Experiencing the Teaching- Learning Process Episode 1: Looking Through the Meaningful Learning Experiences

1. Experiencing the Teaching-
Learning Process
Episode 1: Looking Through the Meaningful
Learning Experiences
Name of FS Student: Ma. Cristina D. Panganoran
Course & Year: BSE-2 English
Resource Teacher: Mrs. April Joy Mallari
___________________
Instructor: Mrs. Gloria A. Silva
Cooperating School: Holy Cross College (High School Department)
Date of Submission: March 07, 2011
Date Submitted: March 07, 2011

2. Observation Sheet
Name of School: Holy Cross College (High School Department)
Address: Sta. Lucia, Sta. Ana, Pampanga
Year & Date of Visit Teacher Subject
Section
1-4 February 28, 2011 Mrs. April Joy Mallari English
2-1 March 03, 2011 Mr. Jesus P. San Juan MAPEH
2-2 March 03, 2011 Mrs. Maria Teresa Edejer Science
Observation Report
This episode is by far the most difficult one for me in terms of observation
schedule because most of the teachers were no longer available. Fortunately, I
was able to find available teachers in the nick of time. I was given the
opportunity to observe 3 teachers namely, Mrs. Mallari, Mr. San Juan and Mrs.
Edejer.
Mrs. Mallari is an English teacher, adviser of 1-4 class and believes that
“Patience is a Virtue”. She also puts these words into practice in her life
especially when it comes to her teaching profession. This teacher does not easily
get upset and keep her composure even if the students are in lower section; she is
still enthusiastic in their projects. I admire her creativity and conventionality
when it comes to the activities that she designs for her class.
Next is Mr. San Juan, a MAPEH teacher who is very friendly and
approachable. When it comes to his instructional materials, he can turn any item
in class an interesting topic that has relation to their lesson at hand. His
resourcefulness and motivational techniques puts me in awe. He is also one of the
considerate and inspiring teachers of Holy Cross College. He believes that
students must also use their imagination, I agree to this because as Jamie
Paolinetti said, “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our
imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”
Last but not the least is Mrs. Edejer. She is a science teacher who is very
accommodating and knowledgeable especially when it comes to her teaching
methods. She usually uses the instructional technique known as K-W-L chart
because soliciting prior knowledge is very important to her as well as knowing
what the students want to learn and what they have learned after the lesson. She
also believes that, “Values are not taught, they are caught.”
On the part of the Learning Principles, I usually observed that teachers want
the students to participate because in learning cooperation and interaction is very
important. One of the learning principles here is, “Learning is a cooperative and
collaborative process.” Since learning is interactive, the teaching should be
learner-centered. Most of the teachers I observed used the learner-centered
approach in their class activities. The classes I observed the teachers assumed the
role of a facilitator or moderator not a dictator. The teacher-talking-time did not
take up most of the period because the teachers let the students say what’s on
their mind.

3. The cognitive processes that took place are comprehension, knowledge or
recall and mostly application since the students are mostly reviewing for the
Regional Achievement Test at that time. In the English class metacognition such
as thinking aloud was observed because the students were grouped to practice
their puppet show.
Instructional materials are books, reviewers, puppets and replicas. Later on,
in my analysis portion, I shall identify which teacher used these materials and
principles as well as how it affected the lesson and the students.
Analysis:
1. What principles of teaching and learning were commonly applied?
In the 1-4 class of Mrs. Mallari, the learning environment is supportive and
productive because she was able to make the students follow instructions with
eagerness plus they were able to work in groups while formulating dialogues or
sentences in English for their puppet show. As we all know, learning is an active
process which involves not only the teacher talking but also the students learning
by doing and learning how to cooperate with other people. The teacher always let
the students recall the standards in doing the activity before proceeding with their
practice. She also emphasizes the each member of the group must have a part to
play in the puppet show. The good thing about this activity is letting the students
engage in the 4 language arts especially in speaking and writing. The flow of the
activity was smooth and well-organized.
Mr. San Juan meets the students’ learning needs, social backgrounds and
interests because his motivational techniques are reflected in the lesson. Like
Mrs. Mallari, he also likes to use the connection of real life to the lesson as a
spring board so the students can easily understand what is being conveyed to
them. He also believes that assessment practices are an integral part of teaching
and learning because this will measure how much of his objectives for the class
has been met and he can also test out if his teaching methods are effective or not.
The class of Mrs. Edejer is a challenging but non-threatening learning
environment that develops deep levels of thinking and application. A non-
threatening condition in class will make students feel comfortable in responding
to the teacher during discussion or in any activity they tackle. Mrs. Edejer
mentioned that the old method of teaching in science used to be the discovery
method now it is the backward design where the student knows what the topic is
and already knows the objective beforehand.
This is where innovation comes in to connect between current practices and
new practices. In order to make a path for new ways of doing things, teachers
must come up with new ideas and approaches to create opportunities for students.
In the modernization and evolution of education opportunities must give students
new ways to meet their individual needs thru learning. Schools are preparing
these learners to face an exciting but uncertain future so they need all the
knowledge they can absorb.

