Our research portal formally signing off
It took a while for me to finally decide to make time to write this piece. For almost 13 years, the first quarter of every school year was spent on reviewing research title, helping students find their way in the library archive and then eventually we learn together how to get the best of googlescholar. I was a researcher before I became a teacher but I was never formally trained in the art of teaching how to do research. I wrote a number of research papers, mosty scientific paper since I was in college and then to graduate school, but I was never trained as a peer editor or as a proofreader.
For me, teaching research is all about learning together with my students. My journey as a research teacher was indeed “serendipity”. I substituted for an English teacher who suddenly resigned 13 years ago, being a researcher and writer by experience, I was forced to embrace the teaching assignment. And the rest, they say, is history.
Until now, I am still amazed at how my students were able to reflect so much when I asked them to analyze Kenny Loggin’s “The One that Got Away”. This activity not only revealed that the digital citizens are self-directed learners but also they have unspoken feelings and thoughts that we adults could not fathom. In the critical reading task using Yann Martel’s “We Ate the Children Last”, I can still remember (and it always make me smile) how a seemingly indifferent young boy has a gift for writing.
As a science teacher whose favorite topics are genetics and evolution, I must admit that my students taught me to appreciate and explore global studies, historical epidemics and genomic analysis. Four young boys reconstructed the evolutionary history of a virus family that includes the SARS virus. Whenever they present, I cannot help but keep silent in awe because they are the experts and I am the humble novice. As a reader, I am biased for the European and Latin American writers that I like but it took a group of young girls to make me realize that we must first appreciate our very own. How could Carlos Bulosan be famous in America when ordinary Filipinos may never heard about him?
In a span of almost 13 years, almost a hundred manuscripts later, and three editions of course module, I am here pondering on memories instead of pondering about what themes would I use in the periodical test. I am writing a blog instead of analyzing interdisciplinary articles that I shall use for the test. Sleepless nights of editing and proofreading were one of the best moments of my teaching experience. Through my students I learned about the economics of rice smuggling, about why women conform more than men, on why every teacher needs to understand the learning styles of students and the reality that HIV is serious matter in the Philippines that many adult ignore but young people are bothered with. I will never forget that triumphant feeling when my students come to me in the simple excitement of receiving an email from a researcher abroad giving their permission for my students to use their instruments.
There are many brilliant ideas that my students came up with through the years. They successfully presented their research and I hope some would not feel bad if I fail to mention their ideas in this post.
It has been a yearly tradition in our school, ever since we offered the research course for senior high schools, to hold a research forum where senior students present their research to the junior students. They dressed up for this occasion and become the experts in their research. For a teacher to see her students speak with confidence, it is already heaven here on earth.
Last year, the final year of the research course for the last batch of high school under the BEC curriculum, there was no research forum. I know that my students had looked forward for this conference; but because of circumstances I have no control of, we were never given the opportunity to organize a research forum. I can feel the disappointment when my students learned that they will never get the chance to display their research abstract-poster nor will they ever dress up like professionals and speak in front of an audience. My heart still aches for that silent unspoken sadness. Even though the students shout for joy when their approval sheet is finally signed, their eyes still asks why there was no research forum for their batch. However, I learned to accept that for other people, our research work was not as important as it is for me and my class. What a sad way to close a chapter.
We are two weeks away from the culmination of the first quarter. Gradually, it is already making sense that I may never meet a research class ever again. I would always be grateful to my dear research students because they encouraged me to study further, explore my waterloos, and take courage every time I stand before them as a discussion facilitator and whenever I settle at the back of the room as a panel member. Thank you because I learned many things about social psychology, global politics, local governance, and other things beyond the reach of Biology.
Thank you very much dearest young people. I look forward for the day when you would return to your Alma Mater as accomplished professionals and servant leaders in your respective fields of expertise. I pray earnestly that even in the smallest way, your research class somehow helped you in the education for life and your journey of living.
I dare not say goodbye but rather till we meet again. Now, our research portal has indeed officially signed off.
