There are a number of core subjects that are taught, with varying degrees of difficulty, in all six grades of primary school.  These are:

Elementary School in ManilaIn addition to the core subjects above, students in Grades 1-3 also study civics and culture.  In grades 4-6 students study music and art; physical education; home economics and livelihood; and social studies.  Values education and “good manners and right conduct” are integrated in all learning areas.

All students in primary school are also introduced to Makabayan.  According to the Department of Education, Makabayan is a learning area that serves as a practice environment for holistic learning; an area in which students develop a healthy personal and national self-identity.  In a perfect world, this type of construction would consist of modes of integrative teaching that will allow students to process and synthesize a wide variety of skills and values (cultural, vocational, aesthetic, economic, political and ethical).

Education in the Philippines:  Secondary Education

Although secondary education is not compulsory in the Philippines, it is widely attended, particularly in the more urban areas of the country.  At this level, private schools enroll a much higher percentage of students than at the elementary level. According to statistics from the Department of Education, roughly 45 percent of the country’s high schools are private, enrolling about 21 percent of all secondary school students.

At the secondary school level there are two main types of schools:  the general secondary schools, which enroll approximately 90 percent of all high school students, and the vocational secondary school.  Additionally, there are also several schools that are deemed “Science Secondary Schools”—which enroll students who have demonstrated a particular gift in math, science, or technology at the primary school level.  Vocational high schools in the Philippines differ from their General Secondary School counterparts in that they place more focus on vocationally-oriented training, the trades and practical arts.

Just as they are in primary school, secondary school students are rated four times throughout the year.  Students who fail to earn a rating of 75 percent in any given subject must repeat that subject, although in most cases they are permitted to enter the next grade.  Once a student has completed all four years of his/her secondary education, earning a 75 percent or better in all subjects, they are presented a secondary school graduation certificate.

Admission to public schools is typically automatic for those students who have successfully completed six years of primary education.  However, many of the private secondary schools in the country have competitive entrance requirements, usually based on an entrance examination score.  Entrance to the Science High Schools is also the result of competitive examinations.

Schooling at the secondary level spans four years in duration, grades 7-10, beginning at age 12 or 13 and culminating at age 16 or 17.  The curriculum that students are exposed to depends on the type of school they attend.

Students in the General Secondary Schools must take and pass a wide variety of courses.  Here the curriculum consists of language or communicative arts (English and Pilipino), mathematics, science, technology, and social sciences (including anthropology, Philippine history and government, economics, geography and sociology).  Students must also take youth develop training (including physical education, health education, music, and citizen army training), practical arts (including home economics, agriculture and fisheries, industrial arts and entrepreneurship), values education and some electives, including subjects from both academic and vocational pathways.

Although students who opt to study at one of the country’s vocational secondary schools are still required to take and pass many of the same core academic subjects, they are also exposed to a greater concentration of technical and vocational subjects.  These secondary schools tend to offer technical and vocational instruction in one of five major fields:  agriculture, fishery, trade/technical, home industry, and non-traditional courses with a host of specializations.  The types of vocational fields offered by these vocational schools usually depend on the specific region in which the school is located.  For example, in coastal regions, fishery is one of the most popular vocational fields offered.

During the initial two years of study at one of the nation’s vocational secondary schools, students study a general vocational area (see above).  During the third and fourth years they must specialize in a particular discipline within that general vocational area.  For instance, a student may take two years of general trade-technical courses, followed by two years specializing specifically in cabinet making.  All programs at vocational secondary schools contain a combination of theory and practice courses.

The Philippine Science High School System is a dedicated public system that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. In total, there are nine regional campuses, with the main campus located in Quezon City. Students are admitted on a case-by-case basis, based on the results of the PSHS System National Competitive Examination. Graduates of the PSHS are bound by law to major in the pure and applied sciences, mathematics, or engineering upon entering college.

The curriculum at the nation’s 9 Secondary Science schools is very similar to that of the General Secondary Schools.  Students follow that curriculum path closely; however, they must also take and pass a variety of advanced courses in mathematics and science.

Students who complete a minimum of four years of education at any one of the country’s secondary schools typically receive a diploma, or Katibayan, from their high school.  Additionally, they are rewarded the secondary school Certificate of Graduation (Katunayan) by the Department of Education.  A Permanent Record, or Form 137-A, listing all classes taken and grades earned, is also awarded to graduating students.

Education in the Philippines:  Higher EducationAs of this writing, there were approximately 1,621 institutions of higher education in the Philippines, of which some 1,445 (nearly 90 percent) were in the private sector.  There are approximately 2,500,000 students who participate in higher education each year, 66 percent of whom are enrolled in private institutions.

