Teachers are known for finding creative solutions when it comes to their students’ lessons, especially for difficult subjects like Science and Mathematics. For Venus Alboruto, Ph.D., a public school teacher from Surigao City National High School, the biggest challenge was to find a way to make Science more fun for her young learners.
What is Strategic Intervention Materials?
She came up with Strategic Intervention Materials or SIM, a comic-based learning material that helps students understand hard subjects. It’s a fresh and interesting approach that has even earned the recommendation of the Department of Science and Technology.
“Ang SIM ay learning package na kumpleto na po. Nandiyan na po lahat ‘yung mga assessment, nandiyan na po ‘yung mga activities so mas madali pong maintindihan ng mga bata,” she shares in an interview with Summit Original Videos.
“Na-recognize po kami ng DOST, nanalo po kami sa national level… So, lahat po ng mga mahihirap na lesson ginawan namin ng SIM para po matulungan hindi lang po ‘yung aking section at klase, pati po ‘yung mga ibang science teacher sa aming school,” she adds.
Strategic Intervention Materials with Augmented Reality
Thanks to the support of DOST’s Science Education Institute, SIM has been upgraded to SIMATAR, where lessons now support augmented reality.
“Kapag ginagamitan siya ng mobile app, ‘yung augmented reality na SIMATAR, makikita po ng bata na nagiging 3D ‘yung mga pictures, ‘yung mga concepts para po siyang buhay, so mas lalong na-e-enganyo yung mga bata na mag-aral,’ Venus shares.
Because she’s a mom and a teacher, Venus knows that more than getting high grades, what students really need is a better understanding of the subjects that are being taught to them. Through SIM, the concepts become easier to understand and unlock the true potential of students.
PHOTO Courtesy of Venus Alboruto
“Naiisip ko po na ang bawat estudyante ay para ko po silang anak. So kung ano po ‘yung gusto kong klase ng turo na matanggap ng aking anak, ‘yun po ‘yung gusto kong turo din na gawin ko sa aking mga estudyante,” she says.
The multi-awarded teacher has been recognized by various institutions: She was a finalist for the 2016 Ki hajar Dewantara Award for Best Science Teacher in Southeast Asia, a finalist in the 2019 Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize, and an honoree of Bato Balani’s The Many Faces of the Teacher in 2019. Yet, she remains humble despite all these.
“'Pag binigay natin ‘yung best natin, somewhere, somehow meron syang kapalit na maganda. Because when you give your best to the world, the world will also give its best [to] you,” she says.
Her hope is to continue becoming an inspiration not only for her students but her fellow teachers as well. “Sama-sama po nating gawin kung ano po ‘yung tama para sa pagsulong ng edukalidad,” she says.
Watch Teacher Venus' video below and find out how you can help her continue with her initiative:
Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) teams up with Smart Parenting to shine a spotlight on teachers who go the extra mile. For every #HeroTeacher featured in Smart Parenting #eskwela2020 video series, GBF pledges P15,000 donation in kind.
You can also nominate a #HeroTeacher! Just go to this link and fill out the form:
https://bit.ly/NominateAHeroTeacher. Meet our #HeroTeachers! Read their stories here.
This story originally appeared on SmartParenting.com.ph. Minor edits have been made by Gokongwei Brothers Foundation.