satisfactory that it prohibits every child to learn more and to know more. This just shows that the goal of the DeEd as to give quality education is still far at hand. Just like a mission… it is still an unfulfilled dream to give the Filipino youth a real quality education.
It is at this juncture that FUSE comes in… fulfilling the gap of lacking motivation for further improvement of learning among students and teaching strategies on the part of the teachers. FUSE makes a difference… FUSE paves its way to excellence. Undeniably, children of today are visual learners. What matters to them are what they see and could repeatedly be seen? And this is the strategy of FUSE… catching the core interest of learners and feeding information through this strategy. FUSE therefore, becomes a flavored medicine… with a taste so yummy that makes learning an easier task for students.
Seminars are not enough if it does not really offer a solution to an existing problem. What makes FUSE different is that, it offered a solution to the problem. That is, to make students realize the outcome of an activity though you never had it actually performed. This maybe because of unavailable materials and facilities and that FUSE was able to realize these problems and made a realistic solution to these.
FUSE is futuristic. It touched the sensible mode for motivation of our clientele, the students. For the record, children of today are known to be very much into watching.
It is therefore, evident that they learn more through watching. Observation using their sense of sight is the key entry for things to learn. True to FUSE’s vision which if to take voluntary action to help attain quality education and to its mission that is to value integrity and quality education, to share and integrate knowledge, expertise and best practices and resources and to enhance professionalism in education… it made history after all.
My participation to the seminar made me realize that FUSE is true to its commitment. From the venue that is already a mind setter, to the foods served to all the participants for free which only means that their commitment is coupled with unselfishness and willingness to be a part of the Philippines aim for quality education. Yes, FUSE is not just an ordinary foundation. It is futuristic and truly realistic. Focused enough to its goals, this foundation is so effective since the big factor lie on the trustees and different committees. Thanks to the big-hearted people behind FUSE. From the Board of Trustees headed by Chairman Edgardo J. Angara, its founder, Vice Vice- Chairman Lucio C. Tan and the President Hon. Salvador H. Escudero III. These people together with their staff had really worked hard so as to be a helping hand to both teachers and students. Our country needs people like them, ready to make a change for a better world, willing to serve for the benefit of the many. They have tried doing their best in the name of education and promote values as well…values that people of today really needs: unselfishness and courage to make a move for the betterment of a nation. If we share the same ideals like them, then what a wonderful Philippines we have. The speakers were so patient and really dedicated enough. Despite their age, they were able to give importance to technology. They used multimedia to simplify everything. One great thing is that, Continuing Studies via Technology or CONSTEC video learning materials and Teaching Support Materials were given after the seminar. These step of FUSE changed all of us, participants, during the seminar.
If before, applying the right motivation makes teachers fall in deep thinking, then today, everything becomes simpler. Lessons are already in CDs. With matching Teaching Support Materials and lessons played in CD’s, what a great combination! For deeper understanding, lessons can be replayed. To sum it up… FUSE works in the lives of teachers by making their task easier. This is the kind of assistance teachers really need. As a matter of fact, FUSE does not stop rendering service to educators.
FUSE’s legacy should live on… carry on with your novel task of uplifting the quality of the Philippine education. With this, FUSE deserves a 21-gun salute for a job well-done. Long live FUSE for being realistic on the needs for a quality education!
Hazel Millet
hazelmillet@yahoo.com
When I first heard of the seminar-workshop on the use of CONSTEC Materials sponsored by FUSE, two questions came to mind: what CONSTEC meant and what FUSE stood for. Nevertheless, I always look forward to attending seminars and workshops. I get to go to places, meet people, (new and familiar faces), be abreast of the recent trends and innovations and most importantly learn insights and inputs that maybe useful to my profession as a public school teacher. I listen to the trainers with admiration and hope to become one in the future.
Since FUSE is a non-government sponsored seminar-workshop, I imagined the scenario to be somewhat an atmosphere where participants get to learn effectively under less pressure. If I may recall, this is the first time that I’ve heard of a foundation that helps enrich and enhance teaching skills and the standard of education as a whole. I also learned that FUSE stands for the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education. I appreciate and am grateful for the efforts of people who maintain this purpose. On the other hand, while it is true that we teachers are engrossed in teaching and in doing our job, it’s always good to know that there exists a foundation that believes in us and that there’s still a lot more to be done. Education after all, is a dynamic process!
Honestly speaking and I believe many of the participants will agree with me, we got more than we expected. The venue was conducive and accessible since Don Bosco Technical Institute- Victorias was just a ride away from Victorias National High School where I am stationed. The organizers and facilitators were friendly and accommodating to everyone. Nothing bad could be said about the food served to us. We were not only teacher trainees but we also became recipients of CONSTEC tapes with corresponding teaching support materials. Some of us got even lucky enough to win the raffled DVDs. Finally, the trainers were awesome, credible, considerate, friendly and understanding. To mention, we had Prof. Josefina L. Pabillon who was an expert yet had a loving motherly approach to our concerns and of course, Ms. Rhodora Angela F. Ferrer who was not only convincing but charming as well. Trainers like them and all the others we got to meet during the opening and closing ceremonies easily got the awe and attention of the participants. They were inspiring in the real sense of the word considering their status or the positions they hold in their respective careers.
Although it’s not the first time that we were introduced to the use of video presentations as one of the instructional materials used in teaching, it was the first time we were trained to the use of Continuing Studies via Technology (CONSTEC) tapes and teaching support materials. Then I knew what CONSTEC meant. Considering that our school, Victorias National High School here in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Region VI, is the second biggest school in the Division of Negros Occidental, we were not exposed to such a method of teaching- that is, using CONSTEC tapes. Now, we get to properly use them and the teaching support materials were proven to be very helpful to us especially in writing our daily lesson plans.
The use of CONSTEC materials has helped me a lot in my teaching skills. As a Physics teacher in a public school with practically more than the ideal number of students in a class, I could not get hold of their attention with myself doing the demonstration or facilitate learning by allowing them to do the activity by themselves and at the same time seeing to it and making sure that everyone is paying attention. With the use of CONSTEC tapes, I can emphasize activities I have to without having to reconstruct used materials; let them learn the concepts by doing the activities themselves when necessary considering the availability of the materials. In doing so, I can still get a hold of my students to listen and to pay attention thereby ensure that learning was indeed facilitated.
The totality of the learning experience I gained during the seminar-workshop made me more eager to become religious towards my duties as a teacher because the use of CONSTEC tapes made my work more effective and easy. I am now given the opportunity to become a better person- a teacher at that. For this I am grateful.
It is my wish that those teachers who were not yet given the opportunity to experience the benefits brought about by the use of CONSTEC Materials could be reached and that the FUSE people could also have an effect on their lives specifically to their teaching skills as to what impact they had made on the lives of those who have participated in the seminar-workshop including myself.
Congratulations on the Foundation’s 15th anniversary, may the legacy continue and never cease. More power and God Speed!
PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME: SUZETTE S. BELANDRES AGE: 40 YRS. OLD
OCCUPATION: TEACHING NO. OF YEARS: 17 YRS.
POSITION: TEACHER III
SCHOOL: VICTORIAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
ADDRESS: YAP QUINA ST., VICTORIAS CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL,
REGION VI- WESTERN VISAYAS
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Education
MAJOR : Biology
MINOR : Physics
GRADUATE COURSE: 61 units MA/CAR major in School Administration &
Supervision Minor in Guidance & Counseling
You might think you did your best but there could be more. Students can learn better if you have used diverse and new ways that can accommodate students’ learning differences. How could it be possible? Like a saying goes “Learning is continuous process” and “Teachers are good learners”, we need to understand the need for professional growth and improvement to help the betterment of our society and our dear students. Let us talk about what I mean here by using my experience. This is a situation I need to face in my previous years of teaching:
It was rumored that the incoming fourth year students are very restless and some are not that receptive to the information you will be giving to them. They do not work if they do not want to. They have a very large class compared to other classes. Since they have a big population to compare with the regular classes, learning is very hard to attain as well as their attention. And they easily get bored.
Since I am newbie teacher, this could be challenging. A question in my mind, “how would I able to achieve something good from them?” It took me to read books but reading is not enough I think because I do not know how effective a strategy can be inthe real situation. It left me clueless what to use and what to do to help them to learn. In the beginning of the school year, the directress of the school called me and asked to attend a seminar at the Pearl of the Orient. I immediately said “YES!”. This could be the answer to my prayers – I prayed that I could help my students to learn better and enjoy even they have a negative feedback from their previous teachers.
The seminar was about the Physics teaching and using the videos of Constel from Foundation of Upgrading the Standard Education (FUSE).
It was an amazing group of teachers and a new experience. I had an initial impression about the videos before the seminar that the videos are too old and might bore the students more. However, it was not the case. Why? The trainors showed us how to utilize the teaching resources including the videos we had. I was given a chance to deliver a teaching-demonstration, too. This gives me a new horizon of perspective how to teach the students and give a stepping stone to develop a good plan for my students. This enhanced my skills and added the potential to give a better “best” to my students. The seminar was just in time of my needs. I am very thankful for that.
Of course, a training or seminar would be useless unless you apply it. This is the time to be developing the plan for my students. At first I was hesitant to use this new strategy was motivated lecture with short film showing, I was amazed that they already have their notebooks and pens. According to them, they enjoyed the previous lessons and they find the need to take down notes. It helped me gain confidence on my skills and encouraged to prepare more for the students. When students cope with the learning situation, it made me smile and more enthusiastic.
The road to excellence in teaching Science is neither easy nor simple. Considering the fact that most pupils find the subject as difficult just like Mathematics, as revealed by different studies in various levels. Compared to other countries, we are left behind in the international assessment in terms of Science performance. Several researches have been conducted to improve the teaching and learning of this subject. There were many new teaching devices or materials and techniques for classroom use that have been developed so as to improve Science instruction, yet the result is still the same, pupils have low performance in this subject.
Science instruction becomes difficult because of the lack of knowledge on different Science concepts and principles on the part of the teachers. Likewise, lack of materials and apparatuses are added problems to most teachers. And also there are few seminars conducted in Science which caters to the needs of the teachers a far as teaching Science is concern. As a Science teacher, I was wishing then of a kind of problems cited above were properly addressed due to the seminar sponsored by FUSE.
Teaching Science requires the use of varied instructional materials which are important for clear and vivid presentation of the subject matter. In view of these needs, the FUSE has initiated and conducted seminar to Science teachers of Tarlac Province last November 13-14, 2008 and I’m very lucky because I’m one of those who was inflicted with the FUSE Virus. I have attended different seminars in Science but the FUSE seminar was different. It was a seminar which really answered the prayers of Science teachers.
The knowledge that I have gained from the training and the materials given to us rekindled my passion for teaching. I felt like I knew everything when I got back to my school and it ignited my motivation to effect changes on my pupils, to my instruction and to the school where I’m presently connected. I considered it a “virus” which I think every teacher should possess so that we can expect better performance of both teachers and pupils.
My teaching has become more meaningful and interesting with the use of the materials given by FUSE. Before it was only a chalk and talk method, but now with the aid of the said materials, I only serve as facilitator of learning. The learners became more active and interested because they do not only hear the concepts or principles in Science but rather they see it right before their eyes the video lessons which enable them to difficult to explain due to lack of available materials in the school. The experiments contained in the CDs were used to supplement the different lessons. The pupils were able to visualize objects which are impossible to view, like for instance the complex Science concepts. Laboratory experiments which may be too difficult ,expensive or dangerous to perform in the school are simulated in the CDs. All these made my teaching an easy task.
“Attend classes. Teach. Teach, go home… and go to the classes once again.”
Yes. Life of a teacher just goes around this routine. Ordinary. Simple.
