Reflection on the seminar…

EDUCATION for the FUTURE
Last August 28, 2008 we had a seminar with regard to the “Education for the Future”. It was composed of two parts. The first part was all about readings and its importance. The speaker was Dr. Sunga who is the Dean of the College of Education.
Reading? It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books and travel to lands far away-in their minds. The only tragedy is that, with time, people have lost their skill and passion to read. There are many other exciting and thrilling options available, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power. It is advisable to indulge in at least half an hour of reading a day to keep abreast of the various styles of writing and new vocabulary.
It is observed that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in school and college. It is recommended that parents to inculcate the importance of reading to their children in the early years. Reading is said to significantly help in developing vocabulary, and reading aloud helps to build a strong emotional bond between parents and children. The children who start reading from an early age are observed to have good language skills, and they grasp the variances in phonics much better.
Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. Reading is an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances the knowledge acquired, consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. The habit can become a healthy addiction and adds to the information available on various topics. It helps us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of yore and makes us sensitive to global issues.
On the other hand, the second speaker was Dr. Macarandang. She discussed the uses of computer in teaching. However the uses of computer in teaching were underscored now.
In connection to that, here are the advantages of computers in education.
1. "Computers improve both teaching and student achievement."
2. "Computer literacy should be taught as early as possible; otherwise students will be left behind."
3. "Technology programs leverage support from the business community - badly needed today because schools are increasingly starved for funds."
4. "To make tomorrow's work force competitive in an increasingly high-tech world, learning computer skills must be a priority."
5. "Work with computers - particularly using the Internet - brings students valuable connections with teachers, other schools and students, and a wide network of professionals around the globe. Those connections spice the school day with a sense of real-world relevance, and broaden the educational community."

Computers made the work of teacher easy but it does not replace teachers. The learning of the students requires touch by the teachers not by the computers.