Teaching for a Living

When is the last time you give feedback to your students? Is it positive or negative?  We often think that positive feedback does little to encourage and improve learners' engagement in the process. Little do we know that it worked and may increase learning outcomes if done effectively. Wiggins (1998) pointed out that feedback is only effective when it is timely, specific, understandable, and actionable. Here how it works: 1. Feedback should be timely given, rightly after an activity, assignment, or task. 2. Feedback should be clear and specific on what has been done correctly or improved further. 3. Feedback should be within the learners' level of understanding that they can comprehend it on their own. 4. Feedback should be results-oriented; it must motivate learners to do actions they need to perform.  It is better if the feedback is process-oriented than students' personality-oriented. In that sense, learners can focus on completing a learning task rather than focusing o

No matter what the situations are, quality education must persist. At the center of this process, teachers and learners must work hand-in-hand to deliver meaningful education amidst challenges posed by circumstances.  Every learner has the right to education, and the government and educational institutions must guarantee it at all times. Though circumstances hinder effective delivery, flexible and alternative modalities can be adopted and shared with the stakeholders.  In this crisis, children are in the most vulnerable situations, and keeping them focused on learners would lessen the impact of social restrictions imposed in their communities during this emergency.  Here are some of the essential strategies for teachers to keep up with the challenges posed in delivering education in times of emergencies.  1. Be Adaptive and Receptive to Change Teachers must adopt appropriate learning platforms or modalities suited to the learners' needs and situations. Being adaptive and receptive