Half of my ten years of professional life was spent on the above mentioned routine. Sometimes, it does not excite me anymore going to my class. I felt, I was not actually teaching but just giving my students burden.
Not until summer of 2007. The Foundation Upgrading Standard of Education (FUSE) had done great things if not wonders, to my life as a teacher. I was personally helped and enlightened. The three (3) day training and workshop enhanced my skills, knowledge and attitude toward teaching.
After that training, I went home very excited and enthusiastic to go to my class and apply the learning that I had. Of course, that was a sort of a “natural thing” for a freshly trained teacher!
Right after that week, I borrowed a TV screen from the school, bought a DVD player (I wasn’t lucky in the raffles of VCD players!) intended for my class. I browsed and read books given by FUSE and relearn, re-study and rehearse what I learned. I was indeed so excited.
FIRST WEEK was an Experience!
Fourth Year Ruby, my advisory was not a first section class. I couldn’t describe the excitement and eagerness in their eyes upon hearing that we would be using the television as medium of their learning. Everybody was on their feet, trying to help installing the gadgets. Some were rearranging the seats for better viewing.
So, we were all set! I did the short introduction about how did the program reached our school. They knew about the excellent facilitators from University of the Philippines, Phillipine Normal College, La Salle and many other good fellows. They also knew about how philanthropic and concern Mr. Lucio Tan is to the education of the Filipino children.
I was motivating them (my students) to develop critical thinking by presenting first some of the words in the story which they tried to guess the relationship/connection to the story’s title. The class was so noisy, presenting their own guess. Then I slowly unravelled the story by chopping each part using the video. Everybody’s interest was engaged. It was fun!
During the abstraction process, I haven’t found so much difficulty. Thus, I said to myself, at last, I found a strategy to sustain my students’ interest.
How does it Affect Me?
Personally, I was so thankful for being part of the Mindanao wide FUSE training. Additional inputs and KSAs are motivating factors for my growth as a teacher and as a person. I gained confidence in my teaching capacity because I know the learning that I got through FUSE has given me the opportunity to expand and widen my horizon. It has broadened the perspective of my being a “molder” of this nation. It has given me a different spark in the eyes of my students. I led them the way but I don’t choose the way for them. I am an avid torch bearer for them to see the way.
The fire within me to share is burning. I even found it rewarding to mentor my fellow teachers in my school. I felt it my responsibility to spread the good news of FUSE…and that is, not to take new technology and changes in education as BURDEN or TASKS rather a challenge to better what is already good. We still have to walk the extra mile if we want to see our community or nation reclaim its world status in education. This is not an easy endeavour. It means the commitment of everyone; not only of the teachers but of the entire citizenry, as well.
On the other hand, I am now looking other opportunities to extend my newfound synergy in teaching to become more perpetuating. I have tapped bright students to mentor or assist slow pacing students. This is to ensure that no one is left behind in the process. Though, sometimes, I find it taxing because I have to counter-check the result. Nevertheless, knowing that in the end it is the students’ learning that became the end of all this, it just inspire me to do more. To some extent, I have also tried to indigenize the process of education because of the inadequacy of materials or the absence of it in my place. I utilized what is just available in my surrounding. As a teacher, I observed a great deal of change in my attitude of coming up with other materials for my students’ sake.
What are the proofs of this passion?
Soon after my training, and based on my previous performances as a classroom teacher, I was promoted to a Master Teacher 1 Position. I too, became one of the members of the Division’s Pool of trainers/facilitators which handled roll-outs on various DepEd programs and in-Service Training (INSET).
Right now, I co-managed the implementation of the Drop Out Reduction Program of our school. This is in consonance with our commitment to reduce Dropout Rate, increase Participation Rate and improve Achievement Rate of our Division. Moreover, Education for All (EFA) 2015 goal’s of producing functionally literate graduates is being supported by this endeavour.
In closing, let me say, I am a teacher ready for other challenges ahead of me. It may not be easy but I know, it is not impossible to attain because God is with me all the way. God bless all teachers in this country! Mabuhay!
Estrelita A. Pena
Kabasalan National High School
Division of Zamboanga Sibugay
In the context of many significant changes and educational reforms, the primary goal of a teacher is to provide continuity in learning and maintaining enthusiasm in acquiring skills for mastery.
In the school where I teach, I am counted among the 20% elder generation easily correlated with resistance to change. Because the influx of modernization in a far-flung division cannot be easily inputted considering the geographic isolation, it is apparent that anything new in the system becomes a source of resistance. What makes teaching more challenging for me is that in the most basic level, a teacher is left to provide varied approaches to facilitate maximum learning. It can be both a failure and a success when a teacher finds adopting or rejecting new educational reforms. In my 35 years of teaching in a public high school, boredom can always sip in as a part of human limitations especially when insufficiency of resources prevails. And reforming in education becomes a struggle. It is a practical struggle to work out new ideas so that they are coherent to educational standards especially as education advances through the 21st century. The struggle can be characterized in terms of competing with self-interest and political dimensions. But, the passion to teach should be nourished with constantlove to avoid total boredom. That love has to be drawn compatible with new resources that help teachers enrich relationships necessary to effect corresponding changes in others and among the children. Their eager minds as they progress induce better learning outcomes. Instructional models do help. With the emergence of video tele-courses by FUSE in 2005, there is a new insight: that if theories and experiments are supplemented with varied practical examples, concepts can be best understood. Was it worth trying? In every experience there is always a first. To start using new gadgets can be a risk but by further analyzing the process, differentiation rather than just citing differences surfaced as a challenge by remaking the usual day-to-day processes that make up schooling. In my persistence to change and to rally behind improvisation my first try was followed in succession. The videos advocate critical inquiry by teachers like me as means by which they can change their old teaching strategies contributing to the more general and intrinsically educative process of improving teaching and learning. Every time there was a need to inject new ideas beyond what is introduced in the text, an appropriate video lesson come into the rescue. Though it is imperative that part of being a teacher is to be creative and imaginative in a critically large sense, the human mind is not that readily responsive. With videos, they can help ignite the minds to grasp new ideas. The videos can explain lessons more accurately and more comprehensively. The skills are being developed in certain behavioral patterns that allow some degrees of interaction in every day life. I believe that the lessons are being enhanced in a way that students can relate concepts within their level of experiences. When interaction prevails, the passion for teaching is enriched.
In a less formal setting, the task of unraveling the mechanisms of the teachinglearning process becomes a new exciting experience. It provokes enthusiasm to a wider dimension by learning more. I say this because the teacher is provided the chance to link new ideas to local situations and processing becomes easier to handle. It is like getting more done by working less. The work output also embraces the evolving and developing of new understandings in Biology that are much easier to grasp because of the sequential presentations. Videos not only motivate greater learning but to some extent, both the teacher and the learner can think together, digest lessons together and grow together. This healthy encounter makes the nature and purpose of education more meaningfully carried out. When such bonding in the learning process happens, there is shared accountability brought about by interaction in the classroom. My students became more active and confident but more surprisingly there was a change of attitude among the slower-learners. Now, they find Biology more interesting with the renewed interest of the teacher. Each one motivated the other, the teacher sustaining her role as guide. With these mutual transformative aspirations, the students feel accountable to aim for high grades in return of good teaching strategy through the use of videos. To me it is a rewarding experience to fully nourish my passion for teaching. This gainful experience was translated into an action plan, which I worked out in 2007 to affirm my observations. After evaluating the results of my comparison between two learning groups, which I treated as controlled and uncontrolled, there was significant improvement in the quizzes, long tests and final rating of those exposed to the videos. My renewed enthusiasm is pursued with learning experience each new day.
Today, I revisit my past for it has given me a lesson. I could have chosen to remain stagnated by restraining from using the video lessons but I have given myself a chance to grow by exploring them. Now, I cannot settle for less. I have to sustain my passion to teach with utmost care. It is by way of further upgrading the standard of education that matters. FUSE has ignited my passion for teaching. FUSE makes all the difference.
Josefina Obra
obra.josefina@yahoo.com
Would you believe that it took me sixteen long years before I realized and appreciated that teaching is FUN and is the most rewarding of all professions?
I have been teaching grade six English and Science in the public school for almost eighteen years. As far as my experience is concerned, it cannot be denied that teaching is not easy and fun, TEACHING is such a challenging; sometimes boring and most of the time strenuous job to do.
Looking back, when I accepted and reported to my first teaching assignment in a farflung barangay with a three-kilometer walking distance from the highway, with no other means of transportation, my classroom was a dilapidated H.E. building with few condemnable chairs, with oversized class of fifty-five over-aged, naughty pupils. I was actually confused and troubled with this reality, very opposite from what were discussed in our studies. But armed and equipped with all the ideals and principles of teaching, successfully I was able to sustain and persevere until I was transferred to my hometown.
However teaching like marriage should be cultivated, nurtured and enriched, if it has to stand the test of time and similarly to fit the changing innovation of education.
Most especially that we are now in this era of globalization; where technology is considered as one of the biggest reform in education, a reform that changes the way teaching and learning process.
Yes! Obviously these past few years I’ve noticed/observed our pupils are becoming uncomfortable with our teaching styles. They become restless, bored, inactive and nonparticipative in classroom discussion as if they are craving for something challenging, something advanced and modern.
Due to this significant development in this globalization of education our role as teacher is completely different and more pressing than ever. We must be able to face the challenges of the times, must possess human technological skills to meet the demands of a rapidly transforming world.
For once I seemed unproductive and ineffective. I was depressed I can’t help it but I lost my enthusiasm and drive for teaching, nonetheless, it was not yet long when I was sent to attend a two-day seminar workshop at Boronggan, Eastern Samar, that was May 8-9, 2008. The seminar workshop was conducted by FUSE – Foundation of Upgrading Standard of Education.
The focus of the seminar workshop was on the use of CONSTEC VCD’s and Teaching Support Materials in Teaching English and Science.
An experience that etched in my mind that taught me a lot happened when I am still in the university finishing my bachelor’s degree. Loitering with my peers under a shed a professor close to us approaches and joins our group. After a couple of talks, he turned his face to me and asked a favor, “Can you teach your classmates…?” Flattered at first, but at the back of my mind I am scrambling for reply. With a grin in my face I turned to him and with a humble voice, I retort “Sir, I can’t give what I don’t have”.
As if it is a déjà vu when I caught on seemingly the same situation – no longer a student that need to impress a professor by all means but an applicant that will do everything to satisfy an employer – on a job interview. During that interview, the principal, with the head teacher of the Science Department of the school, stressed that I will only be hired if I will teach Physics instead of Math which is my major subject. The same feeling when I was asked by my professor recurs but I know I can’t give the same reply as I did before. Thinking not to dismay the principal and to get the job, I smiled, though I know my smile is only skin deep, and confirmed “Yes sir, I will teach Physics”. Only when I am few steps away from the principal’s office that I realized, I am going to a battle with neither weapon nor background of the battlefield at all. Knowing the fact that teaching the subject which is beyond your comfort zone is as if “giving something that you don’t have”. But should I leave myself hanging, allowing my students to gain nothing from me? It was then I enthralled, as my oath being a professional teacher, I have to gain something so that I can’t give nothing to my students.
Well, this is it; I am starting again to gain adequate knowledge to the subject beyond my expertise. Things are jumbling on my head picturing out the things to do once I am in front my students. I started teaching physics January of 2006 and it was really a gamble. But God is really good; calm came after the storm! Summer of that same year, an upgrading program was offered to teachers teaching Mathematics and Science who are non-majors to undergo Certificate of Teaching Programs. Without faltering, I grab the opportunity and enroll to the said program and chosen Certificate Program in Physics. Well, its free, it is sponsored by DOST and DepED. This upgrading program equips non-major teachers with content knowledge on the field they are teaching. This program somehow mitigates my lack of confidence to face my students and teach them Physics!
