Education in the 21st century offers a lot of promising menus making the challenges more demanding and highly competitive. New discoveries on modern approaches, strategies, and high technologies are in store for us educators. So, the next big question is- “How can I cope with the demands of teaching and learning for the 21st century to divert students’ attention to engage in learning?”

As I look back for more than 10 years in this profession, I made a lot of realizations and discoveries that sustain my passion for teaching. Reflecting on those trying moments being a newbie tempted me to back out. I felt the effort I was giving was never enough to have extras for luxuries. However, knowing that there are kind hearted individuals willing to invest on education inspired me to continue my quest.

My victory inside the classroom is not but my doing alone, what we have is the collaboration of many minds working together to better ourselves. Each of us is involved in the process of aiming the target. Therefore, two heads are always better than one. Though patience is a virtue, I’ve come to realize that sometimes it is good to ask especially if you don’t have.

When I attended the seminar of FUSE, it helped me broaden my horizon to understand what support means. By just listening from the participants the issues they have made me feel good because I am not alone in my plight. Seasoned and new teachers learned from each other. We built the network of support initiated by FUSE.

FUSE provided us a venue to assess ourselves in terms of engaging our students to the maximum learning they should have in the field of Science and Technology. The experience allowed me to self-evaluate whether I am preparing my students to the next level of learning. Their education must prepare them to enter a world that is located on the information highway.

With FUSE providing us learning materials like the VHS tapes, it made my approaches a bit lighter though it did not solve the whole puzzle, but a piece to address some new ways to deal with students. Using the videos tapped almost all of my students learning styles especially the visual and auditory learners. I used the videos to support myteaching to let them see the real actions.

It is frustrating seeing how skeptical students can be when I am presenting facts to them even how hard I’ve tried. For them learning is seeing, seeing is tantamount to believing. They need proof to visualize my teaching and to concretize their learning. These videos helped them see what I meant. And for that reason I understood them, Science is abstract anyway.

Founded by Dr. Lucio C. Tan on December 1, 1994, FUSE seeks to improve the skills in English, Science and Mathematics teachers. Its programs include regular teacher training workshops; a post-graduate scholarship program for Science and Engineering teachers; production and distribution of telecourses in English, Elementary Science, Chemistry, Physics and Math; and a host of other educational programs in partnership with government and private learning institutions.