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“Teachers are becoming learning facilitators. Their role is shifting from

“instructing” students, to helping students “construct” their own learnings”, a quote
from The Student Creates the Teacher by Jason Ellingson.
Learnings that are rooted from spoon feeding, rote learning, memorization,
and teacher-directed which do not develop learners’ 21 st century skills are highly
discouraged. Teaching and learning in the 21 st century promote collaboration among
students to be productive, problem solvers, and creative thinkers. Furthermore,
learners should know how to connect and use the resources throughout the world to
be empowered and educated to cope with the demands of their ever-evolving
economy driven world. The teaching and learning in the 21 st century aim to build a
learner who knows how to discern knowledge, how to be information literate, and
how to apply knowledge in hurdling the challenges at hand. Learners need to
cultivate themselves as masters of their chosen crafts to be the future’s world
leaders.
Thus, 21st century learning brings forth inevitable transformation. Hence,
teachers should also adapt to these changes especially in the delivery of quality
instruction to suit the needs of learners; and to prepare them to the real battlefield
upon graduation. Teachers must be innovator, motivator, facilitator, and catalysts.
They need to put their hearts into guiding learners to construct their own learnings
rather than mere instructing them inside the four corners of the room. As the cliché
goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you
feed him for a lifetime” (Maimonides). Therefore, the 21 st century educators
encourage life-long learnings, preparing them to live and prosper in today’s
economy.
With much honor and humility, I, Mr. Marlon O. Cabutotan, is one of the
catalysts of the 21st century teaching and learning at Parasapas National High
School, Junior High School, in Rosario La Union. I know this is easier said than
done, but with the passion and fire burning within me to bring positive changes in the
lives of my learners, I believe, nobody could bring a good man down.
Truly, a teacher does not stop from learning. Your humble public servant
finished his highest educational attainment as master’s in education major in General
Science at Colegio De Dagupan. I sharpened my skills and knowledge in my chosen
specialization by enrolling into courses that will surely help me professionally. I
devoted myself in learning, I was equipped and exposed to various conferences,
workshops, and short courses. I was once just a participant but as I shrugged off my
timidity, I became one of the resource speakers during In-service trainings, LAC
sessions, Division Trainings, Leadership trainings etc. The journey has never been
easy most especially when your great enemy is self-doubt. But with the guidance
and support of my school heads in our school, I keep myself going amidst all odds
and with God’s grace, my fondest dream for my chosen field is now coming to reality.
21st century teaching and learning reiterates that learners should acquire skills
that promote life-long impact to their lives that would help them in battling the
challenges in their community. This marching principle awakens my spirit as an
educator to initiate projects that would bring massive changes not just in the lives of
our learners but also, in their community. Empowering them with skills to become
catalysts of change in their own little ways.
As a Science teacher and at the same the YES-O adviser, I was born to be a
steward in advocating a clean, orderly, and safe learning environment which has
inspired me to initiate school activities to show my love for the Mother Earth. These
activities mainly aim to instill in the minds of our students and faculty staff the
benefits of good segregation practices.
A cliché goes, “A journey to a thousand miles begin with a single step”. The
journey of saving the mother earth starts with small steps such as building linkages
and communication in the form of letters and social media postings.
The beginning is always the hardest but the secret of getting ahead is to get
started. I believe, to light up the spirit of our learners about the current conditions of
the environment is by educating them first. With this, on November 15-16, 2019 our
3rd Science Encampment was held under my supervision. Learners form Grade 7-12,
faculty and staff, and PTA of Parasapas National High School participated in the
encampment. Eloquent and distinguished speakers from Department of National
Resources were invited to fill the minds of our participants about proper waste
disposal. Dr Zenaida L. Paday-os who is the concurrent Information Officer II
Regional Focal Person from DENR Regional Office I, San Fernando City La Union
and Ms. Mariel Aquino, the Communication Officer II of the Regional Public Affairs
Office have provided pertinent information on the conditions of the world resulting
from abuse of resources and the natural environment. They have also presented
numerous habits and practices that our school can adapt in order to intensify
conservation of resources and segregation of wastes, ensuring that all of our school
activities in the said matter are aligned with the local government and laws on
environment conservation and protection.
