Friday, October 01, 2010
Sunday, April 26, 2009
DIGITAL LITERACY and ICT INTEGRATION
HELLO IBMementors! This is ARNOLD ASOTIGUE of MSU Siawadato. I was not able to post blogs sa group natin for the past 3 years I guess because i forgot my pw and just recovered it. Mam Marie, Mylene and me had just arrived for a 4 day training in Cagayan de Oro College PHINMA Education Network in Cagayan de Oro City. The training was a memorable one because i can still remember the training that we had n Davao. We had a great time everytime we had to prepare our presentations. I am always makulit wth them since i keep on telling them na gandahan nu kasi pagalitan tau ni Sir meoh as he said " anu ba yan Sir/Maam ang daming animations ang kulay po." at king ano pang nakkakinfluence nya sa tin before na talagang nakkatulong talaga sa ating ICT knowledge. KMSTA PO! Of course with Sir Garsh sobra tlaga ung naitulong nila sa atin. Ang trianing po namin ay sa USAID_GEM CLICK pa rin. Slmt po na kahit papano tuloy pa rin ang pagtulong ng USAID sa ating mag taga Mindanao. Nakkamiss po talaga si mam Maej at mam Happy.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mga Maestra sa Lanao
In a television show the other day, a survey was conducted where it asked respondents the profession which makes a person grow older faster (figuratively). Contestants of the show keep on answering different professions, one said “magsasaka”, the other said construction worker. They never get to answer the question right. The host then said that the survey actually indicated that teaching is among the professions which make a person grow old faster.
The information amuses me so. Somehow it made me look at my profession in a different angle.
Looking at this profession, yes, I agree that it’s really frustrating and exasperating at times when you get to encounter deadlines you’ve got to meet. It drives you nuts when you haven’t completed submitting grades, reports and lesson plans. It sometimes makes us want to strangle those people who are making our work harder.
The pressure is already worth a wrinkle, two if you don’t get to submit on time.
Sometimes you encounter hard headed students that make those “pasaway” students on TV on shame. A teacher needs lots of guts and a spine made of steel in handling these kind of students.
Another wrinkle there.
One thing that personally frustrates me so is whenever I get to encounter parents who think their child got above average IQ and can’t accept their children only goes to school once a month.
Another wrinkle there.
If you get to think of those things, teaching really does give teachers abnormal wrinkles. But of course there are joys that we get to encounter with the job. Now that’s worth a smile.
It does take eleven muscle to smile, and twelve muscle to frown ( The 37-muscle -when-frowning thing is actually a myth). Still that’s one more muscle, so it does make a difference.
Never in my wildest dream did it ever occurred to me that I would end up teaching one day. I used to dislike teaching, mainly because am short tempered and gets impatient easily. Not only that, but I just don’t like the idea of teaching. It’s the furthest thing I have on my mind. But as fate would have it, I ended up becoming a teacher, and surprisingly get to love it so.
How did I end up in this profession? After graduating in college, I enrolled in Law School which I enjoyed so. On my second semester, the doctor advised me to take aside my studies as I was already conceiving with Shane. So I did, and I never get to enroll again. When Shane was almost two, I was invited by my brother-in-law to go on an interview in the External Studies in Mindanao State University. I passed and with nothing to do I applied and was assigned to MSU-Balindong Lanao del Sur. I only reported one week and I requested to be reassigned to MSU-Baloi Lanao del Norte, because it’s nearer Iligan City.
I grew up in Cagayan de Oro City, gone to private schools from Elementary to College, in an exclusive girl’s school in Elementary. Coming to work, I was obviously shocked at first; I didn’t know the ropes of the trade. I didn’t know how a public school works. I didn’t know how to interact with my colleagues in a way that’s acceptable of them and I didn’t know how to manage the children. I can’t ever forget my first day in class. The students obviously sensed that am a newbie and they were extra unruly. I just got by and observed what’s going on. The second day,I put my foot forward and stressed in a high tone the rules I wanted inside my class. From that moment on I was known as one of the strictest in the school. No one messes with me, and everyone knows it.
I have a great relationship with my colleagues which are among the joys I have working here. It is mainly because most are related to my father, and that the school was once owned privately by a granduncle of mine. Most of them are on their forties and fifties, so I look up and respect them so much. (Less wrinkle there)
I am also happiest whenever I get to see my students succeeding in their chosen courses, whenever I get to see them shine on their colleges, and whenever I get to receive messages from them that I made a difference in their lives. You see, I have always employed in my work, the same things I learned growing up in those schools I went to. I want my children experience the same thing I have as a student, the same rigorous training, the same strictness. My students can attest to this fact.
They said I am idealistic, but I don’t want to be tagged as a “typical” public school teacher in Lanao. I am not belittling my colleagues I have learned so many things from them, things that were not taught to me in school. Everyone knows what I mean by “typical”, but I am proud to say our school is atypical, unique in its own way. Call it egotistic, but it is true, and everyone in External Studies knows it, they just don’t accept the fact..LOL
For five days a week, I drive myself to and fro Baloi, I have been doing this for the past five years. Do I get tired? Yes of course. (Another wrinkle I guess). But everyday, I look forward to facing the challenges that my profession brings me. It has been a learning process for me everyday and would continue to be one in the years to come InshaAllah. It also gives me pride that one thing good that has come up in this experience is that I get to know my dad’s roots and get to have good relationship with his relatives
I now mainly teach college students, I am the college coordinator of our MSU-IIT extension classes. But I still maintain one subject in high school because I love working around with the kids. ( I don’t mind the wrinkles.)