4. 2. What instructional materials were used in teaching?
In Mrs. Mallari’s class, they used puppets during practice so the students can
get used to moving the hands in coordinated motion with the words they speak
out. This is good for the psychomotor skills to develop. The props they will
create will also make use of their creative side. She also mentioned that lessons
integrated with real life situations give a more meaningful learning experience.
Mr. San Juan made use of instructional materials such as books and
reviewers since the class was going to take their R.A.T or the Regional
Achievement Test. He also made examples out of the furniture in their class to
relate it to their current lesson in Health. An example is when he said, if the
lifeless furniture are not arranged properly it would be hard to move around what
more if the body parts are disoriented then it would be harder for humans to
function properly. He also mentioned that it depends on the lesson since MAPEH
tackles different areas such as, Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health. In
each area, a different approach that is appropriate should be in use.
Mrs. Edejer used posters and replicas because she believes that 75 percent of
what students learn is acquired thru vision. She uses the K-W-L strategy to verify
the students’ knowledge and then fill in what’s missing during the class activities.
She said that soliciting prior knowledge is a very good way to start the class. She
also believes that sometimes the questions asked are more important than the
answers.
People learn in different ways. Some people are auditory learners and some
are visual learners. Others absorb and retain a great deal of information that
they've read while others need visual stimulants to make learning easier.
Repetition works for a lot of people as well. Most people require a combination
of these methods and this is where instructional materials come in.
Instructional materials are an excellent aid for students to have the best
possible way of getting information. With the help of instructional materials,
getting the attention of the students would be easier, the class would be more
realistic, and it gives an opinion on the topic. When the instructional materials are
well prepared and organized, a successful teaching–learning can be achieved.
3. Which of the principles facilitate the cognitive, metacognitive and positive
motivational processes of learning?
When we took up Theory 2 we gained knowledge about the nature of the
learning process is one of the cognitive and metacognitive factors that affect
education. The learning of complex subject matter is most effective when it is a
deliberate or intentional process of constructing meaning from information and
experience. As most teachers say, the relation of the lesson to the students’ daily
life has a great impact in a students’ learning.
When the students are given a chance to say what’s on their mind, then
metacognition happens because they organize their thoughts and think about the
way they think and how they would deliver the words or idea they want to convey
in class. As information grow rapidly, rote learning method becomes even more
inappropriate. That’s why the educational task in the future will be to develop the

5. ability to acquire, synthesize and apply knowledge properly as problems and
possibilities are met in life. The new methods that are always changing must be
accepted to present new structures and guides out of any material. This ability in
other words is to be creative and resourceful. Change must not be feared it must be
embraced especially if it brings about the betterment of education.
“What and how much is learned is influenced by the learner's motivation.
Motivation to learn, in turn, is influenced by the individual's emotional states,
beliefs, interests and goals, and habits of thinking.” Motivating the students is one
of the major objectives at the start of any lesson. If a teacher is successful in
motivating the students then the teacher is also successful in engaging the class to
learn. The very core of learning is when the students are interested in what the
teacher has to offer them. When this is met the flow of the lesson is smooth and
productive in a way where both the teacher and the students benefit and learn from
each other.
As we have all learned before the teacher must not be satisfied with the
extrinsic motivation but also needs to instill to all their students’ minds the intrinsic
motivation to learn which will help make a successful learner thrive at his full
potential.
Reflection:
1. What insights have you gained from your observation experience?
One of the most important things I have learned during my observation is
that even if the lesson is only a review, teaching-learning principles can still be
seen during class. As long as the class is going on a lot of the significant events in
education happen in the 4 corners of the classroom. I learned that being patient is
very important and that motivation and instructional materials are important tools
for a successful teacher.
There are many rewards in teaching except for material things but it is my
passion. A lot of people discourage and give me advice about taking a different
course so I can earn big money when I work. I didn’t listen to them because I love
teaching. I sincerely feel happy and I get the sense that I fulfilled something good
and that I helped this child improve and this child was happy to tell me that she got
a high grade because I made learning easier and fun for her.
I learned that it takes a lot of determination and hard work to get to where I
am right now and I have to prepare myself for more hard work and I have put more
effort in my studies because in teaching we should never stop learning. Teaching is
not just a job, it is a mission. This experience makes me want to make a difference
in the lives of other children as my teachers have done for me.