Archive for category Teaching
Finally, A Computer
I FEEL nostalgic each time I turn on my office computer. Thanks to our computer laboratory in-charge, I now have the sleekest computer on my office desk.
Computers are valued for their memory. Well, mine is valued for the many memories associated with it. Every time I look at my computer, I can always recall the first time I created a PowerPoint Presentation, almost ten years ago. Haha.
Seriously, Ms. Christine Gay N. Tolentino finally decided to give me a computer unit, so I won’t have to bother her time and time again to be allowed to use the computer room for my online activities. Right at my desk, I can now surf the web.
I can now update my blog during office hours, plurk every minute, chat with online friends find online resources to update my scientific knowledge, thus, improve the quality of my teaching. With a ready internet access, I can also update our school’s website more frequently.
Now, here’s the archaic computer unit I’m talking about:
ARCHAIC. This computer brings back memories of yore. Lol.
Specs:
Memory Modules:
256 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot ‘DIMM_A’ has 128 MB
Slot ‘DIMM_B’ has 128 MB
Sentimental Memories:
1 Terabyte
Processor:
733 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Processing Time:
Launch Adobe Photoshop CS, return after an hour
Add-ons:
Comes with a state-of-the-art dot matrix printer and a feather duster
Peace, TGai. Haha. Thanks, for the comp.
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Just Have Fun
SOMETIMES WORK can be boring. Sometimes we have to do something out of the ordinary to break the monotony. Sometimes, it really has to be different that you don’t know what reactions you’d get after doing it.
I don’t crack jokes in the classroom. That would be the last thing I would do, given my inadeptness in throwing punch lines. Joking is made extra difficult by my strict demeanor. People would always expect me to speak of serious stuff. So, my jokes always get unlikely responses.
One time, in my early afternoon class, everyone seemed very sleepy. I needed to do sometime to keep them awake. Out of boredom, I suddenly started speaking with an overdone American accent in the classroom. The next thing I knew, everyone was rolling on the floor. The laughter seemed to never stopped. Everytime I attempted to speak, everyone laughed. I think that was the first my students saw me laugh my heart out.
Now, I can see that they feel at ease everytime they meet me along the corridor.
I realized that it would be better if I do away with my too serious demeanor. I need to loosen up a bit.
What we did last Wednesday was probably all I needed. Now, everyone gives me a smile everytime we meet and I could help but return the favor. Tuesday afternoon, we cooked up something in the faculty room. we decided to perform a surprise number for the school’s foundation anniversary celebration the following day. Fortunately, my co-teachers were cooperative and we were able to come up with simple dance steps to the tune of Poker Face by Lady Gaga.
Here are the videos of our performance:
The students sure had fun watching us, especially our older co-teachers, dance. We, too, had great fun watching the videos recorded by our students. That performance strengthened our relationship as colleagues.
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Paradigm Shift in Teaching
My students working on their concept map
AFTER TEACHING for over a year, I have realized that one of the most important tasks of a teacher is assessment. During our annual performance evaluation, I have always emphasized that I need more training on developing and using authentic assessment techniques as well as interpreting results and utilizing them in planning future learning activities.
About a month ago, I was sent to a Professional Development Program at the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) for a training on the Backward Design Process in creating Unit Plans with focus on enduring understanding.
It reinforced my belief that determining the understanding that you want your students to gain should first be done before planning the learning activities. That way, you can be sure that the activities you are giving them are congruent to what you expect them to learn.
Last week, my lessons were videotaped by the Division Office. They wante to document our use of non-traditional assessment. Luckily, we were having a laboratory activity in my junior class and I presented my rubric for participation. As our culminating activity for hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, we had concept-mapping with my fourth year students to check how well they have understood the relationships between the quanties and principles we have studied.
Supervising (distracting?) the kids (lol)
I was able to see the videos and I am glad that I am telegenic. Lol. Kidding aside, I observed that my voice is well-modulated. It is audible but not too loud and to irritate the ears. The problem is my posture. I slouch a bit too much that somewhat indicates that I lack confidence.
Tomorrow, they are going to videotape my class again. This time, my students are going to present the results of their laboratory actvity. We will have our rubric for presentation
I am loving how the school administration helps me become a better teacher. Every weekend, we are having a session on classroom-based assessment and I continue to learn more about peformance-based tasks and non-traditional assessment.
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One Great Summer
IT’S BEEN sooooo looooong since I last posted here because I took my vacation seriously. And I tell you, my summer was one of my most memorable.
Just what did I do this summer of 2009?
