Can technology help teachers stage more engaging classes?

The Metrobank Foundation Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators (MBFI-NOTED) and its partners sponsored a series of seminars for public and private school teachers on integrating information technology into teaching.

NOTED, the Bangkok office of the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the University of Santo Tomas Educational Technology Technology Center (UST EdTech) held these training-workshops that empowered teachers to use free software to use technology in classes.

That way, the usage of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) by teacher-trainees did not need to spend much to use such technologies in classroom instruction.

The workshops were anchored on an instructional framework called TPACK (Technological, Pedagogical Content Knowledge) that hoped to see the fit between technology and traditional teaching. A contribution to teachers is that technology can help make learning sessions in classes become more engaging.

Three batches of teachers from the City Schools Divisions of Makati, Quezon City and Pasig participated in the workshop last May 14, 18 and 20 at the UST's Alumni Center. The workshops carried the theme "Growing with Technology, Advancing in Pedagogy."

The workshop was facilitated by UST EdTech Center Director Cherryle Anne Ramos, fellow EdTech official Arne Barcelo, and UST College of Education professors Marichou Beltran, Prianne Tinipunan and Mercedes C. Buendia, faculty members of the UST College of Education.

NOTED President Dr. Allan B. de Guzman said the workshop is part of the NOTEd's PROJECT UPDATE (Upscaling the Professional Development and Advancement of Teachers and Educators).