WITH students now glued to social media and smartphones, some teachers are taking advantage of technology while others favor the “old ways” of teaching.
In celebration of National Teachers’ Month this year, two public school teachers, both from different generations, share how they reach out to students despite conflicting opinions on the use of modern technology in education.
Evelyn Dy-Andrino, a Grade 9 teacher, told Sun.Star Cebu that she advocates the use of modern technology in her classes and encourages students to bring their smartphones as part of their learning experience.
Andrino, who has been teaching at the ANS for more than three years now, said she finds the use of smartphones in class as an educational experience that students need to tap.
Literature
An English teacher, Andrino said that she uses smartphones, tablets and free internet to teach her students about literature.
“Technology is useful because we can teach students through visuals, not just plain pictures and photos,” Andrino said.
She said smartphone applications are helpful to her students, especially on lessons and projects they are working on.
But not all teachers welcome modern technology inside the classroom.
Grace Sta. Iglesia, a Filipino teacher also at ANS, said she is not as tech-savvy as her colleagues.
Iglesia, who has been working as a teacher at ANS for 16 years, told Sun.Star Cebu that she prefers to use the “old ways” of teaching, such as preparing lesson plans and teaching materials by hand.
Distraction
Unlike Andrino who allows her students to bring smartphones in class, Iglesia prohibits it.
Iglesia said smartphones often distract students from their lessons and sometimes cause trouble.
Iglesia recalled an incident when she had to reprimand a student whom she caught watching porn using his smartphone in class.
“Naa sad koy nabadlongan nga nagduwa og Pokemon Go nga iya gyud kung gipugngan og lihok kay ang Pokemon naa sa akong agtang (There was also a student who was playing Pokemon Go and told me not to move because there’s one on my forehead),” Iglesia said.
She said the use of smartphones in class promotes laziness, adding that her students just take a photo of assignments rather than writing it on the notebook.
Seminars
But Iglesia said she doesn’t shun the use of technology entirely.
She said her school often conducts seminars on how teachers can improve their teaching methods through the use of modern technology.
Iglesia said she also seeks help from younger teachers like Andrino to help her in coming up with teaching tools using technology.
But both teachers agree on one thing: that whether they use technology or not, the quality of teaching and the ability to get the attention of their students are the most important thing.
In her memorandum, Department of Education Sec. Leonor Briones urged the public in this year’s celebration of National Teachers’ Month to show appreciation to those who are in the teaching profession.
With the theme “Guro, Kabalikat sa Pagpababago,” this year’s celebration aims to honor those who are in the teaching profession and acknowledges their role in nurturing families and in nation building.