SPECIAL TOPICS IN EDUCATION

3rd Seminar Narrative

Special Topics for education is another subject we had to take for us to graduate. In this

subject we are divided into groups and were assigned to conduct a seminar on the topics assigned

to every group instead of having the traditional lecture type. As future teachers we are being honed

to be innovative and think of ways wherein learning is still possible even if it is outside the four

corners of a classroom. At first I thought it was a piece of cake since we will be working as a group

which means many hands will share the workloads. I was wrong, working as a group is more

challenging than working alone. We have met lots of difficulties in making this seminar a success.

Yes, I must admit that mistakes and shortcomings in every task is inevitable but we - as mature

individuals that we are must be responsible enough to do the task given to us. We must know how

to balance our time. As member of a group we are all responsible to think of an appropriate solution

to the problems that we encounter along the way. We must not stop working just because our first

plan was not realized. We have to think of another one. Most of all we must be present in every

group meeting that we have.

Committing mistakes is normal and it is through this mistakes that we learn valuable

lessons. I must say that our group is lucky for we were given ample time to prepare for our seminar

but we have wasted those times. We were not able to accomplished our task not until the last day

before our actual seminar. We have encountered lots of problems. One of those is the venue since

it was said that the little theater is under renovation. With the little time that we had it is impossible

to secure the accreditation room, good thing is that our instructor Sir Carl Gelito suggested the

multi-purpose hall of CSU near the College of Agriculture. One of the most crucial difficulty we
had faced is looking for resource speaker that would share their knowledge and expertise on the

topics provided assigned to our group. The target speakers were not informed ahead of time! The

result? Its either they decline due to minimal time given to prepare for the talk or they had previous

engagements to attend to. Fortunately, God is so good that I believe He is the very reason why Sir

Den, Mr. Teleg of Bato and Ma’am Tarrobal, also of Bato Rural Development High School comes

into our mind and miraculously without hesitation they have agreed to be our resource speaker.

With the minimal time given to them, they have made our seminar an unforgettable one. Our

resource speakers were truly an expert on the topics that were assigned to them. Sir

As I look back on the experiences I had in making this seminar a reality, I am thankful that

I did not succumbed into the hopelessness I felt during those crucial times. I thank God that during

that last few hours that we had He had given me longer patience and dedication for me to lead the

group with clear mind. I have come to understand that that maybe it is due to their hectic schedule

that my group members were not able to accomplished the task given to them. Realizations came

that as a leader I must be in constant communication with them even if it means bugging them.

Everyone needs a push for us to work harder. For that, I am deeply sorry that there were times I

have made you feel my irritations. Shortcomings are oftentimes experience due to many factors,

one of those is working as a team. During those times we lack teamwork. Few heads are working

that makes me irritated. For an event to push thru we all must be disciplined and responsible

enough to take actions no matter how hard the situation is. Time management is very important.

We must make use of our time wisely. May this event leave us a lesson for us to ponder and help

us in our future endeavors. To my group members, iloveyouall!!!

RRM
 SPECIAL TOPICS IN EDUCATION
3rd Seminar Reflection

“The Classroom as a Global Community” and “Global Teachers” speaker emphasizes that

culture is a very big aspect to understand student’s attitude and behavior. One of the most important

tasks for educators in the world today is to help students learn about the rich variety of people in

our multicultural world and the important world problems that face our planet. English language

teachers have a special role to play in this important task.

Global education is a set of ideas taught to enhance one's perception of the world. It is

taught within the curriculum where teachers integrate multiple dimensions, perspectives, and

citizenships into everyday lessons. Technology is a key provider in learning about globalization

and participating in the global community. Technology can be used in the classroom to

communicate around the world, establish global relationships, learn more about global current

events, and developing global research. The advancements of technology will have a positive

impact of global education in primary schools and higher education schools. The need to prepare

teachers for working in multicultural contexts in an increasingly globalized world is one that all of

us working in education would acknowledge as being of significance.

Teachers play a significant part in the lives of children, especially during their formative

years. They are integral in molding students to become responsible citizens of the country.

Teachers of the 21st century should be lifelong learners, adventurous, innovative and imaginative.

They should be individuals who were outsiders to traditional systems of learning.

 SPECIAL TOPICS IN EDUCATION
2nd Seminar Reflection

“Bridging the World and Classroom through research exposure and Information Literacy”

is the theme of the second seminar. The main function of a teacher is teaching. Reading journals

and conducting action research on a regular basis are now considered extra professional

responsibilities. Every classroom is different. It is this complexity in which they operate in that

provides a compelling reason for teachers to look more closely into their own teaching practice.

One way for them to do so is to conduct research, right in their own classroom. It would be easier

to teach if a teacher knows whether and why the teaching is effective. Because then, they can start

to make improvements.

The need to find out whether a teaching practice is effective has become more urgent,

because student outcomes are now more wide-ranging. Increasingly, teachers find themselves

faced with new and novel demands, with no right or existing models to guide them. Instead of

reusing the same old teaching strategies that have worked in the past, they may have to come up

with innovative ways of teaching. Not only that, teachers are also encouraged to come up with

their own curriculum initiatives.

Teachers need to be allowed the time, opportunity and be encourage to conduct their own

research as part of their own reflection on the way they teach and find ways to improve it. I strongly

believe in the bottom-up approach to shaping education; that is, it is the teachers who are on the

ground, it is the teachers who know how it feels to work with the children on an every-day basis.

It is, therefore, the teachers who need to be able to reflect on their own work through their own

study.
 SPECIAL TOPICS IN EDUCATION

2nd Seminar Narrative

The second seminar was all about the importance of research in the field of teaching. With

the speakers that are expert in this field, the seminar went well with lots of information gained. is

Dr. Jovert R. Balunsay was so enthusiastic in discussing his topic. He based his talk on his

experiences in doing research work. He presented some of his research as an example and give

tips on how to critically analyze a research paper. Sir also tackles professionalism in research. The

proper attitude and procedure tin conducting research

Ms. Quennie Ann T. Sumulat, one of the faculty of Laboratory School is the second speaker

of the seminar. She tackles the different parts of a research paper and the ways to properly conduct

an action research. Role of a Teacher in Information literacy is another topic discussed during the

seminar. Mr. Xyrell T. Albaniel is the speaker assigned. He talks so fast that I wasn’t able to

understand what his talk is all about. The last was also discussed by him which I think had already

been discussed in the seminars before this.

Teachers are the superheroes in the classroom because of the challenging and ever-

changing nature of the work they do every day. But to stay adaptable, even these superheroes have

to learn, unlearn and relearn. The advantage of teacher research is that it brings teacher learning

and teaching really close together.