The public institutions of higher learning include some 112 charted state universities and colleges, with a total of 271 satellite campuses.  There are also 50 local universities, as well as a handful of government schools whose focus is on technical, vocational and teacher training.  Five special institutions also provide training and education in the areas of military science and national defense.

Before 1994, the overseer of all higher education institutions was the Bureau of Higher Education, a division of the former Department of Education, Culture and Sports.  Today, however, with the passage of the Higher Education Act of 1994, an independent government agency known as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) now provides the general supervision and control over all colleges and universities in the country, both public and private.  CHED regulates the founding and/or closures of private higher education institutions, their program offerings, curricular development, building specifications and tuition fees. Private universities and colleges adhere to the regulations and orders of CHED, although a select few are granted autonomy or deregulated status in recognition of their dedicated service through quality education and research when they reach a certain level of accreditation.

The Higher Education Act also had an impact on post-secondary vocational education.  In 1995, legislation was enacted that provided for the transfer of supervision of all non-degree technical and vocational education programs from the Bureau of Vocational Education, also under the control of the Department of Education, to a new and independent agency now known as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).  The establishment of TESDA has increased emphasis on and support for non-degree vocational education programs.

Higher education institutions can apply for volunteer accreditation through CHED—a system modeled after the regional accreditation system used in the United States.  There are four levels of accreditation:

University Education
The credit and degree structure of university education in the Philippines bears a striking resemblance to that of the United States.  Entrance into Philippine universities and other institutions of higher education is dependent on the possession of a high school Certificate of Graduation and in some cases on the results of the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT), or in many colleges and universities the results of their own entrance examinations.
There are essentially three degree stages of higher education in the Philippines:  Bachelor (Batsilyer), Master (Masterado) and PhD ((Doktor sa Pilospiya).
Bachelor Degrees
Bachelor degree programs in the Philippines span a minimum of four years in duration.  The first two years are typically dedicated to the study of general education courses (63 credits), with all classes counting towards the major the student will undertake in the final two years.  Certain bachelor degree programs take five years rather than four years to complete, including programs in agriculture, pharmacy and engineering.
Master Degrees
Master degrees in the Philippines typically span two years for full-time students, culminating with a minor thesis or comprehensive examination.  To qualify for a Master’s degree, students must possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with an average grade equal to or better than 2.00, 85 percent or B average. Certain professional degrees, such as law and medicine are begun following a first bachelor degree.  These programs, however, span far beyond the normal two years of study.
PhD Degrees
PhD degrees in the Philippines, also known as a Doctor of Philosophy, involve a great deal of coursework, as well as a dissertation that may comprise from one-fifth to one-third of the final grade.  Admission into one of the country’s PhD programs is very selective, requiring, at minimum, a Master’s degree with a B average or better.  Most PhD programs span two to four years beyond the Master’s degree, not counting the time it takes to complete the dissertation.  Topics for dissertations must be approved by the faculty at the university at which the student is studying.
Non-University Higher Education (Vocational and Technical)
In recent years, vocational and technical education has become very popular in the Philippines.  Technical and vocational schools and institutes offer programs in a wide range of disciplines, including agriculture, fisheries, technical trades, technical education, hotel and restaurant management, crafts, business studies, secretarial studies, and interior and fashion design. Interested candidates who wish to pursue their education at one of the country’s post-secondary vocational schools must have at least a high school diploma and a Certificate of Graduation to qualify.  Vocational and technical programs lead to either a certificate (often entitled a Certificate of Proficiency) or a diploma. The Philippines’ Professional Regulation Commission regulates programs for 38 different professions and administers their respective licensure examinations.

1. They love kids.

First and foremost, great teachers must love what they teach. And, let’s face it, we really don’t teach art, we teach kids, our world’s most priceless asset! Lindsay Moss, a writer for the Art of Education, states, “Great art teachers love kids as much as their content. Children and art have a dual place in their hearts.” At the end of the day, our job is to see the potential in every child we are blessed to call ours.

2. They love art.

Now that we have established that we actually teach children, it’s still pretty important to love the discipline you teach them. Loving the visual arts is also a commonality among the world’s best art teachers!

3. They are passionate about the profession.

Over the past twenty-five years, I have noticed something else pretty exciting; the greatest and most successful art teachers are passionate about art education. They are the ones attending state and national conferences, AOEconferences, and sharing their students’ successes via social media. Melody Weintraub, President of the Tennessee Art Education Association, writes, “A passion for teaching is the number one most important thing in art education.” She added, “This passion makes for positive, professional energy that is contagious to others.” Amen!

4. They are dedicated.

Dedication is a mark of affection. Dedicated teachers are deeply committed and believe there is nothing more important than kids and art. They put time and energy into their profession in a manner that is often unequaled. We all know being an art teacher is a difficult job. But, the long hours are worth it when we see our students and programs shine.

