Making teaching-learning experiences fun and meaningful

September 3, 2017 Educator's Corner Opinion

Education is a continuous process of learning. Within this continuous process is the uninterrupted or sustained interest of learners. Therefore, continuous learning would be possible if a learner has sustained interest. The learners are enjoying and find meaning in what they are learning. We consider this as authentic learning. In order to achieve authentic learning, authentic teaching should be manifested.
In my years of being an educator, I never dared to ask my learners if they are enjoying their daily experiences with me as their teacher. Some learners can be very frank who can just blurt out regarding this matter even if you don’t ask them and up to this time, never did I hear the rumbling sound, “Boring!”…and will not allow this to happen.
DepEd envisions to create holistically developed learners who are equipped with the 21st century skills which are: Information, Media and Technology Skills; Learning and Innovation Skills; Effective Communication Skills and Life and Career Skills. The learners of today are considered as the generation z or the cyber natives. They learn more effectively through animated instructions. Researches proved that animated instructions are more effective for learning. Moreover, animation is more superior over static graphics. Animated Instructional Resources (AIR) serves as support system to combat boredom because it stimulates the senses. This can lead to higher mastery and lesser absenteeism and cutting classes.
In this regard, seminars and workshops are conducted to capacitate educators and resource developers. The Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS) provides mechanisms to support coordinated and integrated access to quality resources by DepEd Regions, Divisions and Cluster School Levels.
The great challenge now is how educators develop animated instructional resources without taking for granted the principles of contextualization. Resources should be designed based on the learners’ belief, environment, language and culture, traditions, practices, prior knowledge and experiences.
The end purpose of animated instructional resources should not be entertainment and aesthetics but these should be based on competencies and content wise.
I really salute educators and administrators who are open to dynamic teaching learning process and regard animated instructional resources as necessity in the success of enhanced basic curriculum. The 3-day seminar workshop conducted by the Cordillera Administrative Region LRMDS which I participated in was indeed a timely and challenging one. Aside from the enhanced technical skills in developing resources using Photoshop, PowerPoint and Flash, these lessons were saved in my mind: 1. On the law of use and misuse of skills learned- If the law of misuse prevails, you lose; 2. The principle of authentic teaching is practice, practice and practice; and 3. Instructional resources can never replace the effectiveness of a teacher- Teachers are still the best resources so keep learning, unlearning and relearning to make every teaching-learning experiences fun and meaningful.
Kudos to CAR LRMDS Team and Sir Ginno Carlo Padilla for unselfishly sharing your time and skills. We, participants, are very grateful.

By: JOCELYN R. BUMANGHAT, Camp 6 Elementary School