MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

CRISTINA L. PABUSTAN

How can a teacher say that he or she has achieved the purpose of educating a child? Will we be able to measure how much knowledge our students have gained? Of course, we have a lot of assessments that could help us do that. Assessments that have been proven to be effective in measuring the knowledge, skills, and information that the students have learned. But as 21st Century educators handling the new generation learners who are exposed with technology that somehow have a tendency to easily get distracted, outcomes of assessments have in one way or another, have fallen short. That is why educators nowadays have to do everything in their power to catch the attention of their learners. More effort is needed in preparing the daily activities in the classroom because it is believed that students easily learn through games, play, or other related activities that will make students actively participate by means of collaborative learning with extra amusement for them to enjoy. However, that is not enough. Allowing the students engage in different real-life activities do not only mean enjoyment but being able to come up with solutions that could somehow help them to realize that as young as they are, they can already conceptualize resolutions that can be used for their personal benefit. This advantage gained does not only end in the four corners of the classroom. Ultimately, it’s going to be a life-long skill that the learners will bring with them as they leave the school, as they make their own decisions in life, as they pursue on their own career, as they become productive citizens of the country, and as they nurture their own family. Knowing that the learners we have shepherd in the past have already become these kinds of individuals, we are certain that we are on the right track of guiding them. These are the rewards of teachers who passionately give their finest for their learners. Because we, educators, believe that the best projects that we will ever work on are our students. It is indeed going to be a mission accomplished!

--oOo-

The author is Teacher II at Pampanga High School