The activity strengthened the commitment of the learners and teachers to
become models of good segregation practices. As what I have emphasized in the
previous passages, real learning does not stop with instruction it should be followed
by application. With this marching principle, the idea of making eco-bricks came into
the picture. Under the leadership of the YES-O, with the strong supervision of our
principal, the making of Eco bricks is introduced by Ms. Reynaliza G. Borja, a
Science Teacher from San Juan National High School. An eco-brick is a plastic
bottle packed with used, dried, and cleaned plastics such as straw, lids, and other
non-biodegradable trash that will be used as building walls, lego-furniture, benches
and even fences. Some eco-bricks are used as replacements for hollow blocks.
Through eco-bricks, consumed plastics are managed by sequestering and
containing them in the plastic bottles, transforming them into useful products.
Plastic contamination affects marine life, fisheries, and business around the
globe and research proclaims that Philippines is among the world’s biggest producer
of single-use plastic in the world. In our school alone, our learners and personnel
produce tremendous number of plastic litters every day. Food wrappers, plastic
caps, plastic lids, and straws are just few of the common plastic trashes in our
school. This also led us to encourage vendors inside and outside the campus to
minimize the use of plastics. Although, it can’t be denied that there are food
manufacturers which mainly use plastics in wrapping their products. Plastics are
non-biodegradable materials which take years to decompose and when are burned,
toxic substance in the air could produce ambient air pollution. Truly, plastic trashes
worsen the condition of our environment. The steps in creating eco-bricks were also
discussed and demonstrated by the resource speaker which was later followed by
the creations of each participant’s eco-brick. And this became the beginning of
something big.
“It takes a village to raise a child”, a saying goes. The goal of keeping the
environment clean by awakening the minds and hearts of our learners is not an easy
task. I needed support systems. I needed a team. Thus, I together with the members
of the YES-O, along with the teaching staff of Parasapas National High School
formulated a project titled, “Eco-bricks Project”.
All learners of Parasapas National High School will build eco-bricks and sell
these eco-bricks to their teachers. One liter of eco-bricks will be sold for 20 pesos.
The teachers will now then collect these eco-bricks to build garden fences, chairs,
tables, and walls. Learners were taught how to segregate plastic trashes and
transforming them as a source of income. The quote, “May pera sa basura”
exemplified. All class advisers encouraged their learners to collect plastic waste
materials as an income generating activity which could benefit the environment and
their pockets too. Some advisers are using the generated funds of their advisees to
purchase cleaning materials inside their classroom. Some students are using their
income to buy school stuff for their studies.
Through this, plastic trashes are now minimized at Parasapas National High
School. Before, learners will just throw their food wrappers directly to the garbage bin
now, students keep their food wrappers in their bag to create eco-bricks. Gone are
the days where plastic wrappers are of no significance.
The eco-bricks project has suddenly stopped because of the pandemic where
students are required to continue learning at home. Nonetheless, the collected eco-
bricks are kept, waiting for the day that these will be fully utilized. When the
pandemic is over, I strongly believe that the journey of the eco-bricks project will
continue.
 With the full implementation of the eco-bricks project, the learners, faculties,
and staff are expected to sustain earth friendly habits and practices, earn extra
money, show positive attitude toward feedback as evidenced by their willingness to
suggest/recommend practices to improve this project, and even integrating the
importance of the eco-bricks in their lessons.
The eco-bricks project emphasizes that when we save, segregate and pack
plastics into bottles, we can make building blocks that can be reused repeatedly. We
can build green spaces that enrich our community and safely secure plastic out of
the biosphere. We can transition from plastic to ever greener harmony with Earth’s
cycles. I guess, these are the highlights of the 21 st century teaching and learning—
applying what the learners have learned to create a better environment and life in the
future. The next generation will surely be benefitted in the impact of the eco-bricks
project.
