The TLS DDM Family again grew in number. Last November 20-21, 2008, the team from Saint Mary’s University International Center for Teaching and Learning Styles (SMU ICSTLS) conducted the Teaching-Learning Styles-Dunn and Dunn Model (TLS DDM) training at APAYAO STATE COLLEGE, Conner, Apayao. The people responsible for this growth were Dr. Anita V. Boceta, Officer in Charge of SMU ICSTLS, Dr. Cristina G. Gallato, Dean of the School of Business and Certified International Trainer of TLS DDM, and Dr. Samuel Soliven, Principal of SMUHS, who conducted a demo teaching.

About 150 participants (ASC administrators, teachers, student-teachers, and DepEd teachers) were oriented on Teaching and Learning Styles, Dunn and Dunn Model.  After the opening program, Dr. Gallato presented the Rationale and Elements of TLS DDM, followed by Dr. Soliven’s demonstration on the teaching of Math and Science, the TLS DDM way.  In the afternoon, Dr. Gallato continued her lecture on TLS Researches and Teaching Strategies.  The afternoon session was concluded with a demo-teaching conducted by Dr. Boceta.

During the second day of the training, the participants were taught how to prepare Instructional Materials by Dr. Boceta and was culminated by an exhibit and presentation of the participants’ outputs as well as critiquing of their lesson plans.

Impressions from the participants were positive; generally, they were clamoring for more training on Teaching Strategies. The President and VP for Academics would like to organize and conduct another TLS DDM training at lower Luna, Apayao sometime in Summer 2009.

What the participants say about the training . . .

I would strongly consider and confirm that this 2-day training is indeed a success.  And there are reasons:

We are indeed very lucky from the Department of Education, Conner District that our colleagues from the Apayao State College through the leadership of the forever young and dynamic president, Dr. Zacarias A. Baluscang Jr. and of course his beautiful and intelligent Vice President Dr. Nobleza C. Sadao, invited us to attend this most prestigious, fruitful and enjoyable Training workshop on Teaching and Learning Styles – Dunn and Dunn Model especially so, that the resource speakers are Certified International Trainers.  We want to express our gratitude for giving us an opportunity to participate in a purposeful training like this.

We were so much impressed with the topics, discussed to us by Dr. Cristina G. Gallato about the Rationale and Nature of Teaching and Learning Styles – Dunn and Dunn Model that enhanced our competencies as instructional facilitators in the advanced innovative way of teaching a lesson through the strategy.  She also shared the six keys to becoming a successful teacher that caught more of our attention because we found out that the teacher is the contributory factor in attaining quality education and the most vital person of the education system.

We were also impressed with the demonstration teaching provided by Dr. Samuel Soliven that teachers should be facilitators inside the class and not always using the “chalk and talk” method.  He emphasized in his demo that teachers should always involve pupils in the activities of their lesson by grouping activity, so that they can manage their attitude especially if they have a big class size.

We were also impressed by and thankful to Dr. Anita V. Boceta on her topics Lesson Planning and Instructional Materials Production.  It is very true that a teacher cannot teach nor mold a pupil without a written plan of instruction.  We all know that a lesson plan is an indispensable tool of a teacher for without it, the teacher would place his lesson in a state of disarray, moreover, all the topics which have been provided, catered to the needs and demands of teaching and learning process, thus teachers should keep abreast.

Lastly, on behalf of the Dep-Ed Family, we would want to express our gratitude to the TLS – DDM family, Saint Mary’s University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.  Thank you very much and more power!!!
          Lydia D. Juan
          Elem School Principal I
          Conner, Apayao

The training on Teaching and Learning Styles was not only designed to enrich us in our own field of specialization but to remind us of our responsibilities as molders of the youth.  We are so lucky and blessed that we happen to be one of the noblest professions on earth that without us, there will be no lawyers, engineers, doctors and the like.

This training is indeed a blessing to all of us because our trainers are well equipped with the necessary knowledge needed in our profession.  We are impressed because they are not only here giving lectures but they provided us and showed us samples which we can also use in our own classes when we go back.  They also taught us how to create our own “interesting” instructional materials which in other trainings, we never experienced.  Moreover, they didn’t only act as speakers but demonstrators as well so we will be able to witness how they applied what they want us to learn and that is already one thing to be applauded for.

We are so thankful that you are here with us, our dear trainers.  You have rekindled the joy, pride and love in us of being a mentor through your unselfish mission.  May you always have good health so other teachers like us who thirst for this kind of training will also be with you.  God bless you and bring our love with you wherever you go!  THANK YOU!
        Mary Ann L. Dagusen
        Conner Central National HS
         Conner, Apayao

ASC is the only higher institution in the province and true to its vision and mission of providing the highest form of education have conducted/hosted this Training on Teaching and Learning Styles, in collaboration with SMU ICSTLS.  Much more extending the benefit that could be derived from this training to friends, neighbors, alumni of ASC coming from participants from Dep ED in the municipality of Conner, Apayao.

The training on TLS provided the participants full grasp of the 5 stimuli of the TLS DDM namely: environmental, emotional, physiological, psychological and sociological.  Truly, the participants have recognized the importance of said stimuli and elements on achieving better performance in their classes.

Recognizing the learners’ predominant learning style could provide us, teachers, a very bright avenue at adjusting our teaching styles and methods to match our students’ learning styles.  In so doing we can say that true learning takes place in our classes.  The challenge for us now (after this training) is:  Are we open/ready/flexible to accommodate the learning styles of our students in our daily teaching?

Good/healthy classrooms/classes are characterized by participative classes where students are free to learn.  But many times, this is neglected.  We focus too much on completing the topics/lessons.  But through this training, we were redirected/enlightened that equally important also and we should not ignore, is the learning styles of the students/pupils which are vital in the process of learning.

Researches shared to us by the resource speaker from SMU ICSTLS provided us insights that TLS DDM has been the product of many researches which support it as an accepted TLS model.  This interests us and could motivate us that in the future we need to analyze the Learning Styles (LS) of students and Teaching Styles (TS) of teachers, so that we can adjust  our TS and accommodate/connect with LS of the students.  The sharing of the speakers on their own experiences when they embraced TLS DDM in their teaching provided also the participants with living testimonies on the positive correlation of TS and LS.  This inspires us to consider starting an inventory of our own TS as we go back to our own respective classes, then analyze the LS of our students.

The demonstrations on Math and Science and on Filipino Literature have reinforced the application of TLS in varied fields.  The presentation made us realize that behind the theories/concepts that we teach, are challenging activities to address the LS of our learners.

CAP, PLS and MIP are instructional resources  we can use to bring out the modalities of TLS and are aimed at individual LS.

TS and LS are critical dimensions in meaningful education.  We could make our own classes exciting by facilitating positive reinforcement activities learned from this training.

The teaching beliefs of teachers were once again revisited – as teachers we are not just there to teach but ensure that students entrusted to us LEARN as the saying:  Tell me and I forget; Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn.  We are here because we are teachers!

We need to look once more into our Teaching Styles and also consider the LS of our students.  The most important challenge for us after this training . . .

How should we connect to our students?  Are we prepared to accept redefining  our TS to match the students’ LS?  We can make learning meaningful and permanent FOR LIFE!  Looking forward to meeting all of you again in another training.