August of that same year another outpouring of blessing was bestowed upon me. I was lucky enough to be chosen by the school to undergo training sponsored by the
Foundation of Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. This training focuses on the enhancement of the skills of physics teachers on the use of CONSTEC VCDs and Teaching Support Materials. The said VCDs and materials provide actual demonstrations of concepts in physics and animations that students easily understand. The use of real examples to explain concepts were utilized in the materials. The training itself provides teacher-participant the necessary skills on proper handling of these materials; when to use and how to use.
The true wealth of a nation, I firmly believe, is its pool of educated and learned youth. For on their young shoulders will rest the responsibility of running the wheel of commerce and the industry as well as the bureaucracy. Everything, we, adults possess, may it be assets or liabilities, youth will inherit in futures to come. Thus, the policy of providing quality education so that they could fend for themselves should never take the back seat. And it can never also wait.
This principled notion has fairly guided me in my almost sixteen years of professional teaching both in private and public schools and even up to this day. And along with that, I always see to it that I also improve myself academically and professionally through training and seminars for learning is a lifelong cycle. I cannot give what I do not possess.
Firing the Rocket for Lift-Off
Before shooting up skyward to reach the heavens many preparations are made so that students I help to mold will be up to the task and well equipped for the job prior to leaving off the ground. Supportive school management should be around, qualified teachers ought to be there, teaching strategy must be updated and responsive, latest technology should be utilized and conducive learning environment must be present. These factors will largely determine the flight’s success.
Our space programs, our astronauts, our gears, our vehicles and our support teams are all set to go and just waiting for the red light. And the countdown begins! 10, 9, 8……3, 2, 1, 0! We have lift-off!
Unwavering Ground Support to Stay Aloft
As any spacecraft exploring the vastness of the universe the mission controls play a significant role to keep it going and accomplish its goals. Thus, the travel to evident success will never materialize without the necessary support like the efforts being made by Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education. Yes, they work from the ground and up.
Many educators in the country today benefited from the timely training and seminars conducted by this organization. And they were given free. Luckily, this author was one of the recipients.
The teaching strategies and materials provided by them assisted me in my classroom management and lesson preparation. Training the teachers like me will not suffice. It is crucial that the necessary tools to instill learning among the students are made available. And that is what I have got from the foundation.
After I graduated at Philippine Normal University with a course of Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in the year 1995, I decided to go to the field of education. Also, I finished my professional education and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Some of my classmates work in insurance company, others work in the bank, and others also decided to be a teacher. One of my classmates who worked in the bank convinced me and promised me that he would help me to work in the bank in the year 1996. But I turned down the offer because I discovered my intense passion in teaching. In my 13 years of teaching in the private school, I taught mathematics in elementary, high school, and college students. I decided to be a public school teacher in the year 2008 when I and my family went back to my native town in Silang, Cavite.
At present, I am still a public school teacher teaching mathematics 2 in the secondary level here in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Aside from being a classroom teacher, I am also conducting special math class to the selected and intelligent students of our school from first year to fourth year. I am doing this not only because of my passion in teaching but more so that I have seen that these students need a proper guidance. The teaching in the public schools compared to the private schools is more challenging because of the population of students in a room. I am thankful because in our school we only average from 70 to 80 students per classroom. Really, this is few compare to other public schools that are having hundred of students in a room. When it comes to the ratio of students to the books, we cannot afford to have a one to one ratio.
The problems mentioned above are only apart of the total problems in the public school. But despite of these things, I decided to be more committed, dedicated, and competent teacher because of my passion in teaching. Further, I want to live a lasting legacy to my students that teaching is a noble profession and a certain teacher “stands and delivers”.
But I need to keep my passion alive and I believe that seminars, lectures, trainings, and professional growth would help me to ignite my passion for teaching. I am grateful that I was chosen by my school to attend the 16 training hours in the “Teacher Training Course in Mathematics on the use of CONSTEC VCDs and teaching Support Materials”. The training was held at 12A Pearl of the Orient Tower Condomiñum last August 13 – 14, 2009 and sponsored by Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education. Inc.(FUSE)
On the first day of training, I left my place Silang, Cavite at 4:15 a.m. and met my coteachers in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The three of us went to its venue and arrived before 8:00 a.m. As far as I can remember, we belong to the top 5 earliest trainee who arrived in the same condominium. While we are waiting for the start of the training, I had read the mission and vision and other information about FUSE posted along the way to the entrance of 12A Pearl of the Orient Tower Condominium. Honestly, I secretly salute the mission and vision of FUSE because our beloved country needs it. We need it so that our students, graduates, and educators themselves will be globally competitive.
Teaching is a profession described by many as the noblest field to undertake. It also covers some of the fundamental things to develop in life – the mind and character of a child.
Our present time offers a huge arena of information that is readily available in just a click of a finger to both young and old minds, but as a teacher, the question “How will I teach my lesson?” requires not just a snap from my fingers.
If we will ask colleagues on how can teachers develop their ways of teaching, the possible answers would be – enroll in graduate studies, participate in a research work, attend seminars and workshops and many others. For many teachers like me, attending seminars and workshops would be a better, if not the best, channel to know what is new and what is not in the educational system.
As such, FUSE comes into the picture. It is one of the many organizations finding time to make valuable seminars and workshops possible.
I must say that after attending the seminar and workshop conducted by FUSE, it seems as though it has become my fuse in teaching. It allowed me to see things that are beyond my knowledge in utilizing materials to present lessons better. Fuse in an electrical circuit carry out vital functions to make things work properly. In teaching, on the other hand, it has helped me control the flow of available information not in the usual conventional way.
The FUSE teaching materials are very useful guide in maximizing the use of videos. I am provided by a comprehensive discussion of concepts that permits me to do research so that I can make available additional information that support the topic discussed in the presentation. This leads my students to learn more, integrate things, show relationships among things, and master the basics so that they can understand deeply the complex topics.
Prepared videos, if use as instructional materials let students develop their listening ability more. This also makes the teachers be abreast on how to operate different devices like LCD projector, computer, and speakers, which are all connected to each to each other.
It may seem funny but not knowing to make use of those devices can hinder the utilization of very good instructional materials. Thus, hindering the chance of the students to learn. The videos can provide teachers a list of activities using improvised materials, which can help a lot of schools in barrios and other less privileged places.
The world wants teachers who remain passionate in spite of obstacles and setbacks. They look for teachers who demonstrate an enthusiastic and genuine belief in the abilities of others and express optimism for the future. In today’s uncertain times, teachers with a positive, confident can approach to life are desperately needed.
Are you willing to accept the challenge? Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) maintains vision in the midst of indifference. A good friend once said ” Always be involved in something bigger than yourself.” That kind of attitude stands in stark contrast to the indifference that surrounds us. We must be willing to take on a God-sized task.
Teachers with vision to upgrade the standard of education are driven by principle, character and high ideals. It takes individual COURAGE to do what’s right- no matter what the cost, vision and courage always go hand-in-hand.
In most cases, children are taught in traditional ways, stereo-type strategies and sand-box methodologies of teaching. As a public school teacher, I am charged with the responsibility to perpetuate the mind of my pupils and motivate each of them to finish the school year and to become good citizen of the nation.
Before we look at what can be done to prepare ourselves for this important role, we need to take an honest look at the new generation of students. Today’s teachers are considerably different from the older, more experience teachers. Unfortunately, many of today’s students are multi-media generation. Teachers suffer from one or more inadequacies..
In addition, as a classroom teacher I also suffer professional inadequacy, The need for fundamental knowledge of the subjects to transmit to students. Traditional teaching aid is not enough to strengthen learning. In my experience, the video-course tapes became very useful. The materials help my pupils understand the integration of Science in other subjects. The subjects where grade one pupils find difficult is now made easy.
Actually this is not surprising. Fifteen years of long range plan promoting quality education has been the hear t of FUSE. It is a national trend that has existed for a decade and a half. The Foundation has encouraged me to promote the use of FUSE to teachers who find difficulty in presenting lessons. The FUSE education program is saturated with innovation and up-to-date information accessible to the needs of teachers and students.
From the day teachers were invited on a seminar like this hosted by a private institution and from the minute I was asked to attend even if it is on the day of its deadline to register, I was half a mind to accept the offer because of thought and hope this will be something different from other seminars. And yes, it is true from the venue, the speakers and all the attendees present in the seminar, it makes us feel very important. There is no special treatment to who are in higher position like principals; we are treated equally regardless of our status in life and position in school. We are treated fairly like their friends and as common colleagues not their subordinates. We feel like students in high school, so being free to make friends and have been while learning something new. With other circle of intellectuals from different places, we feel safe with the new place where we are, we are in one group as educators, free from worries and pressures of our work left for the meantime to gain something for us, memorable and very helpful. It was a great experience to be surrounded by very smiling and very accommodating teachers, mentors, new friends and staffs of the foundation.
The FUSE Foundation has made us happy while we learn, inspired with the treatment given and the facilities and the person around. Even the office of the Chairman and other staffs were made open to us during the activity, we are allowed to use the VCDs need to be tested. It is a nice feeling that they trusted us and lend their computers make us feel very welcome in the area where I thought only important persons can stayed there and has the right to owned and the place.
Tapes were labeled and fit to the objectives and the subject matter where added elaborations can be found in teaching support materials. It is presented in three hand books with different subject matter in elementary science from grade three to six where topics for the previous grades could be the background for the next grade and could also be use in the review part of the lesson. The handbook really provided a lot with science idea, science processes and the actual background that is very informative and updated in each grade. There are also different activities that can be used by different group in a class. Test sample with answer key is also provided, pictures can also be copied or enlarge for better understanding of the lessons.
The pupils were very excited to watch each episode. They show interest and willingness to operate and prepare the tapes for the class or be the teacher’s assistant in every session. They also require their classmates to behave and be quiet for the better understanding of the lectures, a very breath-taking event for each of them. Even those who find it hard to communicate on the second language try their best to answer questions and share their ideas without hesitation. And the only thing that the teacher can do is to give guide questions for them to think of the answer, reconstruct their sentence for them to practice answering questions for the evaluation of the lesson and direct them in giving the science ideas, and the conclusions for the different situations and observations. Inferences from the other classmates make them think of another idea and much better opinions.
Nowadays, teachers go through a wide spectrum of teaching strategies so as to enable the half-filled learners grasp the ideas being presented to them. These strategies are well-thought of in order that they become parallel to the varied learning styles that the students possess. The students’ preconceptions about things are also given value since they are viewed no longer as empty slates who come to class, awaiting the teachers’ lectures and demonstrations. Teachers have become more aware of their students’ voices; they now listen more and talk less in their class. However, no matter how wellplanned and well- executed the day’s lesson is, the question remains whether the students understood the lesson or they just went through the whole ordeal without getting anything along the way.
In my six years of teaching high school students, I have employed varied teaching strategies which in my belief, catered to the individualistic nature of the learners. I strongly consider that one method of teaching may be suitable to one but entirely inapplicable to the other. Since our school lack in materials necessary in teaching the sciences more effectively, I improvised materials to present my students with tangible demonstrations of the arid statements found in the textbook. But at times disappointments engulfed me especially after painstakingly going over the lesson, preparing numerous examples, and improvising materials to the dot, students fail to appreciate the essence of the lesson.
Never giving up, though, I researched for innovative strategies that I can utilize to hold students’ interest in the lesson. I reassessed my teaching styles. Incorporated in my teaching style are things that I haven’t done before. I used gestures, asked thoughtprovoking questions and even tried to occasionally sit on my desk while I desperately tried to battle against the distractions lurking in every corner of the classroom just to hold my students’ attention to the subject I have at hand. I provided contextual examples that the students can relate with, even using names of popular television personalities and the situations they have been in to illustrate examples. I sought the advice of my seasoned colleagues since they have had more experiences in teaching and in handling difficult students. I attended seminars and took note of the latest strategies they present.