5. They are energetic.

As I’ve mentioned, being an art teacher can be exhausting! We have to be energetic and “on” all day long.

Whew. And, we do it all with a smile!

6. They are creative.

Creativity is key to being a successful art teacher. We must figure out the best way to teach hundreds, if not thousands, of students with various backgrounds, talents, and interests daily. And, all of this is on top of everything listed in #5!

7. They are organized planners.

Dallas Gillespie from Suwanee, Georgia states, “A good art teacher is consistently challenging themselves to create, plan, and prepare meaningful and relevant projects that will consistently maintain a high level of success for ALL students.” Ivey Coleman from Augusta, Georgia adds, “A good art teacher needs to have the ability to effectively manage and utilize a wide array of materials.” She continues, “When teachers are organized, it allows them to successfully teach different media and provides students with a diverse learning experience. It also creates a learning environment that is conducive to being clean, safe and productive.”  I couldn’t agree more!

8. They are advocates for the arts.

I believe the terms “art educator” and “advocate” are synonymous. Every art teacher must continue to advocate for quality visual art education. When they realize this, they work even harder to educate their communities about how essential the arts are to educating thewhole child.

9. They are collaborators and communicators.

Collaboration is essential to take your teaching to the next level. Whether it’s with others in your building, those in a state art education association, or on social media, having a PLN is so important!

Communication goes hand-in-hand with collaboration. When teachers communicate with their students, staff, and community members, they will be successful. Which brings us to our next trait.

10. They are leaders.

I don’t think most art teachers set out to be leaders, but we are. We lead our students; we lead our classrooms and, often, we begin to lead our schools and our communities. Many of the best art teachers I know find themselves leading at the state level because they realize it’s an important element in growing the profession.

11. They are lifelong learners.

Dana Jung Munson from Atlanta, Georgia writes,” I encourage my students to make mistakes and to learn from them. Teaching the artistic processes creates opportunities for students to pull learning from other subjects.” James Rees, from Provo, Utah adds, “Great art teachers aren’t afraid to be vulnerable and can easily admit teaching and artmaking mistakes which aides students in taking risks, making mistakes and moving forward.” Lindsay Moss, echoes with this sentiment, “Great art educators are constantly evolving. Their instruction, content, and pedagogy are constantly being revisited and revamped to best serve their current kids at the current time.” Great art educators want to see their students grow, and thus, are constantly pushing to learn new things themselves.

12. They are artists.

Whether or not art teachers professionally show their work is irrelevant. But, knowing how to creatively utilize a variety of mediums and sharing these techniques with your students is an important part of the equation. Some of the best art teachers I know continually create art, exhibit art in some way, and share their talent with their students.

13. They are inspirational.

I am beyond inspired by so many art teachers. I couldn’t begin to list them all! It’s no secret that great art teachers inspire their students. But, they also inspire their colleagues and peers. Brooks Dantzler, a retired art educator from Macon, Georgia describes it well saying, “When we encourage our students, we ultimately help them succeed, and when others see this, we begin to encourage them. Therefore, we are climate and culture changers.” In other words, great art teachers make everyone around them want to be better! Better learners, better teachers, and perhaps most importantly, better people!

14. They are reflective.

Having the ability to reflect daily is an important part of any job. However, I would say it’s essential for art teachers, especially if we want to become better and more effective. Tiffany Weser Chrisman, an art teacher in Augusta, Georgia, says, “Great art teachers can adapt to anything. It could be a reduced budget, learning to work with unconventional, donated materials or being creative when a student’s project doesn’t work out as planned. Reflecting and considering quick modifications can turn the learning into a rewarding experience for everyone.”

15. They are enthusiastic.

I don’t know many art teachers who aren’t enthusiastic about their jobs! Sure, we get tired and frustrated, but at the end of the day, we know we have one of the most important jobs in the school. We are teaching our students to be divergent, creative thinkers in an ever-growing culture steeped in visual communication. Our society and workforce desperately need creative thinkers now more than ever. Realizing our art content is teaching students powerful life skills is enough to keep any art teacher going!

16. They work hard to engage their students.

I think we can all agree if we aren’t excited about a lesson or a topic, our kids usually aren’t either. Great art teachers have figured out how to take the most boring topics and turn them into engaging, fun, hands-on learning opportunities. Our enthusiasm keeps our kids excited and engaged, which usually means they are learning!

17. They are funny.

Most art teachers I know use humor in their pedagogy. Plus, we often have to find humor in some of the situations we find ourselves – from paint splatters on the ceiling to speckles of glaze in our hair. Not to mention our hilarious students. Finding humor in the daily rituals can be one of the greatest saving graces of all.

