When I first heard of the seminar-workshop on the use of CONSTEC Materials sponsored by FUSE, two questions came to mind: what CONSTEC meant and what FUSE stood for. Nevertheless, I always look forward to attending seminars and workshops. I get to go to places, meet people, (new and familiar faces), be abreast of the recent trends and innovations and most importantly learn insights and inputs that maybe useful to my profession as a public school teacher. I listen to the trainers with admiration and hope to become one in the future.

Since FUSE is a non-government sponsored seminar-workshop, I imagined the scenario to be somewhat an atmosphere where participants get to learn effectively under less pressure. If I may recall, this is the first time that I’ve heard of a foundation that helps enrich and enhance teaching skills and the standard of education as a whole. I also learned that FUSE stands for the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education. I appreciate and am grateful for the efforts of people who maintain this purpose. On the other hand, while it is true that we teachers are engrossed in teaching and in doing our job, it’s always good to know that there exists a foundation that believes in us and that there’s still a lot more to be done. Education after all, is a dynamic process!

Honestly speaking and I believe many of the participants will agree with me, we got more than we expected. The venue was conducive and accessible since Don Bosco Technical Institute- Victorias was just a ride away from Victorias National High School where I am stationed. The organizers and facilitators were friendly and accommodating to everyone. Nothing bad could be said about the food served to us. We were not only teacher trainees but we also became recipients of CONSTEC tapes with corresponding teaching support materials. Some of us got even lucky enough to win the raffled DVDs. Finally, the trainers were awesome, credible, considerate, friendly and understanding. To mention, we had Prof. Josefina L. Pabillon who was an expert yet had a loving motherly approach to our concerns and of course, Ms. Rhodora Angela F. Ferrer who was not only convincing but charming as well. Trainers like them and all the others we got to meet during the opening and closing ceremonies easily got the awe and attention of the participants. They were inspiring in the real sense of the word considering their status or the positions they hold in their respective careers.

Although it’s not the first time that we were introduced to the use of video presentations as one of the instructional materials used in teaching, it was the first time we were trained to the use of Continuing Studies via Technology (CONSTEC) tapes and teaching support materials. Then I knew what CONSTEC meant. Considering that our school, Victorias National High School here in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Region VI, is the second biggest school in the Division of Negros Occidental, we were not exposed to such a method of teaching- that is, using CONSTEC tapes. Now, we get to properly use them and the teaching support materials were proven to be very helpful to us especially in writing our daily lesson plans.

The use of CONSTEC materials has helped me a lot in my teaching skills. As a Physics teacher in a public school with practically more than the ideal number of students in a class, I could not get hold of their attention with myself doing the demonstration or facilitate learning by allowing them to do the activity by themselves and at the same time seeing to it and making sure that everyone is paying attention. With the use of CONSTEC tapes, I can emphasize activities I have to without having to reconstruct used materials; let them learn the concepts by doing the activities themselves when necessary considering the availability of the materials. In doing so, I can still get a hold of my students to listen and to pay attention thereby ensure that learning was indeed facilitated.

The totality of the learning experience I gained during the seminar-workshop made me more eager to become religious towards my duties as a teacher because the use of CONSTEC tapes made my work more effective and easy. I am now given the opportunity to become a better person- a teacher at that. For this I am grateful.

It is my wish that those teachers who were not yet given the opportunity to experience the benefits brought about by the use of CONSTEC Materials could be reached and that the FUSE people could also have an effect on their lives specifically to their teaching skills as to what impact they had made on the lives of those who have participated in the seminar-workshop including myself.

Congratulations on the Foundation’s 15th anniversary, may the legacy continue and never cease. More power and God Speed!

PERSONAL INFORMATION

NAME: SUZETTE S. BELANDRES AGE: 40 YRS. OLD
OCCUPATION: TEACHING NO. OF YEARS: 17 YRS.
POSITION: TEACHER III
SCHOOL: VICTORIAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
ADDRESS: YAP QUINA ST., VICTORIAS CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL,
REGION VI- WESTERN VISAYAS

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Education
MAJOR : Biology
MINOR : Physics
GRADUATE COURSE: 61 units MA/CAR major in School Administration &
Supervision Minor in Guidance & Counseling

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.