Some 286 teachers and heads from 106 public schools in the Third District and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental attended the organized technology integration and differentiated instruction workshops on Jan. 13 and 14.
Organized by Third District Rep. Jose Franciso Benitez, in collaboration with the United States Embassy-Regional English Language Office (RELO), the workshops titled “Unveiling Synergies: Connecting Literacy, Differentiation, and Technology Integration” were conducted simultaneously across five cities and municipalities.
These aimed to enhance the skills of teachers and instructional leaders, acknowledging the need to bridge the gap and adapt to the 21st century’s technological advancements in light of the Philippines’ suboptimal rankings in various international assessments.
In her message to the participants, Dr. Carleen Velez, US Embassy-RELO head, encouraged teachers to look at the trainings provided as only the beginning of the rest of their teaching career.
“Continue improving teaching practice and outreach to students, with the ultimate goal of enhancing literacy and technology integration. This is essential for students to move forward into the next century equipped with the 21st-century skills necessary for success,” she added.
The workshops covered two main areas, including Differentiated Instruction, aiding public school teachers customize activities for individual students, and Technology Integration, providing technical training on modern teaching applications and tools to enhance the overall learning experience.
The goal was to empower teachers with practical strategies for effective teaching in today’s digital age.
“We have trained over 286 participants from the Third District and Bacolod combined, each one represent at least 50 students that they will touch in the course of the year, that is equivalent to 14,000 to 15,000 families who will now benefit from the work we have done,” Benitez said.
In his closing statement, the lawmaker added: “We hope that improving students’ literacy will open the doors for a greater scope of their imagination and greater access to everything else that the world has to offer.”
With the support of the Department of Education, the simultaneous workshop sessions were conducted in Victorias North Elementary School, E. B. Magalona Elementary School, Dona Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay, Efigenio Enrica Lizares Memorial School in Talisay, and Murcia Elementary School. ||
