Teaching in the 21st century K-12 classroom

May 19, 2018 Educator's Corner Opinion

When one is asked of his or her idea of K-12 curriculum, he may say, “the use of Ilokano, Tagalog, Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and other local languages in the classroom.” Someone may also say that K-12 program makes high school graduates employable, or that students have 12 years of preparation before college, and so on. These possible opinions count in the reality of this curriculum.
The use of mother tongue or the first language of a child to facilitate the teaching-learning process is very much true in the K-12 curriculum. Prior to the conceptualization of this program, local and international researches say that a child learns best in the first language (or mother tongue) because s/he understands the concepts better in the language he is exposed to. Parents who are the very first teachers of their children best attest to this research claim. Psychologists and linguists support this too.
This school year 2017-2018 marks the graduation of the first batch of grade six pupils who are products of K-12 curriculum in our country, yet many are still confused by its application in the classroom. Most people especially parents and even educators have difficulty imagining how the teaching-learning process is facilitated using the first language better known as the mother tongue.
First, learners will be conversant. That is, they speak comfortably and easily because they are allowed to speak in their own first language. They can recite and express their ideas freely without the pressure of speaking in correct English. It is no longer taboo to be speaking in the local languages in Math and Science lessons. Varied classroom activities such as gallery walk, dance lessons, experiments and physical fitness workshops are better facilitated because learners collaborate with each other and with the teacher. Third, lessons are delivered virtually. This would mean lesser chalk and chalkboard. Teachers adapt in the learning styles of pupils given this technology-driven environment and the facility with which pupils now use smart phones, computers and internet. Last, there is an extended classroom communication. Teachers give time to pupils and parents to communicate using social media like Skype, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to ask or clarify requirements, projects, assignments, and class performance of the learners.
How then does a 21st century K-12 classroom look like? It is a place where the teacher facilitates learning by engaging pupils actively in interactive teaching-learning processes using multilingual medium of communication and varied instructional materials. It is a venue where pupils are comfortable in a classroom setting and are challenge to learn lessons pertinent to their education.

By: ALICE B. MASIDONG

Mabini Elementary School, Baguio City