I prepared for the battle. But at the back of my mind, I am still apprehensive. I know that there is something that can be done in order for my students to really have the retention of the subject that I long for them to have. That is when I tried to see things on the other side of the fence, view things the way my students’ see it; I thought of my life as a high school student. The things that I remember with fondness are the times our science teacher will hold classes at the school’s audio-visual room. I look forward to having classes at the AVR because it would mean viewing the CONSTEL video about Physics or Chemistry. I remember it was still on Video tape format then. My teacher did not start if we were not complete because as she would have it, she hates having to rewind the tape to the segment that we missed.
I can still remember the oohhs and aahhs of my classmates and I as we intently watch the video, taking down notes to answer the guide questions our teacher gave us at the start of the video. I was amazed with the demonstrations presented because it was presenting science as a reality other than what is written in our textbooks. How I wished we watched the video in all of our lessons. As I was thinking back of my own high school experience, it hit me. If I could only grab hold of a copy of the video so that I can also share with my students the things that I have learned from the video. Thus, I was so fortunate to have attended the training given by FUSE. What is more rewarding was the fact that I got to bring back to school a set of the CONSTEC VCDs.
I immediately had my students watch the video. As I learned in the training, I did not show to my students all of the video at once. I simply chose the segments which I need. Using the teacher’s guide, I offered my students a new strategy. The video serves as a wrap up of all the topics which were discussed. It also supplies my students additional input about the lesson. The video is helpful especially when I don’t have any improvisations made due to lack of materials. It provided the necessary demonstrations which are quite difficult to do in class since not all materials are readily available. It was also through the video that my own understanding of the lesson was reinforced and validated. I saw that there was a noticeable increase in their test results the first time I presented the video to the class. Their response to open-ended questions became more substantial, more realistic and more related to their daily experience. They became engaging and would actively participate in all the activities I prepared for them. Like me, they also looked forward to the times I include the video in my lesson.
I have found a strategy which works for my students. The application of the CONSTEC VCDs in my teaching engages them visually and develops their note-taking skills. They learn to listen and listen well. The advantages of using the video transcend beyond the test scores of my students. It is something that I believe will remain in them even when they have left the four corners of the classroom. The video lessons made the lessons real to them. It allowed them to reach the world.
Ma. Flora C. Arcenal
Blk 37 Lot 47 Molave St. Phase 4
Green Meadows Subd., Brgy. Sto. Niño
Tugbok, Davao City 8000
+63928-2378830
As far as I can remember, I always wanted to become a teacher. On my list of “The Most Respected People in My Life”, my teachers followed closely behind God and my parents. The wealth of knowledge I have gained were selflessly shared to me by my teachers. They have become an inspiration. This probably explains why I took teaching as my profession.
Teaching can be challenging. Some days there just doesn’t seem to be enough of me to go around. Each little face is so eager, so trusting and so worthy of my attention. How can I reach to them all? I am always so anxious to discover various tricks of my trade as well as put into practice those tested ways my experienced mentors have taught me. What works? What doesn’t? Which method, approach, or strategy would help my teaching successful? Which are actual and up to date to the students of this generation?
As an elementary public school teacher, I love bringing new and exciting lessons to my classroom. Beyond the traditional study tips, orientation, reading, writing, study and test-taking skills, I always do some research, attended seminars, workshops and trainings to enhance my knowledge in teaching.
In the year 2004, my school principal asked me to attend a seminar/workshop sponsored by FUSE (Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education). I must admit that it was the first time that I have heard of the foundation but it did elicited excitement after learning of the foundation’s topic and goal for the seminar. The 16- hour seminar/workshop was like light bulbs lighting brightly above my head. My excitement in teaching was fired up. We were trained on how to teach using TVassisted instructions. They gave us books and VCD tapes to guide us along. We realized that the TV although regarded as a distraction for learning for kids can also be used in a positive way. Suddenly, we found ourselves armed once more with new weapons and skills to effectively teach our students.
As soon as I got back to our school, I began to apply all that I have learned from the FUSE seminar. I became more responsible to meet my students learning and development needs, imparting with them the proper values and wisdom they need to become productive, responsible, and compassionate individuals. With the help of the FUSE, my teaching effectiveness especially in Science and English was strengthened. The ‘Teaching Support Materials’ handed to us during the seminar makes knowledge transfer both meaningful and exciting, as I make my pupils experience these concepts and theories at work in daily life. I always used the CONSTEL (Continuing Studies via Television) because this helps me become more efficient. I experienced first hand that television is a very powerful medium. Television’s dual audio and visual component appeal more to our senses compared to other forms of media such as radio and print. This is even truer for very young audiences of this generation, whose attention can only be captured through highly potent stimulation.
It is a truism: Teachers shape the future of their students. The future success (or failure) of any individual attending school may be partly ascribed to the efficiency (or inefficiency) of their mentors. However, the teacher’s dedication to and passion for the profession are jeopardized at present by economic vicissitudes with more and more educators looking for the proverbial greener pastures in faraway lands. We find consolation in the fact that there are still members of the profession—latter-day heroes and heroines in their own right—who remain faithful and committed to training, nurturing and loving the young minds under their aegis. As a public school teacher once, I also had to grapple with the uncertainties and difficulties inherent in the profession.
Dedication, however, would not be enough to stem the adverse tide. What is also imperative is the continuing education of teachers who are the lifeblood of the educational system. But quis docebit ipsos doctores? Who will teach the teachers? Taking an MA/MS or a PhD would of course be one of the options, but apart from pursuing graduate studies, teachers will also have to peruse materials that recommend innovative teaching methodologies.
In this regard, the Filipino teacher of today should feel fortunate that there are nongovernment institutions like the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) whose primordial concern is the improvement of a sector that may serve as our beckon of hope in these most trying times. FUSE is one of those groups spearheading a campaign to address the urgent need for upgrading and uplifting education, which is one way to cushion the blow of a global economic slowdown never experienced since the 1920’s. FUSE is a group that does not rant about problems, but instead focuses on a more effective approach to address them—the training and re-training of teachers, which of course redounds to the benefit of the learners themselves.
I had the privilege to attend a FUSE seminar at the Allied Bank office in Makati in 2004. I was then a public secondary school teacher with a desire to give quality education to the students under my tutelage. It was a tall task considering the number of students in each class I was handling (the big class size is a perennial concern in public schools). Moreover, I was using drills and “repeat-after-me” approaches, which for the most part, were not improving my students’ second language skills.
At the seminar, I learned some strategies I could employ in making language teaching and learning creative, interesting, and enjoyable—quite different from the dry-as dust, old school language lectures I had been exposed to and was using in class then. One relevant point from the seminar, which I remember, is the effectiveness and importance of collaborative learning. The strategy is predicated on the principle that learning may be facilitated through group activities. To paraphrase John Donne, no learner is an island entire of itself. In real life, people learn from each other, and problems are most effectively addressed by people who pool their efforts as a group. Learning, or any task for that matter, becomes easier with cooperation and coordination among the learners. Since then, I have been using collaborative learning activities in the classroom, and the results have not been perfect but very encouraging nonetheless.
Philosophy stated that “Education is a continuous/life-long process of growth and development”. Nowadays, it is in the midst of a multitude of transition as the society approached the new millennium. So, as an educator, it is a necessity or a must to keep on being open to the idea of the adaption of various innovations and be flexible to the changes that will suit the changing needs of society. A teacher, in particular, needs to widen his/her perspective to welcome new innovations, redesigning the learning wares and be an architect of the different techniques and strategies for effective education with the aid of technology.
I discovered this phenomenon in my 19 years of teaching Chemistry and Physics in high school. Before, the traditional “chalkology” approach in lectures and discussion of concepts, laws and principles and a very seldom laboratory experiment due to unavailability or limited resources of laboratory tools, chemicals and equipments was the technology I have during 1990’s. I then found it effective because students became very good in concepts and principles particularly problem solving skills using formulas and computations. But as the years went by, lots of changes happened in our society, our environment and even the attitude towards studying also changed. There are various teaching strategies developed by the rapid change of the system and environment. Lots of trainings and workshops were introduced to the teachers-some are not so applicable, especially to the attitudes and characteristics of the students in the new millennium. The adaptation of the used of OHP (over-head projector) from chalkboard into manila paper or cartolina. The continuous changes of the information and industrial revolution happened in our country affected the ways and styles of society including the educational system. The need to improve capabilities as well as instructional skills and curriculum suited to the need, gender, sex and age of the learners were also given emphasized. I thought that if I will not upgrade my teaching skills through adapting innovations, it will be hard for me to become an effective teacher and the kind of education I will give to my students will be similarly affected.
One of the strategies I adapted in 2001 is the use of TV-Viewing approach using the FUSE-CONSTEL VHS Tape. I did not get any training on why and how to use this in my lesson plan; I just utilized it as part of my culminating and summative activity. It gave a lot of encouragement and confidence to me and I observed that students began to love and interested in science subject, some of them achieved more and increased their achievement rate.
My passion and desire to teach science subject were enhanced when I was chosen to be a participant in the training-workshop of FUSE on the use of TV-Viewing Approach (A Telecourse-Physics in Everyday Life) in a CD presented using Computer/LCD Projector. I learned how to used it in my lesson plan with the aid of the rich and quality Teacher’s Resource Manual. It was now more meaningful and effective because you can use it in any part of the lesson plan.
My training gave me confidence and passion on how to manipulate technology like TV, Computer, Projector and how to make a movie clip for power point presentation and learned how to give value on why I used this strategy and/or approach-despite the fact that low performing students can’t grasp the idea of the lesson.
But with the aid of technology or multi-media approach, they learned how to process the learning based on what they have seen. It also helped me unlock some misconceptions in Physics concepts and competencies that I failed to process before. Aside from my own benefits of using this approach, I had given an opportunity to share and present this approach in our Division Training/Workshop in Physics during summer of 2007 especially to the new teachers. Without my training and experience on the use of TV-Viewing Telecourse of FUSE, I would not be confident and have no right to stand in front of them and discuss the relevance of using it. That’s why; despite of the negative reactions of some participants because of lack of TV or computers in their school, later, they realized the importance and relevance of it in improving the mind and abilities as well as interest of changing students every year. I thanked FUSE including the people behind it who helped science teachers like me to learn more and grow more in our instructional skills and to attain mastery in the science lessons. I now know the difference between my teaching styles in 1990’s and 2000’s and the future but the main purpose is for the attainment of effective, quality, responsiveness and efficient teaching of science education.
Now, FUSE, ignited my passion for teaching. Keeping the flame burning in our hearts as a teacher, it lies on our hands whether we continually adapt and apply this approach in our teaching strategy together with other various strategies, techniques and innovations depending upon the needs of students, until we see how we impart and give the best teaching we have. Like what the saying says “You cannot give what you do not have or you can only give what you have”. Also I remember the quotation given by a philosopher “ Teacher affects eternity, you can never tell where and when your influence stops so we must keep on teaching and provide the students the best training we can.
Lastly, I would like to be firm enough to my faith and philosophy as a person and as a teacher: “God intended me to live above and beyond the level of mediocrity” and “Whatever you do whether you eat or drink, teach or learn, do it for the Glory of God’ and learn to be humble, to always remember who brought you and being part of who you are and what you have. I consider FUSE as one of my mentor in my career and/or profession. God bless the foundation, may it continually ignite and pass the torch for effective and quality science education.
