REFLECTION ON OUR RETREAT

        Last September 5-7,2011 we have our Holy Retreat at Catalunan Grande "Saloma sa Kinaiyahan" (Canticle of Creatures). I was very fortunate to have this kind of moment to give time for myself to pause for a while and not to think any problems, and worries I had to my studies and to my family left at home. There are a lot of things Fr. Aying shared to us that makes us realized something that really changed my perception in life. It is really true that I must not rely on what others may tell me. I must accept my very self because it is the gift of God and no one can judge me for who I am. I also learn that it is wrong to say "Forgive and Forget" instead I must forgive and not to forget that experience because that experience is part of my life and it makes my memories wonderful. Everytime I remember the person who makes me feel bad I won't be angry anymore because I already forgive him/her for what he/she did to me but I will not forget him/her because of what she did because he/she once became part of my wonderful life.

      I also learned that I must not decide when I'm in panic because it may lead me to a wrong decision. I was also touched by the movie shown to us by Fr. Ariel about Joseph "King of Dreams". The movie really portraits the story of every person because it shows that life is full of struggles but we must not quit because these struggles may lead us up to what we are longing for.This movie really makes me cry because I was like Joseph who once taken away from my parents to work for other families and I experienced those sorrows being away from them. I experienced hardships in my work and in my studies but it doesn't make me down. I just bear into myself that God has His own plans for me and I know He is leading me to correct path. I really thank God for that opportunity of allowing to experienced those hardships and sorrows because it makes me into better and strong person.

REFLECTION ON THE STATE-OF-THE-ART ET APPLICATION PRACTICES

            As teachers we need to adopt and apply the advancement of technology in the teaching and learning process even though we all know that it is expensive and takes more time but we know that it would help us to develop, equipped, enhance, improved and acquire our computer skill in assessing our learning as we adopt technology in our modern world. We need to set new level of learning and understanding through acquiring appropriate use of state-of the-art in the learning process.

          Our future learners someday become so lucky unlike us today because in the coming years we as the teachers who has the knowledge about the use of computer and our students to will adopt the advancement of technology then it is not difficult for us to perform activities in instruction or in education. But we teachers must be open-minded and accept new ideas for we know that technology changes rapidly.

Reflection on Cooperative Learning

      

      I can say that  Cooperative Learning is one of the effective strategies that can be used by the teachers to make the class more motivated. As what I have observed during our field studies, using this strategies makes the learners become more responsible because they work not individually but by group. Learners has its own role in the group so that they may not rely only to the other members to work for their task or activity. It is good to used this strategy because it enables the learners to express their ideas and share it to the group. Learners gain knowledge from their group-mates and vice versa. This strategy helps the learners to develop their self esteem, develop their social skills and increases their retention. 

     Of course we cannot deny the fact that this cooperative learning also has a negative effect or disadvantage. We all know that not all strategies are effective because our strategies also varies from the capabilities and the interest of our student. Maybe some of the learners refer for individualized approach and yet you used cooperative learning then the student may become unmotivated. Also one of the disadvantage of this cooperative learning is that it is not always applicable in every lesson. As a teacher you need to use also other strategies and you must  not stick to one strategy because it maybe effective to some of the students yet ineffective to other students.

Reflection on Computer as Teacher's Tool

          We all know that computer provides a vast information in various forms such as graphics, texts, videos and sounds that would somehow used by the teachers to make learning a meaningful one.  A lot of multimedia software are now used by the teachers and as well as the students like Children’s Encarta and any multimedia encyclopedias.

          Computer also serves as a tool for communication wherein teacher uses social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and etc. where in we can chat, send messages and even have a video chat. Also through the use of these online social networking sites students can be able to socialize with other people around the globe.

          Sstudents’ make their assignments, create projects, and do researches with the use of computer. It really seemed that our present civilization is dependent on computers. It is in anyway advantageous if used wisely and purposely.

Reflection on Computer as a Tutor

            Computers serves a vital role in education. As it is integrated in the teaching-learning process, learning becomes more meaningful. Teachers uses computers to make their student become creative in making their portfolios, reports and etc. But it doesn't mean that this computers would replace the role of the teachers. Eventhough the computers can give instant information to the students still teachers are the one that could touch the life of every student.

          Computers can serve as a tutor in to the students but still the teachers are the one who give instructions in such activities he want to give to his learners. There are a lot of Computer Assisted Instruction software that can be used by the teacher in giving the students an activity but still teachers need to consider a lot of things. He must ensure that learners have already the knowledge on how to use computer. The teacher must consider the objectives of the activities and they must check the learning outcomes of the students as sort of evaluation.

         It is true that computers really succeeded in providing an individualized learning environment because we all know that teachers has difficulties in dealing with the class having 60 students or more. Computers allow the learners to learn by their own pace, motivate learning through a challenging virtual learning environment. Computers assist students through information needed during the learning process, evaluate student responses through immediate feedback and also give the total score to evaluate the student's total performance.

Reflection on Traditional and IT integrated teaching

         Technology has really plays a vital role in improving our education system. Through integrating technology in the teaching and learning process students may now become motivated to listen to the discussion of their teacher. Technology is really a greet help to the teachers in making their lessons as a more realistic one through the use of video presentation or power point. Through the use of computers teachers may easily compute the grades of the students through excel.

         Technology helps to lessen the works of the teachers because instead of cutting letters or making designs to make their instructional materials as a presentable and wonderful in the eyes of their students they just print it or have a power point presentation. Through the use of this kind of presentation the teachers may able to use various smart designs to beautify their presentation. Through it teachers or students can save money because they will no longer buy materials in making their visual aids such as cartolina, pentel pen, stickers and etc..

            In traditional way of teaching learners would feel bored during class especially when a teacher uses chalk-talk method or purely discussion. But if the teacher integrates the use of technology in teaching the students would be eager to participate in the discussion especially when you give them first an energizer using a video presentation. If you want them to dance then you can let them watch the video of the dancing robots. But despite of the advantages of this technology it also has its disadvantages. How are you going to play a video if the school you were assign doesn’t have electricity? So as teachers we must not also be so dependent to technology. We must have always our Plan A and Plan B every time.

         There are rumors that technology would someday replace the teacher because there are some teachers who leave their students in the class and just play a video and let them watch and ask to give a reflection and then that's it. There were no longer students - teacher interaction. Technology is really smarter than the teachers but teachers are really the one that touches the life of a student and mold his future.It is better to let our students  have a small brain than a small heart.
        

expectations regarding the course subject

       Based on my experience in our educational technology 1, I came to the point to expect more regarding this subject. During our edtech 1 we experienced to make our reports creative and very presentable in the eyes of our classmates. With the use of powerpoint presentation we are able to make our audience to be attentive because of  the different effects, graphics and as well as the sounds.

       As I enrolled this subject I really expect more not just in using powerpoint presentation in our report but because I want to learn more about the importance of technology in teaching and learning process. I want to know more about how technology affects the teachers daily routine in school and as well as how students response to the call of technology. As a teacher someday I also want to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of integrating technology in the teaching and learning process.