Whether it makes me old or not, I would welcome the wrinkles with all my heart (am still in my early 30’s for heaven’s sake, am talking like am retirable already). I won’t trade my profession with anything, not unless I’d become congresswoman someday. Just Kidding..
Friday, October 03, 2008
Eleven and Colonel
While Eleven was boisterous, inquisitive and is not afraid to talk, Colonel was shy, very quite. Though exact opposites, the two were inseparable. I noticed Eleven stands out among the other children. He was sharp, witty, full of questions, and was not afraid to talk to us. One can’t help but notice this little boy. I presumed they were regular boys who also go to school. I was mistaken.
I asked the two boys how old they were, Eleven, the older among the boys, replied he is “sapolo” (10 years old), I then asked Colonel how old he was, and he won’t reply. I figured Colonel was around 8 to 9 years old, but I am not sure because the children in this place are mostly small for their ages. Eleven said Colonel doesn’t know his age because he hasn’t gone to school. I asked Eleven what grade he was in, he asked me instead “Antonaa i grado?” (What do you mean by Grade?). It turned out both boys haven’t gone to school.
Eleven then asked how old Shane is; I told him he is “walo” (8 years old). He then asked me ” Antonaa i mala sa walo ago sa sapolo?” (Which is bigger, 8 or 10?). He meant to ask who is older. I told him he (Eleven) is older by two years. He then replied “Maito ako ugaid na mas matu-a ako.” (Perhaps I am older, but I am smaller than him).
I asked Eleven why he have such a name. He said it’s only a nickname, and that his real name is Numairie (If I remember right). The people around answered why he was nicknamed Eleven. I won’t write why, it’s kinda not writable. Anyway, Colonel on the other hand was named after my father-in-law.
I asked the two if they had ever gone to school. They told me they have, but they stopped because the teachers were always absent. I asked their parents if this is true, and they said it is. I asked them why the teachers won’t come to school, when they’re paid to do so. They said most of the time, there’s always a gunfight ensuing in the area where the school is.
I can’t help but think of these two boys and all other children of this place. I found out later that this is common to most of the children in the municipality. It is very sad to think that these children will grow uneducated, unable to read and write. It is so easy to tell what they will become when they grow up.
Sultan Gumander, now known as Picong, is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. They got picturesque and breathtaking view of its shorelines and islands, one is called Ibus Island and the other one is a small island, don’t know what it’s called though. We once have hiked a stretch of its shoreline and found so many colorful fishes and beautiful corals on the water. Fishermen said they commonly see “boong” (whale shark/butanding) and other whales while fishing, they consider such organisms as “tonong” (ancestral spirits) thus making the animals safe in this places. When you are in Sultan Gumandar, you would see endless of coconut trees and plantations, it is one of the leading copra industries of the region. Aside from it’s rich resources, it is also very historic. This is the site where the legendary Sultan Kudarat is buried, in a beautiful place called Ramitan.
So why are the children deprived of education, when such place have rich resources, when our country are spending billions to its public education system?
This is the downside to this otherwise beautiful place. Everywhere you see are traces of wars and feuds. Along the way one can’t help but notice abandoned school buildings, sometimes burned to the ground. You could see the war torn communities along the way. You could pass by the empty, abandoned and war-ridden homes. I learned people have fled their homes because of ensuing gunfights brought about by decades-old family feuds.
Because of these troubles, the children are the most affected. Their education suffered. Because of this, they would grow up to the only world they know. The arms. The guns. And the endless Maratabats, some rightful, some are not.
Nevertheless, if the children are exposed to a different world, their priorities would have changed. They would build hopes, and would be a start to a beautiful life. What a beautiful thought; for them to be able to have good and peaceful life amidst such beautiful place.
This place is now full of hope Alhamdulillah. The almost finished construction of the highway leading to Karomatan SND, Lanao del Norte is a start. Such highway is one of the best I’ve seen in terms of quality construction. I’ve witnessed the painstaking process they have done to the area; some were constructed twice whenever they see imperfections. Picong is now a gateway between the two Lanao provinces, and between the Cotabato region and Zamboanga region. It would soon play a vital role between these provinces and regions. This would pave a way for a new Picong, full of hope and promises.
Ten years ago, when I have first set foot on this place, one can barely see vehicles passing the difficult roads. The highway leading to the SND area was closed. Whole villages and barrios were abandoned. Now, the highway is open, a different atmosphere is felt in the area, it is somehow changed, perhaps sensing its better future. People have gone back to their houses, and one can see the barrios and communities full of life. Though one can still hear the occasional gunfire in the area, and we were advised not to travel after 5 pm, still the place has changed.
Perhaps one day its sad history would become a thing of the past. Perhaps one day, children like Eleven and Colonel will have a better life, a normal and peaceful life. Inshaallah.
Eleven
Scenic view of the Picong shoreline. See that beautiful small island?
Picong highway tunnel; A marvel in this region.
