Being a full – time or Part –time ALS Coordinator, a Mobile Teacher or a Literacy Volunteer takes a lot of effort, responsibility and patience. It can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience. There are so many learning strands to cover, so many standards to meet, and so many things to learn. And, the most challenging part generally isn’t the teaching; it is managing the learner’s behavior. Without a doubt the most difficult part of being an ALS Facilitators is how can we ensure the learnings of every learner we teaches.
Below are some suggested tips to deliver the skills effectively. I hope you will find these learningtips helpful.
- MOTIVATE
The facilitators must establish a rapport with students and prepare them for learning. Set a feeling or tone for the lesson. ALS Facilitators should try to establish a friendly, open atmosphere that shows the learners they will help them learn. Learners must see the benefit of learning in order to motivate themselves to learn the subject. A good facilitator can make learning fun and inspire them to reach their full potentials.
- REINFORCE
Positive reinforcement can occur in the form of praise, awards and recognition of the learners. It is a very necessary part of the teaching/ learning process; through it, instructors encourage correct modes of behavior and performance. Facilitators need to use it on a frequent and regular basis early in the process to help students retain what they have learned and maintain consistent, positive behavior. Positive reinforcement builds confidence and helps learners have a more pleasurable experience at work while avoiding the negative side effects associated with punishment or negative reinforcement, such as frustration, anger, anxiety and depression.
- RETENTION
Using ICT instruction materials is a big help to improve retention of the topics in our class. Learners must retain information from sessions in order to benefit from the learning. The ALS Facilitator’s job is not yet done until she/he has assisted the learner in retaining the information. In order for the learners to retain the information taught, they must see a meaning or purpose for that information. Simply stated, if the learners did not learn the material well initially, they will not retain it well either. Retention is directly affected by their amount of practice during the learning.
- MENTORING
It is important to help your learners develop not only academically but also socially. Make an effort to show you care for them be proactive instead of reactive. The key to being a good mentor is to be positive, available, and trustworthy. One year with a great mentor can have a lasting, positive impact on their life. We know that we are serving the Last, the least and the lost learners, it is important to deal with them with love and respect. Remember, the good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.– William Arthur Ward.
By: MYRA B. MORILLA | TEACHER 1 | ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM
