Knowledge Channel’s LEEP Team, with facilitators Dr. Fe Hidalgo, Dr. Lolita Andrada, and Cris Anthony Gonzales, conducted a Learning Effectively through Enhanced Pedagogies (LEEP) training in San Pablo Central Elementary School. 46 teachers and 14 principals from different schools in San Pablo City participated in the training.During her welcome remarks, Rina Lopez Bautista, Knowledge Channel Foundation President said that the LEEP training was developed to assist the teachers in implementing K-12 in the classroom. Key to the implementation is the leadership of the Principal.
LEEP reinforces the principals’ and teachers’ knowledge and skills of learner-centered approaches in the classroom, such as constructivism and critical thinking, focusing on the effective learning of the students. The substance of the training was made more memorable with games and activities, participated in by the teachers and principals. The teachers also had a micro-teaching demonstration wherein they showcased the learner-centered approaches that they had learned during the training. Dr. Hidalgo and Dr. Andrada also conducted a separate session with principals on instructional leadership. According to Dr. Hidalgo, these are the approaches that principals can use in effectively guiding the teachers in their classroom activities, especially in relation to the approaches discussed at the LEEP training.
Dr. Andrada pointed out that beyond sharing knowledge, there is a need to build a culture to assure that learner-centered approaches are in the classroom. “It’s not about the delivery but harmonizing the key tools,” she said.Dr. Hidalgo added that K Channel’s LEEP Team came in a consultative way and not to prescribe. “If you think the practice will be good for you, then use it,” she said.
The training was received positively by teachers and principals. They were delighted that K Channel visited their division to provide them training to develop a pipeline of exceptional teaching talents in San Pablo schools. Ms. Mylene Pontanoza, Principal in San Buenaventura Elementary School, said that “what is good in the training is that teaching approaches were not only tackled theoretically but they were also demonstrated”. She added that aside from the learnings they received from the training, they were all very happy that they were provided with hundreds of videos and supplementary materials that would help them enrich their teaching and the learning of the students.