INNOVATE TO EDUCATE
"Change is coming". This has been the famous phrase since Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, our president now, started his campaign and came into office. Many people expected changes hoping that our nation would be in great height in all of its aspects. Wherein the goal for the change is to uplift the lives of every Filipino. Whatever career or industry we are in, we all want changes that would help everybody to grow in the field that they have chosen. As a teacher, change is an understatement. Focusing here on education, the practices of experienced teachers are somewhat effective in the latter years. But now that our learners are immersed in the digital age and much more exposed in the technology world, what we need is a taste of, to exaggerate it, a full meal of educational innovation. This is not fresh news. But let us always keep in mind, especially educators, that innovation should be a common thing to all of us. Using the same teaching strategies would make our millennials feel bored and uninterested. Conceptualizing a new plan of action to achieve our goals and objectives in the four corners of the classroom will have a great effect in the teaching-learning process. An effect that would last a lifetime. Thus, producing 21st century learners. To educate is to transfer knowledge. To innovate is to establish new methods. When we transfer knowledge using new methods, ultimately that will help us achieve our objectives in the educational system. Educational innovation is a must. It is already on-going, it is being used, being enhanced, being intensified, being improved. All for the benefit of our future. As the saying goes "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" (the youth are the hope of our motherland). But the youth have special needs wherein they are so immersed with technology and to top it, technology is one of the greatest evidences of innovation. Stagnation of the old ways in teaching or rather what we call traditional teaching methods should be minimized and not totally eliminate them because some of these methods, personally speaking, are still way effective. Educators, let us always keep this in mind, “Innovate to educate”.
--oOo-The author is Teacher I at Pampanga High School