Gemma G Vallarta
Secondary School Teacher III-Physics
Home Address: Blk 2 Lot 17B Conpil Village, San Pedro, Laguna 4023
School Address: San Pedro Relocation Center National High School
Imelda Avenue, Brgy. Langgam, San Pedro, Laguna
Contact No.: 869-1174 (school)
Mobile No. 09195101652; 09214063256
“Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the ministry; or HE WHO TEACHES, in the TEACHING;”
– Apostle Paul
(Romans 12:6-7 Modern King James Version)
In the account of the Bible, teaching indeed can’t just be downplayed by serious teachers. I believe in my heart that the epitome of teaching as a profession is carefully spelled out through the life of our Lord Jesus Christ as the sole model for those people whose craft is in educating. In my observation, teaching becomes somewhat an ordinary commodity – a profession instead of a vocation. I say a vocation because there is more to it than the word “teaching” itself that it denotes. They say that teaching is the “noblest” profession. But one does not become noble by simply becoming a teacher. The noble thing of being a teacher is the hard toil a teacher undergoes in the daily humdrum of life. Jesus Christ himself presented a blueprint of what it takes to be a dedicated and committed teacher. I believe He wants us to discern the importance of parting wisdom, values and valuable life’s lesson that He spent His earthly ministry devoted to teaching. His passion for teaching went beyond the boundaries of human needs. He did not just cater to the human physical existence but to the very core of an individual. A teacher can only say proudly to himself that he has measured to Jesus’ standard if he has somehow emulated His examples. He has given so much of Himself – His time, resources and above all, His dear life. I know, as a teacher, I have so much to give. After all you can not give what you don’t have. I believe that teaching is not earned by a person’s will nor given by even the most respectable university. It’s a mission in the form of a gift which is only given to worthy individuals. If someone could say that “Filipinos are worth dying for.” because he believed he had a mission to his countrymen, I could proudly say, “Teaching is worth dying for”, for this is a mission to mankind, at the same time the reason of my existence.
With God’s help and mercy, in my 7 years of teaching Physics, I found that teaching is not that difficult as long as you understand the basic concepts. Basically, the results of my student’s performance will show there is a missing link between my teaching and “catch up” of my students. I figured it out that most of my students understand the lesson during the discussion but that understanding only lasts when I am standing in front of them. Whenever I give them a test and judging from the looks of their eyes, I could discern that they want to ask for a hanky because they are already “nose bleeding”! One time I asked my students if they understood the lesson and a student barked out his reply saying, “I could not visualize our lesson!”. At that time our lesson was about light and its properties both wave and particle. I didn’t take me much of their protests to understand what my students were trying to insinuate because I for once couldn’t also “visualize” the molecular geometry of s, p, d, and f orbitals! It was at this time I remembered what Sigmund Freud had said that one learning factor of understanding is visualization. Most learners easily grasp stimuli, which can be seen. Through that incident I learned that in order for my students would fully grasp the lesson being taught I should use videos. I realized that not all lessons in Physics can be learned easily in teacher-student interaction and doing laboratory activities listed in their manuals. After having employed audio-visual method in teaching my students, their academic performance dramatically improved. They are now more enthusiastic and the videos they watch seems to catch to their curiosity and I observe that deeper understanding of the lesson is manifested through their performance.
The videos I first used were from the Constel’s Physics Made Easy (A Telecourse for Physics High School Teachers). However we only have limited number of CDs because some were already corrupted. Last October 2008 in Pearl of the Orient Tower in Ermita, Manila, I attended a two-day seminar on using these CDs and how the video can be edited using Windows Movie Maker. Although I couldn’t remember every detail of it but there is one detail that persists my memory and that is speaker’s presentation on using the CDs and how are you going to “cut” and delete the videos which are not important. Participants were very interested because they were already oriented with Microsoft PowerPoint but they were not knowledgeable enough in such video editing software. And guess what? After learning how to edit videos, some started to make their own MTVs of their weddings, birthdays and other memorable events in their lives! Perhaps this was one learning factor stated by another psychologist-educator named Jean Piaget that learners learned easily if they find “new things” useful or important to them.
Before the end of the first day we were grouped and given an assignment – to make our own presentation applying what we had learned that day. I got mix emotions that day when I was assigned in our group to make the editing. I accepted it because I really wanted to try it. I spend the whole night editing because I wanted to make our presentation amazing! And it really did! Thanks be to God! The speaker and other groups gave their own comments for improvements and we were all happy for we went out the room equipped with new knowledge!
I know it’s still a long way ahead and there is really lot of space for new learning. But I’m glad that there are people who lend their expertise and resources in enriching this gift of teaching. As what the Bible says in Romans 12:4, “For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,”, we couldn’t be all teachers but each of us can lend his hand to achieve His purpose to us, with God’s help and mercy. God bless to all of us and more power to FUSE (Foundation for Upgrading the Standard Education) and hoping more gift-teaching individuals will be “FUSED”!
Reneboy G. Payong
171 Alcantara St., Banalt Rd., Tandang Sora, Q.C.
09162726947
Ernesto Rondon High School
Road 3, Proj. 6, Q.C.
Tel. 453-1616
Filipino citizens believed and give so much importance to Education. Every citizen has the right to be educated for we strongly believed that Education is the only weapon in alleviating poverty of a person.
Education could be best acquired to all individual when the foundation is very strong. But observation shows that there is a very great difference when it comes to the learning of pupils / students who happened to study in the private school. It comes out that pupils or students in private institution are more advances than in the public school.
Before the Fuse Training was not introduced to the teacher’s, we find teaching in Science as burden, tiresome and tough subject to teach. Why we find it very difficult is because of the scarcity supply of textbooks, workbooks and materials to be used in teaching the subject.
The Fuse training provides equal learning opportunity to all pupils and students. It gives so much significance to every learner both in the urban and rural areas as well. Pupils and students in private and public schools have the same learning experience because of the CONSTEL tape that we used.
CONSTEL tool made learning very interesting; It enhances the pupils in visualizing both living and non-living things. It ignites the interest, of pupils to come to school and provides a chance to the pupils to explore and learn Science in a unique way.
FUSE on the other hand gives so much impact in the advancement of the learners’ skills and knowledge. It makes every learner create an idea, concepts and be able to relate these learning into the real life situation. Pupils/students from rural areas who are exposed to the CONSTEL tool can even complete in the National Competition. As a testimony in the efficiency of this tool one of our pupils who joined the YES Camp in Baguio City was awarded as the Grand winner for Story Telling. It made me felt very impossible but we made it.
We are very thankful to the organizers of the FUSE who made efforts for this innovation in teaching. I am very lucky and privileged to be chosen as one of the participants for this training.
The impact of the training gave so much inspiration to the teachers in the Elementary and in the Secondary level as well. What made us more enthusiastic in imparting knowledge to our pupils/ students in the VCD and the CONSTEL materials. For these we are exposing our pupils to learn Science technically high and have the same insights of knowledge to pupils/ students who are in the urban area and who happened to enroll in the private school.
Another very remarkable benefit in using the tool (CONSTEL) is the shift of learning style which is not boring and tiresome but instead there is an excitement to learn the lesson in a very unique way of grasping the lesson.
The FUSE training and the use of CONSTEL TOOL serves as the blanket of the pupils/ students learning in the world of SCIENCE.
Paulina Minao
pminao@yahoo.com
FUSE (FOUNDATION FOR UPGRADING THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION”
Science subject was liked by few teachers, thus they have taken it as their major course and seemingly minor for others. It was believed that the subject is difficult to understand and to instill in the minds of the scientific terminologies used. This wrong notion was handled from generation to generation. The negative concepts lingered in the psychological aspect of the individuals severely affect their inclinational choice of embracing the educational facts scientifically.
Educational experts served as scientist made Science easy. It is a discovery as assumed to be a continuous learning process geared towards the enhancement of the concepts.
It is understood that in over modern world advanced technology is progressively developed thus commonly uttered by many tongues the words “high-tech”. In this regard a telecourse was produced by the University of the Philippines Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UPISMED), People’s Television Network, Inc.( PTNI), and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) in cooperation with Science Education Institute – Department of Science and Technology ( SEI-DOST), Philippine Normal University (PNU) and the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE). This is a project made possible through the country wide Development Fund initiated by Senator Edgardo J. Angara in 1995.
This telecourse is consisting of 40 episodes and has a three-fold objective to mention accordingly:
• To make teachers aware that teaching science is not difficult; it is exciting and enjoyable.
• To demonstrate different strategies and activities for making science concepts easily understandable and for developing thinking skills.
• To provide teachers with a basic understanding of science concepts required in the Elementary Science Curriculum, and their applications in daily life.
In order to materialize the project, the Department of Education ordered for an immediate and widest dissemination to all concerned divisions and districts throughout the regions. In Region V – Division of Masbate sent Memorandum No. 1709, 2008 to Public Schools Supervisors, Principals on the use of CONSTEC VCD’s in Elementary Science and Health, English, Physics and Chemistry.
The Division of Masbate has been chosen by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc. (FUSE) as a venue for the live-out Seminar-Workshop for Teachers and Principals on the Use of CONSTEC (Continuing Studies via Technology) VCD’s in Elementary Science and Health, English, Physics, and Chemistry.
The 2-day course aims to train teachers and principals on the use of CONSTEC VCD’s in the classrooms, along with the Teaching Support materials in print, which are given free to participating institution by FUSE.
Elementary School Teachers who are handling or having a science load eased their fear of uncertainty instead develop full trust and confidence that they can surely ensure reliable knowledge and import learning’s into an easy way. The telecourse provides episodes in a disc for every topic or subject matter best suited for the intermediate grade but in one way or another is also applicable in the primary grades. Before the formal viewing and discussion, questions are given as guide answerable after the viewing has been done. Upon its implementation in the classroom, it was observed that the pupils tend to enjoy viewing and listen attentively holding their pens and notebook or papers for the purpose of taking down notes or record keeping of the important facts and ideas.
I, being one of those science teachers, I am now equipped with scientific knowledge and do teaching made easy because of this project. In this on-going modern scientific high-tech in teaching Science rest assured to perk-up or peer-up my unending love in teaching Science. I am now the best tool to other teachers; after I conducted to them an Echo-Seminar that is one of my plans of actions, before in order to upgrade the scientific intellect perform by the pupils. It is my ardent desire in behalf of the Aroroy West District and all its member schools, the success of upgrading the standard in Teaching Science.
Percy B. Mallari
Zone 1,Inopia St. Baga uma,Aroroy,Masbate
SCHOOL ADDRESS: Rufo Pajes Sr. Central School Puro, Aroroy, Masbate
CONTACT NUMBER: 09204384891
Thank you sir.
There’s nothing like the feeling of overwhelming happiness whenever I received this precious statement of gratitude from my former students. More valuable than a carat of gold, teaching my students is the sweetest memory that I’ll ever treasure until the last whiplash of my breath.
I love teaching… it’s an important part of my professional as well as the young minds’ development. Making my students learn became my crowning glory. As what Abigail Adams said, “Learning isn’t attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attained to with diligence.” How then I made my students learn?
Turning back the hands of time, when I was still an amateur in my profession, I thought teaching is a mischievous thorn that I stepped on dubiously. Whenever I administer examination, some of my students obtained a performance level of less than 50%. I thought during that time that I’m ineffective and inefficient teacher. I was really alarmed because as a teacher, I should be responsible for the knowledge acquired by my students for I believe that knowledge is truly power, especially to day and in this age. Without the power of knowledge, society would be at lost and would not be in any position to progress. Ergo, it’s my sole responsibility to equip my students with this power. I then asked myself,” How can my students learn more from me?”
I was at the middle of nowhere during that time and it seems that I’m feeling between Scylla and Charybdis… aside from the lower quizzes of my students, I was also dismayed with the flanking performance of students in science, especially that they obtained a performance level of below 50% during division, regional and national achievement tests. This effacing dilemma is really excruciating and demeaning despite the efforts I’ve undertaken in teaching my students. My spicy savor for teaching during that time became tasteless. I thought of shifting to other career until one day, a powerful fuel ignited my passion gain for teaching… and that’s the FUSE.
One Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc., commonly known as FUSE, on its commitment of accessing the students to quality education, invested a lot just to elevate the status of Philippine education. As a teacher, I can affirm that FUSE helped in improving the performance level of my students… it became my influential and multifaceted tool that changed the way I teach and the way my students learn. The video- courses and instructional materials by FUSE helped my students visualized abstract science concepts which enhanced their comprehension and interest in the subject. Moreover, these materials motivated, captivated and fostered collaboration among my students. Surprisingly, when I used these materials to the lower sections, there’s a higher student’s attendance and no more case of cutting classes. With these, I can say that FUSE led to more active learning and adventurous teaching.
Learning became more exciting and stimulating and met the needs of students with various learning styles. Moreover, with the various trainings the FUSE has initiated/ sponsored, I became aware of the latest trends in teaching which broadened my horizon in the field of education.
As a teacher, I will strive to be the best teacher I can be. I’ll admit, I will not become an effective and efficient science teacher without the help of FUSE. With the inclusion of FUSE in my profession, I quested for excellence and recently, I was awarded as Outstanding Teacher of Tabaco City Division. With my partner in education which is the FUSE, I want to be remembered by my students on how I touched their lives and I’m looking forward that someday, they will come back to me and say…
Thank you sir.
RONALDO C. REYES
Home Address : Purok 5, Bangkilingan, Tabaco City (Albay)
School : Tabaco National High School
Panal, Tabaco City (Albay)
Contact Number : 09202751856
Teaching is the noblest profession, enhance learners to have the greatest endeavor in his studies, encouragement in its focus to have a better future and will be globally competitive as well. It applies non- conventional materials in instruction and technique in order to cope up the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard Education (FUSE) – The application of the multi-media, internet and using locally available materials.
To be passionate, we open up the doors to the world of Passion in Physics that nurtures the needs of the student in the future, as we fell the Climate Change (CC) now, over a decade is being a part of our field in tackling subject.
FUSE itself as the continuing student via technology (CONSTEC) tapes, helped the teaching strategy, furthermore, realized that every VCD makes them a difference in explaining the topics and discovering what scientist are trying to impart to them. Moreover the CONSTEC gives more information to hasten the discussion in every lesson; an aid for teaching creates an atmosphere of interactive and/or integrative learning as to meet the objective of the day’s lesson.
As we through the topics, there’s a special assessment to measure the students ability on listening and expecting effectiveness of the learning enhance to learners.
The contains/topics of the episode is relevant related to the real situation, example, VCD tapes is 100% part of the physics textbooks, which made them learn easier and react immediately. From the reference book that was given to us, I found out that there is the number of days to tackle the lesson, with objectives, motivation and lastly, guide questions are given too which suit the students critical thinking and logical reasoning. Let reach to a level of High Order Thinking Skill (HOTS) all question are corresponded by answers to guide students answer.
Ms. Marlyn D. Bacongol
E-mail: mahlavender@yahoo.com
Cotemporary patterns of activities in the classroom may spell out the comforts a teacher enjoys until retirement. No extra effort, no change in discourse and no shifting of paradigms to effect change in the routinary teaching conveniences (eg. attempting to recycle lesson plans for the succeeding years with little modifications). I could have found comfort in this prevailing condition had my passion for teaching not ignited by an experience to behold. Came the training in Summer 2005 which opened opportunities in my career I regard as a vocation.
Opportunities go hand in hand with willingness to change. To help bring out the culture of excellence, a dedicated and concerned teacher has to change with the times. To do this, she has to give change of practices a chance to be accepted first to herself then to her partners in learning. There is not much I can do to transform education standards but in my own little way, I can contribute greatly in reaching that standard by improving on strategies and making the learning process more appealing to learners. With this aspiration, structured teaching resources do helped me a lot. Unlike teacher’s daily lesson plans framed overnight, teacher support material can substantiate deficiencies in the teaching process because they have been carefully planned by expert teams. They enrich lessons because they were designed and were made negotiable within the system to ensure better learning. The video tele-courses brought magic to the learners as I watch them improve their learning readiness each day. Under way as I kept on monitoring the interaction of my pupils, it inspired me to see them learn with happy faces especially the lower sections. After getting through the lessons, the pupils can now set their own standards to meet the desired skills. Such favorable circumstance to effect change can transform attitude and study habits! My day-to-day lessons became the basis for thinking ahead about how it might be improved through the years with the video lessons as guide. I begun to redefine the kinds of transformations I may require myself to work by first identifying possible barriers to change. It may suggest speculations which I should recount but more precisely what I always aimed to work for is a marked improvement. There were no apparent mismatch on the language used in the textbooks and those presented on the videos which have helped me establish instant familiarity with the sequence of lessons presented. Tendered by sound motives, I tried to be consistent in my good performance. This has placed my competence to be ‘of synch’ with outstanding teachers for the past four years. Within the four formative years, my capabilities were enhanced. I got promoted to Master Teacher position and had the opportunity to function as Officer-in-charge designate for twice. As a consequence, my pupils in four successive batches showed significant improvement in their ratings. I was able to successfully routinise my practices into fittingly well-ordered patterns which facilitated my teaching alternatives. Behind all these qualitatively confirmed observations, the greatest factor reviving my enthusiasm to teach is legitimated by frequent use of same teacher support materials. I am referring to my encounter with FUSE.
This narrative account will help me spread my fascinating experience with FUSE video lessons. I thought at first I would just put them aside after the training. But, today they have transformed me into the next generation of teachers.
Laura Barcelona
barcelona.laura@yahoo.com
The heart of education – that is a teacher.
This is one of the most neutral maxims to regard an individual who has the best mechanisms in educating innocent minds to be responsive, creative and substantiated in a place where odds are prevalent.
Regarded as such really takes the whole soul and heart just to fasten the best self of a teacher.
People expect a teacher to be apt, well-mannered and mentally equipped as he faces the society.
Issues, responsibilities are at stake as a teacher shows off his inner self in and outside of the school. No wonder every educator feels different when “teacher factor” is uttered. Taken positively, one could make a difference in educating as well as developing an individual to be well-substantiated with cognitive and affective endeavors.
Being the nucleus of the atomic arena of education requires a teacher to manifest the three C’s namely: Competence, Commitment and Compassion.
How could these be realized? Definitely, through re-engineering!
Having educated at a university with a degree in secondary education does not guarantee that a teacher has already acquired the best armor for him to be effective in exercising his know-how as an educator.
And having a two-year stint of teaching in a private school does not give the assurance that the all of the realities of teaching have already been undergone.
Needless to say, he has to undergo series of trainings and workshops so that the sense of receptivity to the trends and issues in education would be further developed.
This idea applies best in me. I have been educated in the university in which education as one of its course offerings is not its cup of tea. Other than that, I had my two-year teaching experience in a Chinese school in which I handled English subjects in all year levels.
I was then a neophyte in the public school in 2005 when I first encountered the three C’s. At that time, I have discovered that it really requires tons of patience and strategies to educate 60 plus students in a class. It was so hard then in teaching English in a class in which the students are poor in reading comprehension and communication skills.
I had my first encounter with the Fund for Upgrading the Standard of Education in 2006 in a training-workshop and it has positively uplifted my spirit and enthusiasm in teaching. Imagine, encountering credible speakers and teaching up-to-date strategies have contagiously motivated me to offer new learning opportunities to my students.
There after, I have discovered that I could be far different from being a plain teacher, who has a lot of ideals without prior considerations to the needs of my learners.
I have started to realize that while I was on my way of applying little by little the strategies I have learned at FUSE, I am starting to clear out the path to better learning.
I could say that I have been gradually re-engineered by the opportunity of attending the seminar.
How then FUSE helped me become a true heart of education?
First, I have become more competent in dealing with my subject matter. Through careful examination of the materials provided to us by the foundation, I have learned to employ the simplest ways of imparting complex lessons in English. Students have continuously been enjoying the various individual, dyadic, triadic and group activities; thus, they have become excited in attending the classes.
Through mastery that has led to competence, students have discovered their self worth and potentials in English.
Proven to be true, I have already produced two winners in oratorical contests in 2007 and 2008, one best in reading comprehension in 2008 and three best sportswriters, three best feature writers, two editorial writers, three copyreaders and two photojournalists in 2006-2008.
And most importantly, slow learners have learned to employ the most appropriate punctuation marks in their written activities.
I could say that I have gone far in terms of teaching a populated class as far as oral and written English are concerned.
Second, I have become learned the importance of commitment. It does not pertain to the length of time that a teacher stays in school. Instead, it entails the patience that an educator employs in designing plans, activities and measures to ensure that the students receive the quality of learning in spite of the educational adversities around.
FUSE has opened me doors to the world of varied learning activities. Through its instructional materials, I have performed my role plausibly especially in addressing the needs and difficulties of the learners in my class. The materials have specifically made the students realized that learning is fun while turning weaknesses into strengths.
Through learning the value of commitment, I have gained the trust of the students. This is clearly manifested in their willingness to be participative in the cooperative learning. They also have learned to assess their performance through constructive criticisms.
Finally, I have developed the sense of compassion. When I was in elementary and high school, I would say that I was unfortunate because I have never been exposed to educational opportunities that would have somehow developed more of me as individual.
Now, since I already have the privilege of experiencing all of these around, I have no second thoughts and qualms of imparting all of these to my students. Making them experience the true learning with reality gives them the feeling of importance. Making them realized that they are at the center of the educational arena.
The moment FUSE has entrusted its materials to us, I had no doubts of reviewing them, choosing the best approaches that best address my students’ needs. When these have been?
It came to my realization that the only way for the students to be learned is providing them what they really deserve. They have been sent by their watchful parents to school to be filled in with knowledge for them to be ready in their future endeavor.
Thus, realizing what their needs are and developing and employing appropriate educational measures like those being provided by FUSE would really answer and address the current problems concerning education.
The usage of the materials provided by the foundation have ushered the best places for best learning. They have ensured learning opportunities that only private school students could only have. They have started to bring out the inner potentials of the students who are first left covered without further discovery.
Being compassionate has enabled me to further know what and who my students are. Without the aid of a foundation whose aim is upgrading the quality of education, this quality would only remain immobile.
I have been teaching English in Isaac Lopez Integrated School for four years now. In this span of years, I have already handled various students with different study habits and practices. Sometimes it sounded difficult to handle all of them, but every time I manifest the three C’s which have been re-engineered by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standards of Education, all of these difficulties are just motivations for me to perform my role as an educator.
I have already gone far being a teacher. From imparting the ABC’s of learning in the classroom of slow learner students, to journalism room where I hone up young writers and journalists, to orators who project positive conviction, I have never had this without the motivation of FUSE.
In this world with issues and fallacies concerning education, mentoring learners with competence, commitment and compassion is giving them the opportunity to establish the reputation of their intellect for them to be capable of solving the problems around.
Heart of education? Yes, I really am.
Teacher factor? Absolutely yes, I have the responsibility to carry out the best in the students’ inner selves.
I could say that I am now apt to perform my role as one of those who clamors for better learning.
I would forever be thankful to the Foundation for Upgrading the Standards of Education (FUSE) for providing the educational opportunities that I and my learners are enduring right now and the passion in me.
As the heart of education, I am now ready to address my role positively because I have been re-engineered!
Sergio Manoza
stm_istarpish@yahoo.com
Flowers are beautiful. These are used to adorn church altars and even tables during occasions. A wedding party would be luxurious with thousands of beautiful flowers around; aside from this it sets a blissful wedding environment. Of course, let us not forget the toil of the flower gardener. The gardener was responsible for the watering, pruning, applying fertilizers, and for spraying pesticides to the plants for these to produce healthy and beautiful flowers. However, due to climate change, the gardener needs to double his effort and adapt modern farming techniques.
