Empowering Educators Through ICT

by MEGS S. LUNN

Photo shows Mr. Jestoni Babia, facilitator of the two-day seminar workshop at Adee’s Restaurant, Kalibo, Aklan. Photo taken by Eleazar Polinar/VIBAL Cebu City.

“Learning is a continuous education.” It is a lifelong process where individual, be a teacher, a student or simply a learner strives to learn. The education is transferred to others, through formal or non-formal education. 

With the advent of technology where teachers must compete with internet and with latest generation is getting busier as digital learners online rather than in the four corners of the wall. There are companies that are willing to facilitate among our educators to develop their knowledge and skills in information technology in order to answer the call of the 21st century. 

To empower the molders of our young minds, the Vibal Publishing House, Inc. hosted a two-day seminar workshop for Teacher from the different private schools in Aklan on January 21-22, 2013 at Adee’s Restaurant, Kalibo, Aklan.

Mr. Jestoni Babia, trainer of Coalition for Better Education from Cebu City discussed two topics on (Session 1) Developing Critical Thinking Skills Through the Art of Questioning (UbD Application) and (Session 2) Hands on Training in the Effective Utilization of Instructional Media & Innovative Teaching Strategies.

“We need to empower our teachers to effective classroom management techniques through the art of listening and asking critical questions, and at the same time, manage the behavior and emotions of the students,” stressed Mr. Babia. 

The speaker is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from Xavier University – Ateneo De Cagayan and a Masters of Art in Education for Special Education from Cebu Normal University, Cebu City. He is presently a full time College professor at the University of San Jose- Recoletos, Cebu City. He is also a MAKABAYAN Trainer of DepEd Region 7 Teacher Training Program, a member of the Philippine Association for Teacher Education and Ateneo Most Outstanding Graduate. 

The public schools are developing to 21st Century, while private schools are striving towards the 21st Century. The quantity and quality of lessons/activities integrating technology in the school is beneficial but the insufficiency of the teacher’s competence and experience with the use of technology is also detrimental to their growth. 

Filipinos can adapt easily to changes. However, some Filipinos has small minds, according to one businessman. Our young minds must realize that we can do better and dream bigger. Educators can integrate this kind of thinking to the young minds of the students. The essential skills that students should learn today are critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration. Moreover, the 21st century skills that our students must learn are life and career skills. Students must be taught how to be wise in spending money. Teachers should tap this learning for students to become innovative; 

Other 21st Century Interdisciplinary themes are Global Awareness, Financial, Economic, Entrepreneurial and Business Literacy, Civic Literacy, Health Literacy and Environmental Literacy. 

“There is access to varieties of educational resources online and we are providing schools a mobile learning technology, our latest development to improve the teaching process and not to replace the teachers”. 

According to Babia, “Problems seen at present why integrating technology throughout the educational system reform is tough because of geographical divide, low ownership, technical barriers, low implementation rate and no monitoring.” 

The different private schools which participated in the two-day seminar workshops are: Aklan Valley High school, Aklan Learning Center, Infant Jesus Academy Kalibo Campus, Aklan Catholic College, St. Anne Montessori, Sto. Nino Seminary, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Garcia College of Technology, Banga Elementary School and Torralba Elementary School. 

Vibal Publishing House, Inc. is a leader in publishing educational textbook. It pioneered e-textbook in the Philippines. Vibal is also into partnership with McGrawhill, Houghton Mifflin, Harcourt (HMH), and Pearson for Global Education bringing global standards to Filipino learners.  This year, Vibal celebrates its 60th Anniversary with the theme: Innovating and Providing a Lifelong Learning to our Filipino youth. /MP