Aside from leading seminars in saving Mother Earth and initiating the eco-
bricks project in our school, I am also spearheading various activities such as the
annual Tree Planting and Clean-up Drive. Since trees are essential in sustaining
livable and sustainable communities, being the YES-O adviser, I always make sure
that tree planting is being conducted every year. We live in an era influenced by
humans to the point that the Earth's systems are now altered. Trees are of
paramount importance to save our dying Mother Earth. They give environmental
benefits such as clean air and water. Trees help moderate temperature and muffle
noise. They even help improve air quality by absorbing some airborne compounds
that could be harmful to us, and by giving off oxygen. Spending time around trees
and in nature also makes us healthier and even improves our learners’ academic
performances.
The tree planting program is also a learning opportunity to get learners
involved in the environment and conservation of our natural resources. Recent
scientific studies suggest students are better able to concentrate, complete tasks,
and follow directions if they are involved in such activity. Other than that, tree
planting also develops the physical and mental health of the learners and teachers.
This activity is an opportune for learners to create bonds with their classmates.
Meanwhile, teachers will have a few hour breaks with the pile of paperwork on their
table.
William Arthur Word quoted, “A mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher
explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” My
fondest dream is to be with the group of superior and great teachers. Aside from the
major activities I facilitated, I also lead the annual Science Festivals where learners
are engaged with fun activities related to Science. Together with the YES-O Club
members and Science teachers in our school, we organized different activities and
competitions such as the Search for Mr. and Ms. Eco Warrior. To test our learners’
knowledge about facts in Science, we conduct Science and environmental quiz bee.
To gauge our learners’ creativity, we let them join collage making contest and even
conducting Science Amazing Race. Indeed, Science is not just a mere subject—it is
FUN and the MOST ENGAGING subject if it is taught by a superior and great
teacher.
Even successful people in the academe have undergone challenges before
reaching their goal. Nobody has reached an end without passing through hardships
along the way. Along the procedures of getting these projects done, I had also
encountered struggles which made me stumbled. Managing small and even big
events and activities require ample time of preparation, patience, and funds.
For the encampment, although funds of the conduct of the activity came from
the registration fees of the participants, it is not enough to cover all the expenses.
Therefore, we knocked on the hearts of the members of our alumni to make the
activity possible. Science teachers also shared certain amount from their pockets
just to make all the Science activities a success. We also conduct fund-raising
activities to suffice all the needs for all the activities. Indeed, teachers do always find
ways with their outmost efforts for their students’ life-long learnings.
Countless helps from these people are returned when we use our proceeds
in building projects for our school’s beautification most especially in promoting
conducive learning environment for our leaners. As a matter of fact, we utilized our
allocated funds from the activities in providing wirings and lightings to our school’s
covered pathways. In this simple way, our YES-O organization can repay all the
individuals who have extended their help in making all the activities a success.
“It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent that
survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change”, Charles Darwin.
Our learners need to survive in the fast-changing world, and they thirst for
educators who would let them learn how to swim with confidence in the vast ocean.
The teaching in the 21st century education does not meddle with teacher-mandated
set-up, it focuses in allowing learners to learn the skills they need to succeed in this
new world. Without skills, students are left to memorize facts, recall details for
worksheets, and relegate their educational experience to passivity. The trend of
today’s teaching is by making learners learn how to learn. To achieve this type of
learning, a call for teachers who innovate, motivate, and inspire. Teachers in modern
classrooms are no longer lecturers, they are facilitators, their main task is to set
goals and organize the learning process accordingly.
With these being said, I, Mr. Marlon O. Cabutotan, will continue to become a
catalyst of change in the field of education by aspiring learners to go out from their
shells because the world has many great things to offer. Having this said, I am
ending this write-up with the line, “nobody could bring a good man down”.