After my students’ graduation day, I wanted to make my family feel that I am really LIVING WITH THEM, I spent a few days at home, did the cooking, played with my nephews and nieces (there’s abunch of them), and, you know, just lingered around. In the afternoon, I would bike, and at times, jog to the beach to get rid of the fats I have accumulated from graduation treats and birthday parties. On the beach, I would watch the sun as it sets down the horizon and the sea waves as they rush to the shore.
Biking to Ladol Beach, Alabel, Sarangani Province
Sunset at Ladol Beach
After the Holy Week, I started taking part of the Sarangani Big Brother Program by facilitating the SBB Volunteer Training and Leadership Camp. It was a great experience–meeting new friends, going to many places, and, of course, somehow being part of social transformation. I went to Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum. Alongside facilitating trainings, we had a great time snorkeling in Maasim’s beautiful beaches.
A small-group session youth volunteers in Maasim, Sarangani Province
I was not able to join the SBB Facilitators in other municipalities because I had to attend the Training for Physical Science Teachers of Regional Science High School at the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) in Diliman, Quezon City.
With the Director UP-NISMED and one of our Facilitators
After the training, I spent a few days to meet my friends who are now working in Metro Manila. I feel nostalgic looking at our pictures. And oh, I was able to use my TimeZone Powercard at last (Geesh, I can’t remember how much I had spent at TZ).
Before going back to Mindanao, I paid my Ate Edna and Ate Marissa a visit in Bulacan where they now work.
With Pathways Friends at the MOA
When I returned here, I was sent to another training on the Teacher Induction Program at the Notre Dame of Marbel University. It was another great experience, where I met nice fellow participants who treated me like their younger brother. I also met with my old friends in Marbel and had our usual bowling session.
After a few days, I attended another training at Lun Padidu National High School, Malapatan, Sarangani Province on Improvization of Laboratory Equipment with Concept Integration where I learned how to saw, solder, and, well, utilize recyclables to build instructional materials for my classes.
In between these activities, I had target shooting with Board Member Aniceto Lopez III, swimming with Mayor Lopez, eyeballs with GenSan and South Cotabato Uzzapers (haha), bowling and drinking sessions with yuppie friends, and long hours of sleep.
It was one great summer, don’t you think?
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A Broken Chair, A Broken Window, and a Dead Tree
I WAS one of the room examiners for the National Achievement Test Yesterday and I was assigned at Kawas National High School and there was something about my experience that made me feel sad. It automatically sent me into contemplative mood.
I attended a seminar in Davao City last week. We where we had a speaker from Singapore, who introduced an educational resource employed in his country. It incorporates ICT in education in a deeper level. Looks like they are preparing their students for the world as early as elementary.
I envied it, knowing that such technologies will greatly help the teachers provide the students with more interactive activities.
However, yesterday, as I distributed the answer sheets to the NAT examinees in Kawas, I realized something. A lot of work needs to be done before we can get to the level of ICT integration Singapore is implementing and by the time we get to where they are now, they would have advanced further, leaving us behind with a greater gap.
I thought of that because of the simple fact that many of our students in the public school have not even mastered the basic communication skills. Filling out of the answer sheets took more than 15 minutes. It was supposed to be completed in five minutes.
It took them too long because many of them cannot write well, though most of them are within the age range of 16-18 already. It made me wonder how they passed elementary school. Some of them could not even spell the name of their school or their place correctly. Aside from that, they write very slowly and in mixed up capitalization. How could we expect them to be able to effectively use ICT in their learning, when they haven’t even mastered the basics of communication?
I believe that this is not limited to the school I visited yesterday. It might even be worse in other schools. I could not help but ask what is wrong with our educational system? We have been tackling problems like these and yet the problems seem unbeatable.
I appreciate the solutions being implemented by DepEd. These include the establishment of Regional Science High Schools (RSHSs)–like our school–and Technical-Vocational High Schools (Tech-Voc). These schools address the needs of students with different inclinations. With these programs, those who are inclined to science education can get quality training from RSHSs, while those who are not-so-into academic learning can have their specialized courses in Tech-Voc high schools, and they will not have to go through academic subjects, which can’t appreciate. These schools are given higher allocation by the government to ensure that they deliver quality education.
The problem with these solutions, however, is that these schools cater only to a fraction of the Filipino youth. How about the rest? In addition to that, the very basic problems still exist like low participation rate and sub-standard school facilities. There are still broken chairs and windows.
I have faith in the Department of Education, but everyone has yet get a share in helping our kids obtain quality education. After all, the welfare of your people is a shared responsibility.
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