Christopher H. Punzalan (Jesus Christ King of kings and Lord of lords Academy, Inc., Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines)
How does STEM influence and contribute to my teaching profession?
How does STEM influence and contribute to my teaching profession?
Third Prize - Filipino Science Hub Essay Writing Competition
Education plays a big role in the achievement of sustainable environment for both the present and future generations. The ambition of the United Nations to attain the 17 sustainable development goals in 2030 has been my great inspiration to enter and stay in the teaching profession. Back when I was in my college years, I belong to an engineering technology program which is a ladderized diploma course to attain a degree in technology, engineering or education. Without a doubt, our field of study has concentrated on machines, equipment, devices and mathematical equations. My actual plan that time was to enroll in a civil engineering program when I looked forward to building my own house in the future. In contrast, I just pursued and finished a course in power plant engineering technology where I acquired an opportunity to be mentored by my sciences professors. While pursuing my course, I became a student assistant, helping my professors with simple paper works. When I finished the ladderized program, I was informed by my professor to continue my studies and attain a degree. I had some second thoughts on what program would I be choosing between engineering and education. In order to help myself in selecting the right program, I applied in a manufacturing company as an engineering assistant to gauge my interest in that field. After a while, I decided to go back to the university and enroll in the technical education program. By talking with my professors about my plans, I got the inspiration which had driven me to become a teacher. While finishing the education degree, I also worked as a science laboratory technician which increased my interest toward natural sciences. From then, I was mentored by my former physics professor who is an environmental scientist.
It was the main point of my life when I realized that I should seek a teaching profession in the area of natural sciences to uphold my goals on environmental conservation and education. I believed that a STEM educator has the great responsibility to change the perspectives of the present generations as environmental stewards in dealing with the current degradations that exist.
My motivations and goals were impacted by the day-to-day challenges of teaching STEM in the Philippines like the available opportunities, resources, subsidy, mentorship, and the environmental conditions. I am working in a small private school which we all know has a limited capacity in providing such opportunities as compared with government and big schools in the country. This situation did not discourage me to leave our school but it cultivated my motivation to propose educational programs that aimed to advance the STEM literacy and practices in our school community. The limited resources and subsidy for us teachers did not stop me to think of innovative solutions which were adapted from impressive schools in the country. I stood for what I believed would contribute good impacts for my students, colleagues and school’s stakeholders. When I entered this career, I already planned to take my graduate studies in science education and that expanded my horizons to be mentored by other experienced professionals in the field of education.
My graduate studies experiences enlightened my teaching personality to diverge in other advocacies like the community-based education projects that we organized to address the environmental issues. These occasions endorsed me to meet and work with the grassroots, other professionals and institutions. Because of my eagerness to facilitate my proposed programs for the benefit of our students and the entire school system, our school administrator and principal enabled my teaching goals. There were times when my proposals were rejected because of the school priorities and lack of resources. Eventually, it did not hinder my goals and I tried to look for alternative strategies in order to accomplish them.
As I have worked as the STEM Club coordinator in our school, a student-organization which I founded that builds educational programs inclined toward sciences, mathematics and environmental literacy, I was tasked to facilitate projects inside and outside our school to promote STEM learning of our students. I was able to organize various projects within the school including the literacy building program, annual celebration of STEM month, waste segregation and reduction policies, science investigatory projects exhibit, and STEM forums and campaigns. Likewise, our organization has facilitated outdoor projects such as community clean-up drive, coastal clean-up, tree planting activity, outreach program, and STEM field exposures with the help of various NGOs and government agencies. These achievements were the outputs of challenges and limitations which I faced during the planning and preparations. Though, there were also other teaching plans which were hindered by trials like the support from our school management, the students, and external organizations. There was also a time when our proposed field activity was cancelled because of the typhoon but it did not prevent me from reorganizing it to raise the learning competencies of our students. I also considered the volume of work given by my supervisors as a challenge like the time when I was working with a certain program in our school while dealing with my daily classes and supervising other students.
These specific chances molded my professional capacities to become a versatile STEM educator. In this regard, the Filipino STEM teachers need to be provided with resources in various ways. It does not only depend on physical materials but also on the different opportunities and support which they can receive. Being a Filipino STEM teacher is a mission to uphold the proficiencies of oneself, his students, and the entire nation. A Filipino STEM teacher is evidently challenged to work using limited resources given that our country is rich in scientific assets that could possibly solve the exponential problems.
I would choose myself to become my loved one’s science teacher because I believe that it needs both a concerted effort and inspiration to promote the scientific attitudes of the humanity. It also leaves positive impacts when a family is knowledgeable about science and technology in order to practice doable solutions for the betterment of the environment.
The strengths which I would like to share with my fellow STEM teachers are my personalities of being a resourceful, opportunity-seeker and goal-oriented.
It is again a need for the Filipino STEM teachers to be given with enough resources in order to teach effectively but they should instil the values to look for these means. As a teacher, we should also be an opportunity-seeker and goal-oriented to become professionally advanced in dealing with the problems in education system. Lastly, I would like to improve my teaching and research skills which are necessary in this profession that encounters varying issues that need to be resolved. This is the reason why I pursued my graduate studies and considered to join abundant professional development programs. I would also like to enhance my teaching philosophy to educate the learners through a proactive and sustainable environment with the integration of STEM education. This can be done by incorporating my philosophy to impart to a wider audience my advocacy for the environment. I do consider that through proper education, goodwill, and principles, the learners can adapt and participate in building the nation in a sustainable environmental setting. I know in some reasons that my students who are future leaders of today’s nation will have the enough skills to gather significant accomplishments and projects that will become their assets in cultivating the motherland.
As a teacher, I will enthusiastically offer quality education by guiding my students in a resilient and sustainable environment where they can interactively cooperate in solving problematic issues of the community and the country with the application of STEM concepts. I will let them incorporate different subjects and areas of interest for them to apply this special and meaningful skill in their future career and life principles.