A student is like a flower while the teacher is the gardener. The teaching strategies, techniques and methods in delivering the lesson, audio-visual aids and the learning environment are equal to the farmer’s ways in taking care of the plant which include, watering, pruning, and applying proper fertilizers and pesticides.
Students now are in the age of information and communication technology. Most of the educators in the field would agree with me if I say that students today are less motivated to learn and most of them are lazy to read books and other references. The problem is aggravated by the addiction of students to multi-media cellular phones. This is a ‘climate change,’ a change in the educational environment of the child.
I observed my students once; I offered them a computer installed with electronic library software and volumes of Encyclopedia from the Library to research about optics, the majority of them flocked to the computer. When given a research report, most of them preferred going to the city (20 kilometers from the school) to download from the World Wide Web.
Like the gardener, I have to find ways by which I could cope with the fast changing environment of the learners. Hence, I’ve been joining several trainings about the modern teaching strategies, methods, and motivational techniques. I have learned a lot. However, I observed that most of these strategies and techniques were modifications of what I am presently using while a few of these are renamed. This sometimes discourages me to join such activities.
It was summer of school year 2007-2008, when my school head called me to join a Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) seminar. I was to replace one of my colleagues who cannot join the said activity because she was on vacation. I was quite hesitant, I thought it was another modification of teaching strategies, but I was wrong. The training created a change in me.
The gardener acquired a solution to his problem, so thus the teacher. Eventually, because of the FUSE Constec Video materials, I will not be spending too much of my time preparing illustrations or written visuals about the lesson. I’m using the FUSE Constec video now in my Physics class to enrich the class discussion for almost three years since 2007.
The host, the host of the “Physics in Everyday Life,” has been my mentor. She introduced activities which I also introduced to enrich my class as a laboratory activity or for demonstration purpose.
The school has only one TV set, I and the other teachers use it on schedule. When it is being used, I use a use computer. I cut the episode into video clips to fit into the class discussion. The monitor screen, however, is too small for 35 students. (I wish we could buy one Liquefied Crystal Display (LCD) projector.) When I use the TV set I have limitations its remote control receiver is not working. Hence, I cannot move it forward to hide the punch-line of the host “Good morning fellow physics teachers.” One time we were in the middle of class discussion, when I flashed an episode about light colors, my students said jokingly, “sir that’s for you.” I said, “Alright, for now you have to imagine that you are physics teachers.”
I am the only teacher in our school that joined the training on the use of the FUSE video material (one per school participant), hence, the material that we have is about Physics. My colleagues who are teaching Mathematics, English, Biology and Chemistry subjects would also like to have one for them to use in their respective class.
The FUSE video discs helped me a lot. It makes the lesson entertaining to the students, simple and understandable. Aside from this, I also refer to it when there are concepts which I could not simplify. Moreover I need not to draw or illustrate concepts in a wide sheet of paper, which is time consuming; all I have to do is flash it before the students. It makes physics, a subject presumed by my students to be the most difficult subject, an enjoyable subject, easy and with lots of practical applications.
Aside from these, as I watch each episode, there are various strategies and techniques which I take on board in my teaching. I am physics major but the video reminds me a lot about the concepts and mentors me on how to deliver the lesson effectively. Sometimes, my students watch the episodes during their vacant hours like “sine-eskuwela” I task the Physics Club officers to guide the students who were watching.
The joy of the gardener who loves his job of planting and tending flowers, is not with money gained from his sales but on how productive his plants would be and how happy those people would be upon receiving flowers.
And the teacher? The teacher is sometimes tempted to go abroad and join those who have been teaching in foreign lands. His passion for teaching is also dying. However, the FUSE Video Clips is like a spark that ignites his love for children. The teacher was reminded about the truth that he will not be materially rich in the profession that he has chosen. Yes, no material thing can match the teacher’s passion for teaching, molding and mentoring the youth. His happiness is just simple. He would be happy if in every session the students will learn even a single thing.
I believe that despite of the onset of ‘climate change’ in the learners’ environment, these problems could be addressed with the continuous support of the government and non-government organizations like FUSE. -30-
GERALD A. SALDA
Sablan National High School
Benguet Division
Cordillera Administrative Region
Ever since I was a child, I have always dreamed of becoming a teacher. A teacher for me is someone who is a role model that everyone in the community looks up to, since she possesses the positive qualities of a good person, mentally, physically, spiritually and morally.
Teaching requires a lot of talent, patience, perseverance and dedication to produce quality learners. In addition, proper training plays an important role. Teachers need to be refreshed by attending various seminars – workshops to be able to enhance their knowledge and skills in performing their tasks.
FUSE (Foundation for Upgrading the Standards of Education), Inc. is one of the best solutions for our deteriorating kinds of education in the country. Its mission to share and integrate knowledge, expertise and best practices and resources is really carried out. It truly enhances professionalism in education. It is quite amazing that FUSE is really committed to take voluntary action to help attain quality education.
I always cherish the experience I had in attending FUSE Seminar – Workshop. I couldn’t believe that quality materials were provided for free. The food, venue and the trainers were great. What I couldn’t forget most was the appearance of the President, Sir Salvador Escudero III. It felt good and lucky to see and meet him personally. I was then so proud and I thank God for giving me that wonderful opportunity to attend the seminar. Sir Escudero spoke from his heart, how he values education—and from that speech alone, the more I felt how I could share my knowledge and skills to our learners.
The day I came back to my own classroom, from that 2- day seminar – workshop in Manila, I felt refreshed and empowered. I have started a new style, a new classroom environment, from teacher directed to student – centered, from presentation to facilitation, from lectures to guided discovery. Then I was forced to purchase a television set and a DVD player so I could use the CONSTEC tapes from FUSE.
No regret that I tried to purchase TV and DVD player ( good thing that I was allowed to reimburse them from the MOOE fund). Using video in the classroom generates pupils’ interest and stimulates their imagination. It connects my pupils to distant places and it also provides them with a common experience.
I’ve also realized that by simulating or modeling a real experience, the more my pupils remember and therefore, they learn because they were able to analyze and evaluate concepts on their own.
May the good Lord bless all the people behind FUSE, for they are of great help to the teachers, and pupils as well, and to our nation as a whole. As the saying goes, many were called but only few were chosen, and I was so lucky that I was one of them who were chosen to attend FUSE seminar-workshop. I am looking forward to attend another FUSE training to be more empowered to impart knowledge to my clientele.
Name: Geraldine C. Anacleto
School: Casa Real Elementary School
Pakil, Laguna, 4017
Contact No.: 09156686581
Email Address: geraldineanacleto@yahoo.com
School Head: Ruth M. Araneta, Head Teacher II
Contact No.: 09165393133
It was June 1985 when I first had a taste of teaching. I was filled with mix emotions. I felt very much alive, excited, and full of hope and of course great! How wonderful it was to teach! The flame of passion was burning me inside. Every class period was too short because I enjoyed every second filling my students with every drop of knowledge within me.
I was so full of passion for many years until one day; I was shocked to find out that I’m already burned out. I started to feel very bored, disinterested, useless, and lifeless. Each day seems to be a year. After ten years of teaching, the flame of passion extinguished. The passion and love for teaching became a routinary job discussing, giving activity, explaining, giving exercise, giving imaginary experiment, discuss.
Telling students to imagine and feel the concepts of the unseen became boring. Further, I discovered that boredom is very contagious. All my students caught the epidemic.
Every now and then I tried to be enthusiastic to bring back their interest but to no avail. After all who gets interested in something intangible? Figuring out how atoms, molecules, ions, gases, colloidal particles, solute, solvent, and mole look and behave could be a waste of time for the unmotivated and uninformed.
Thinking that I needed new environment and a new challenge, I packed my things, and turned my back to private school with the hope that the flame will ignite in my transfer to public education. A flick of hope came to me as I adapt to the new environment. But the spark was not strong enough, and despite all efforts, I remained exhausted and unmotivated. Not even the newly learned strategies and approaches could break the fangs of years of routinary life.
It was way back 2005 when I was asked by the principal to attend the FUSE Workshop for Chemistry Teachers in a very classy hotel in Metro Manila. Frankly speaking, I was not so excited over it. I thought I’ve attended numerous seminars already, I didn’t need another one. But then, my clamor to reignite my passion in teaching verged me to go.
The FUSE seminar, not like the seminars I have attended, is one of a kind. During the seminar we acted as students in simulated classes. This experience reminded us of the students’ conditions. Because of the FUSE, we understand the students better. Thus, we came up with better strategies, approaches outlook and most importantly, attitude towards teaching.
Full of hope and anticipation, I implemented the FUSE right away. The result of using the FUSE kit was way beyond my expectations. Going through each episode was really a wonderful experience for all of us.
Never in my years of teaching had I experienced such easiness and lightness in teaching, keeping the students’ interest for the whole period.Total change in the classroom environment has taken place. The students became more active and more compliant to the requirements. They really involved themselves in every activity supported by the FUSE episodes.
The video lessons are presented in a logical manner that students could really understand the concepts. What we used to imagine can now be viewed with vivid colors. The experiments that cannot be performed due to lack of materials are presented in the episodes together with the expected results.
Further the episodes are guided by questions, which can easily be answered by the students. There are questions that serve as guide for the teacher as well as the students to develop the concepts. There are also questions that are related to student’s experiences, making them appreciate more what they are studying. Using those guide questions we were able to come up to a most wonderful experience of teaching-learning process.
FUSE changed my students’ attitude toward studying and my attitude toward teaching. Because of the FUSE my passion and love for teaching was ignited once more. Because of the FUSE I became more confident in delivering my lessons. I really appreciate what FUSE has done to me so I required the teachers to use all available FUSE learning kits (Chemistry, Physics, and English) in our school.
EDNA B. LAUDATO
Langkaan II Dasmariñas, Cavite
09173756130
School Address: Congressional National High School
Via Verde Village San Agustin II
Dasmariñas, Cavite
Tel. No.: (046) 973 – 2534
Teachers of today are confronted with a myriad of issues and concerns that adversely affects the teaching-learning environment. The effects of technology have invaded the classrooms. To some, technology brings about enormous positive effects thought to have improved teaching, but to critics however, it poses an uncontrollable monstrosity that puts us in situations where information overflow and technology-dependent lifestyles of learners are now considered complex issues detrimental not only to our schools but to the society as a whole. The challenge for teachers and educators now is to put a balance between technology’s positive and negative impacts.
Looking around and within the bounds of classrooms in the countryside today, we find our learners beseeched with a plethora of situations brought about by the advent of technology. They are lured to the vicious cycle of technology, internet, and the media not to mention other societal influences and factors. As a result, educators are faced with two different set of learners – a few who adapts more readily (the techy, “I easily adapt” fast learners) and a great many (the “I don’t care, am pre-occupied” slow learners) who lags behind. The great majority are the ill-victims of this highly paced modern civilization. They are the mediocre learners who have short attention span, poor vocabulary, and poor oral and written communications skills. To top it all they have lost their interest in learning. They are interested at the benefits (and the enjoyment) they get from technology more than the desire to learn. It is so unfortunate that while we advance in technology, we are also producing a new breed of “new culture learners.” Engulfed with the complexities of the “new culture” we came to a bottleneck, caught in a situation where the battle between surviving the odds, succumbing to the lure of technological advancement and living up to the expectations of the society is very difficult to balance.