18. They care about building relationships.

Jeni Griner, from Buford, Georgia, says, “Great teachers are all about building relationships with their students! Relationships build trust which builds comfort and enables risk-taking. When students aren’t afraid to try new things, it builds confidence which is imperative to building a successful visual arts program. More importantly, it builds strong individuals with strong creative problem-solving skills who will become successful contributors to society in and out of art world.”

Not only do we build relationships with our students, but with our colleagues as well. We continually share ideas, springboard from each other and learn from one another. A few years ago I coined the phrase, “Together we ART better.” I find the longer I am in this wonderful profession, the truer that phrase has become. When we share ideas, our students are the ultimate winners!

19. They have grit.

Shannon Lauffer, Admissions and Academic Advisor with the Art of Education explains grit eloquently. She says, “Grit is the combination of passion and perseverance, which is exactly how I view art education. We advocate for our programs and the importance of art in education, push through artistic failures and view these as learning opportunities. Great art teachers know there is always a new technique to master, artist to discover, or idea to try out. Our profession is based on a passion for artmaking, and cultivating that in our students takes grit.”

20. They are happy.

At the end of the day, the great art teachers I know are quite happy! Sure, we’re tired, and we get worn down from time to time. But, when we reflect on each day, we’re satisfied we did our very best to teach our kids through the discipline of the visual arts, and that makes for a happy heART!

Thank you to all of the colleagues who contributed to this uplifting list! After seeing so many emails come in late at night, I have a theory that many of us are night owls as well!

 

 

 

 

The teacher-centered approach takes place inside the classroom and encourages the students to focus completely on the educator. Therefore, inside a teacher-centered classroom, the educator does almost all the talking while students continue to listen and remain silent. When it comes to classroom activities, students often engage in activities on their own. Teacher-student collaboration is not very common.

 In a teacher-centered classroom, the full control of the classroom and activities is with the teacher. Therefore, the classroom is often orderly, and students remain quiet. One good thing about teacher centered learning is that this approach allows students to learn on their own. Consequently,  the students become more independent and learn to make their own decisions. Furthermore, as the teacher designs, directs, and conducts all classroom activities under his or her supervision, it reduces the chances of the students missing any important material or content.

However, this approach of education can hinder the communication and collaborative skills of students as students often work alone. Moreover, continuous teacher-centered instruction can create a monotonous nature inside the classroom, and this may make students feel boring with their studies. Gradually, this approach may become less powerful in capturing and maintaining the student focus in the lessons. Most significantly, teacher centered approach inside the classroom prevents learners from expressing themselves and discourages them from asking questions and logical engagement in self-leaning.

What is  Learner Centered Approach

Unlike in a teacher-centered classroom, in a classroom that uses learner centered approach, both educators and students share an equal focus. Most significantly, a higher level of student-teacher interaction is visible in a learner centered approach. Here, learners do not play the role of excessive listeners; instead, they learn to collaborate with each other. Furthermore, this approach highly encourages teacher-learner communication.

One of the main plus points of learner centered education is that it allows learners to acquire collaborative skills and communicative skills mainly through group work. In addition, it gives learners the freedom to acquire knowledge independently and logically by asking questions. Inside such a classroom, learners are relatively more enthusiastic in the learning process due to the high interaction with one another and also with the teacher.

However, unlike the strict and orderly nature of the teacher centered classroom, learner centered classrooms can often get chaotic and noisy. Further, students possessing varying learning styles and speeds and managing all students’ activities at once can get comparatively harder for the teacher.

Similarities Between Teacher Centered and Learner Centered Approach

Difference Between Teacher Centered and  Learner Centered Approach

Definition

Teacher centered approach is an approach that encourages students to completely focus on their educator, while learner centered approach is an approach where both the educators and the students share an equal focus.

Focus

In teacher centered approach, the focus is on the educator. But in learner centered approach, both the educator and learner have an equal focus.

Communication and Collaboration

In teacher-centered classroom, the educator talks, and students continue to listen and remain silent. In contrast, learner centered learning encourages student-student and teacher-student collaboration and communication.      

Role of Students

Teacher centered approach prevents learners from expressing themselves and discourages them from asking questions and logical engagement in self-leaning, whereas learner centered approach gives learners the freedom to acquire knowledge independently and logically by asking questions.

Classroom

Teacher centered classrooms usually have a strict and orderly nature, but learner centered classrooms can often get chaotic and noisy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main difference between teacher centered and learner centered approach is that, within teacher centered approach, the focus is on the teacher, and such a classroom does not encourage student expression and communication, while learner centered classroom shares its focus equally between the teacher and the learner, further permitting collaboration, communication, and self-expression of learners.