Smart backs independent students’ learning
Can students learn something as complicated as integral calculus largely on their own?
In a workshop held recently in Bohol, dozens of teachers handling different subjects were asked to copy a calculus activity sheet on a piece of paper. They were asked to process the information by themselves, and to try answering the problem that followed. This instruction was met with groans and nervous laughter from the participants.
When the teachers were done writing, the facilitator showed a video of physicist Dr. Christopher Bernido explaining the basics of integral calculus and solving the problem. The teachers were surprised to learn that they got the answer right.
Dr. Bernido and his wife, Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido, believe that students of different ages can learn better with minimal teacher intervention.
In 2002, they developed the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) and applied it in their school, the Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF) in Bohol.
PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications partnered with the Bernidos the same year to promote the DLP to more schools. Now, more than 100 schools all over the country are implementing the program and are seeing good results.
“One of Smart’s thrusts is to help improve the quality of Philippine education through a combination of technological and non-tech tools. The DLP is an innovative and effective learning method that addresses several problems in Philippine schools, such as the lack of expert teachers. We hope that by getting more schools to adopt DLP, we can enhance the Filipino youth’s performance, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines,” said Smart Public Affairs Senior Manager Stephanie Orlino.