Teachers learn new techniques

The seventh batch of the Public School System’s “Ed Tech” completed their courses last Wednesday at Kanoa Resort’s Seaside Hall, equipping them with the skills and tools needed to use technology in their classrooms to improve student learning.

“This program allows our teachers and educators to have the skills to incorporate technology to improve student engagement,” said PSS Instructional Technology director Bobby Cruz.

The “Ed Tech” cohort program started in 2012. Since the launch of the program, teachers have been “using technology more effectively in their classrooms,” said PSS Distance Education program manager Lorraine Catienza.

Because of Super Typhoon Yutu, this cohort had to start in February. “This cohort is special because we packed a one year [program] into a matter of four months…[for a total of] 225 professional learning hours,” Catienza said.

The participants agreed about the huge commitment to the program.

San Vicente Elementary School teacher William Harwood felt “intimidated” because he was not “tech-savvy.” However, he is looking forward to implementing what he learned. “I would say I was an old school teacher, who likes lectures and textbooks. To bring technology into the classroom is really going to help the kids become more interested in learning,” Harwood added.

Saipan International School teacher Tricia Gleason said it was “refreshing” to learn familiar and new things to implement in her teachings.

Mount Carmel School teacher Julian Greening learned “valuable technological skills” that he never learned until he started the program. Greening knows the tools he learned will “definitely change” how he teaches.

Cruz is very proud of the participants’ perseverance and resilience throughout the year. “Despite enduring a super typhoon, continuing through a season of recovery, and going back to [damaged] schools, the teachers still put teaching at the forefront of their priorities. They committed to a very challenging program and they finished it.”

The “Ed Tech” instructors were Francine Cruz, Jonathan Aguon, Lynn Mendiola, Carla Sablan, Jocelyn Manibusan, Frank Borja, Antenille Santos, Leah Murphy, Francis Mendiola, Karen Camacho, Bonny Cruz, Riya Nathrani, Paul Salalila, Karen Alla, and Dionne Santos.