08/02/2023
THIRD DAY: Agripino P. Santos Elementary School (APSES)
Activities during the Mid-Year Break
Agripjno P. Santos Elementary School (APSES), District II, Laoag City, conducted the Third Day Day Mid-Year Break Activities led by the school principal, Mr. Eufrecino R. Factores, together with the 24 teachers and 15 pre-service teachers from MMSU-CTE for the continuation of the curriculum implementation review and evaluation of the School’s Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs), as well as the topics for the INSET, February 8, 2023, at APSES Audio Visual Room.
Two pre-service teachers served as the facilitator for the preliminary activities of the Mid-Year Break. They provided the participants with a unique and interactive style of checking the attendance through cheers and yells. In addition, they also facilitated the recapitulation of the second-day activities just to give the teachers a glimpse of information about what have been discussed the previous day. Teachers have been participative to share their ideas on the different queries provided by the facilitators.
Radio-Television Based Instruction implementation was discussed by Mrs. Hazel T. Damian, Teacher III. She mentioned the participation of the APSES teachers in the Schools Division of Laoag City with the total number of scriptwriters, video editors, and video talent. APSES teachers continued to integrate video lessons in their classroom-based discussions. Mrs. Damian reiterated the importance of these video lessons to the performances and academic achievements of the learners. Therefore, the effective use of digital learning tools in classrooms can increase student engagement, help teachers improve their lesson plans, and facilitate personalized learning. It also helps students build essential 21st-century skills. However, still, it’s important to note that technology is a tool used in education and not an end. The promise of educational technology lies in what teachers do with it and how it is used to best support the learners’ needs.
Meanwhile, Ms. Madonna Mae T. Guerrero, Teacher III, and Mr. Virginio C. Andres Jr., Master Teacher I, had reported the implementation of Learning Activity Sheets used by the teachers during the pandemic until today. They further explain the features of learning activity sheets so that teachers may continuously develop instructional materials that would enhance the different abilities of the learners, as well as help the learners to master the least mastered competencies in their lessons. Ms. Guerrero cited in her discussion the SPED Functional Academic Package, activity sheets in Mathematics, English, and Science covering the K to 12 curriculum based on the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) of Special Education which was then validated by the SPED teachers and Mrs. Marilyn Pasion, Master Teacher II. Thus, the Learning Activity Sheet is developed to help learners continue learning even if they are not in school. This learning material provides you with meaningful and engaging activities for independent learning. Being an active learner, carefully read and understand the instructions then perform the activities and answer the assessments.
Furthermore, the distribution and use of procured tablets have been talked over by Mrs. Grace May R. Miguel, Teacher III, which was based on the DepEd Order No. 18 s. 2020 known as Policy Guidelines for the provision of Learning Resources. Mrs. Miguel stated in her report that Tablets in the classroom allow both students and teachers to be connected and in direct communication at any time. All notes, tasks, or communications will be made and saved digitally, so it is difficult for them to get lost as can happen with hand-written notes. In addition, these devices allow learners to learn with material that is attractive to them in real-time (videos, podcasts, multimedia resources, etc.). Learners have instant access to individual research, and a huge knowledge base is available at their fingertips (for example, the thousands of websites and videos that can show sample lessons). Bear in mind that, being a tool with Internet access, learning difficult topics will be much faster and easier.
In the afternoon session, APSES teachers begin the In-Service Training on the Significance and Importance of Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in formative tests explained by Mr. Ricky Mark L. Ancheta, Teacher I. He said that higher-order questions put advanced cognitive demands on learners. They encourage learners to think beyond literal questions. Likewise, HOTS promote critical thinking skills because these types of questions expect students to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information instead of simply recalling the fact.
Mrs. Marilyn A. Pasion, Master Teacher II, continued the presentation on HOTS to be integrated into test construction for periodical examinations. She even explained the number of items to be included in the Table of Specifications and the percentage of items included per area on Bloom’s Taxonomy. Further, she stated that the Table of Specifications helps to ensure that there is a match between what is taught and what is tested. Classroom assessment should be driven by classroom teaching which itself is driven by course goals and objectives. APSES teachers have been enlightened with the construction of periodical examinations and formative tests, activities, and exercises.
The seminar and workshop for the third day ended at exactly 5:00 in the afternoon.