And so the vicious cycle goes on. In effect, our schools are producing graduates who are not able to meet even the minimum of the competences they are expected to attain. A 2007 research in one of the University here in Region 8 concluded that two-thirds of incoming freshmen who took their university entrance test have a (competency) level equivalent only to that of a sixth grader. Many of our “new culture” Juan dela Cruz Juniors of today are still grappling with their grammar and English construction. They can barely write though survives with their carabao English. To match the consequence, and maybe due to influence of the “new culture”, their values too are at a decline.
Are we at a dead end?
As teachers, are we really living up to the expectations of our professions? If we are catalysts of change, are we liable and guilty of having not done our part whose effects are our producing half-baked, value-disoriented students? If we have done our part, where have we failed? If complexity and the “new culture” breed of learners are characteristics of technology, is it not compelling for us to cope up with and find ways to solve it?
The challenge is never ending. The search for solutions continues and the battle for reasons remains. Shifts in paradigms have to be put in place. Ways and means have to be found, if not, created.
Teachers have to be dreamers. We have to dream dreams. We have to put our students as the characters and our classroom as the setting. We are seekers of the “good” we are fountains of love and wisdom, we are creative and we continuously seek for innovations. On the process, and to undo too much abstraction (in teaching) due to absence of resources, we resort to other medium and exert more efforts designing out a repertoire of instructional tools. Teaching materials that are at par with standards, parallel with current trends and more importantly, tools that re-captures back our “new culture learners” while catering to their timely needs.
If media bring about ethical dilemma, are there not ways to use media to counter-arrest these ill-effects? Why not use media as tool to enhance instruction and increase level of participation and performance of our students?
With these questions in our minds, we at the high schools in the provinces embarked on a new journey. In our efforts to counter arrest the declining interests of our “new culture learners,” we shifted to use media in enhancing the teaching-learning process. Confronted with the lack of instructional resources for actual/real demonstrations we resorted to Computer-based technology, instructional VCD’s, and telecourses to simulate ideas and concepts, and provide vivid illustrations of even the unseen realms.
The CONSTEL VCD’s from FUSE Inc. Philippines is one perfect example. It awesomely “fits-in” and revolutionize the monotony of the old chalk and talk method. Running the multimedia in class enhances, for example, the hard-to-understand chemical jargon (in chemistry subjects) with computer simulated models and diagrams. The superb 3D animations put students in amazement. See how students react to on-the-screen animations and interactive simulations all appearing close to the real before their very eyes. Teachers will agree that technology-based instructional media act primarily as a major motivating factor to learning. Once these are incorporated into the teacher’s repertoire, other classroom management problems are simultaneously addressed with minimum teacher interventions.
Our experience tells that incorporating tech-based media like FUSE CONSTEL VCD’s in say, our chemistry classes; we believed we turned our classrooms into real and effective laboratories of learning. Our students became more motivated and participative. Pedagogically teaching has become more than the transfer of knowledge.
Instructions focus more on “experiential learning” and more importantly it shifts to the application of concepts in real life situations. For the part of the teachers, we have to admit that we re-learned, loved and appreciated once again the art and beauty of our vocation.
Checking the assessment rubrics our chemistry students made one day, evaluating how well they have appreciated the day’s subject matter. One entry in the remarks column reads:
“Remarkable”
This was a no nonsense feedback from a learner. Experiencing how they have reacted to this new medium, we believe such was an honest comment. When students eloquently express their views about how they perceived their teachers’ methodologies, it leads teachers to creating and exploring more result-oriented interventions. What students say are tools which purposely drive teachers to do and achieve even better.
Our experience with tech-based media (FUSE CONSTEL VCD’s included) enhanced our perspectives and outlook towards the teaching vocation. We came to a humble re-appreciation that teaching is still the noblest of the professions.
Meanwhile credit is long been overdue for FUSE Philippines and other tech-based media providers and the people behind the FUSE Telecourses (DepEd, UPISMED, DOST-SEI, PNU, PTN and others) for their bold advocacy and zealous contributions in re-shaping the educational system of the country. Theirs is one big force that pushes even further for innovations towards the reinvigoration and enhancement of teaching-learning processes and outcomes. Like the unsung heroes of DepEd, FUSE Philippines and other stakeholders (including Senator Edgardo J. Angara and the Philanthropist and Business Tycoon Lucio C. Tan) bravely come into convergence armed with a common goal – “quality education” for the Filipinos. There is still a long way to go and it is too soon to predict outcomes. One thing is very clear: media revolutionize the way teachers teach and it is through our collective efforts and will power that the problems of today’s “new culture” learners brought about by technology can finally be resolved.
Marino L. Organista
Chemistry Teacher
San Julian National High School
San Julian, Eastern Samar
Email: mareen_357@yahoo.com.php
Cell No: 0927-657-2805 / 0929-794-4330
Advancing education in the Philippines indicates that we need to come up to a more efficient way of teaching to adapt other countries way of educating their students.
Show progress of education can be attributed to the weak innovative system and human resources on the country. It implies the need to strengthen the resources and to develop the teaching techniques and the education system.
In the year 2000, four universities in the Philippines were included in the list of top 100 Universities ranked by Asiaweek Magazine. University of the Philippines ranked 41st place, Dela Salle University, 71st, Ateneo de Manila University, 72nd, and University of Santo Tomas got the 74th place. These schools were ranked based on academic performance of the students in different fields.
After listening to the guest speaker of the seminar conducted by the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, Inc, (FUSE). I realized the importance of our role as educators. It opened my mind on the need for teachers in the country. Education and training, as the person who is in close contact to our client (the students), should promote quality education. We should ensure that education shall be accessible to all, and to make sure and protect academic freedom. Advancement of learning and research develop responsible and effective leadership – education of higher level professional and enrichment of Historic and Cultural Heritage.
Program for quality and excellence should not be left out together with improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Regarding women, in education, it is not surprising that they dominate the educational system because most women are preserving patience. They are friendly and readily take part in activities for the community, and also they are compassionate and understanding.
Women are better housekeeper by nature therefore, they are caring and nurturing. They inspire, guide, counsel, and serve. Naturally, women refer to cooperate and collaborate rather than compete.
DepEd, through the effort of the FUSE, does not just sit and relax, and have the system more, but it focused the attention in how to improve the quality of our educational system. Its attention has been forward in providing the students with holistic learning experiences giving the various disciplines in science, math, language, social studies, humanities, arts and values in various combinations. It aims of making students not only technically proficient, but the art of what we call civilized society who will compete and excel in a friendly competitive global society.
In this training I’ve learned so much to attain progress and apply it to my client – to achieve a better education with high quality, scientifically and technologically.
In the basic education, what we should attain is to produce students and children who will enjoy having their rights for a better nation. And to end up, as what SEC. Jesli Lapus said, “Education is the Solution”, so as one of their participants in the seminar, I salute the foundation for launching this training for a good and better Educational System, and I owe you the new and additional knowledge.
So as an educator, we are and will always be the instruments to make this Quality Education possible. God Bless.
Science subjects are often a threat to students’ grade. Why?… because the subject is being feared by many students. And that is due to lack of motivation. Teachers usually use board and marker technique. Students don’t even know why they take these subjects as they enter the school. You would even hear from them: “What’s the reason for having these subjects? How can we apply them in the future?”. For creative teachers, one way is to vary teaching techniques with the aid of different instructional materials. But even with the use of colorful visual aids it is really hard to get the students’ interest with regards to science areas. So, I am thankful that in my 20th year of teaching I was chosen to represent our school to a two-day seminar-workshop on the use of VCDs and CONSTEC materials as sponsored by Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education, also known as FUSE, way back 2005. I tried the techniques and I have found it useful. I gained the interest of my students. Actually, even after class, I can still hear my students discussing the concepts which they have learned from my class as I’ve employed the techniques which I have learned from the training. The students have realized the relevance of the science concepts being tackled in the class. They easily recognized the role played by each concept in their life… even to their daily activities. That is so, because of the learning material that has been provided by FUSE to our school in recognition to the participating schools in the said seminar training. Such learning materials are really of great help to me as a teacher. With these tools of learning, my work as a teacher was lessen by becoming a facilitator of learning in the class. While, students learned and at the same time realized the role of the topic presented to them in their real life since most examples given in the materials were found at home. In addition, by viewing the videos, the students can really experience what is being conveyed to them. Through the examples shown in the video, they can see the “microscopic” behavior of the atom. That is, when the molecular movement of the substance in each phase of matter were shown. In addition to that, the sample substances are common in a way that these substances can be found in the different parts of the house. On the other hand, the students enjoyed playing the “guessing game” about the elements pertaining to their atomic masses, where student’s scientific skills as well as mathematical skills are being developed as they guess the element through performing some mathematical operations that will give the atomic mass of the element. Indeed, FUSE materials are of great help in teaching science.
Actually, I, myself were inspired by these materials that were presented to the participants during the training. And because of this, I was able to make a material for Computer Aided Instruction, CAI, as it was being implemented in our school at present. The said material on Stoichiometry was patterned on the FUSE videos. That is, it was based on the real life situation of the students. And for the same reason, it really touches the student’s life that really can find the role of the concept in their own environment. At present, I have made another material, this time in Physics on the topic about Thermodynamics. I have also edited some CAI materials in Biology. And this time, I was about to develop two materials in Chemistry: “Naming compounds” and “Chemical Equations”. Also, I have found out that FUSE materials are very useful in adapting a new curriculum in our school: “Understanding by Design” since the materials provide examples based on the practical life of the learners.
Really, teachers who are equipped with knowledge and skills are like stars that sparkle in his passion to produce competitive individuals. And that is what is being provided by FUSE.
ROSEMARIE E. ATENDIDO
Home Address: 1240 LARDIZABAL ST., SAMPALOC, MANILA
School Address: JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY
80 SHAW BLVD.,
MANDALUYONG CITY
Contact numbers: 5318031 loc. 18 (c/o JRU)
09287529233
We often read and hear that teaching is both science and an art. It is science in the sense that it is based on psychological research that identifies the cause and effect relationship between teaching as a process and learning as a product. How successful these relationships are implemented is the art side of it.
For 33 years, I have experienced the reality of these principles. I have developed my own styles and I have adapted to so many types of students in the public schools. But the difficulty and pain I have been experiencing since I was diagnosed with laryngitis and nodule on my vocal cords have weakened my enthusiasm to continue my teaching career. Since then, I began losing my interest, more so, when my students began complaining about my soft voice. I cannot always make them copy from the board, or read an article then answer some questions, or let them answer certain exercises in the laboratory manual, or give topics to report. My conscience cannot tolerate such strategies anymore.
Things went different when I attended the FUSE seminar in Palawan last May, 2008. Driven by my desire to fulfill the pledge of commitment which we did on the last part of the training, I started using the CONSTEL telecourse “SCIENCE MADE EASY.” I find using the telecourse as very influential and seductive educational medium for transmitting science concepts. It has vicarious and dramatic impact on my students. The speed of showing is adjustable; hence, students enjoy more academic learning time even within a shorter period of time. I speak only when my students ask questions or when a pause is needed for clarification. The set of questions I usually give in the previewing part keeps my students glued in watching. They are aware of the task to do and very much involved in the learning process. Discipline problem is not obvious and the use of my voice became lesser. In the post-viewing part, students read and answer the given questions. Written tests give positive results. Such difference in the student outcome or output serves as the match that keeps on rekindling the once dwindling fire in my role as a teacher. Contented and happy, I have come to realize that teaching science is not difficult despite my condition. The use of CONSTEL’S telecourse is a different kind of strategy for making science concepts easier to understand. My students develop critical thinking skills as they analyze every episode and ask questions and make further readings and study.
Thanks to FUSE for helping me move on. From being a BOOMER TEACHER, it has changed me into a QUIET ONE: sincere, calm but definite and the respect and attention I get from my students will always be igniting my passion for teaching!
Julieta Cudia
jscud52@yahoo.com