Educators learn new teaching strategies

Educators from the Americas and elsewhere are conferring in Belize City. And from the looks of it, the educators are learning new teaching strategies and having fun. They are taking part in innovative training that is showing new ways of better engaging their students in classroom activities. What does this all lead to? Better learning for students. The two-day conference is being organized by the Mercy Secondary Association. News Five stopped in at the Radisson Hotel and got input of both teachers and students.

Melissa Bullock, Pres., Mercy Secondary Ed. Assn.
“They learn better by movement and we’re trying to get out what their opinions might be and if you have them all sitting at their desks and ask a question, one or two will raise a hand. If you get them up and moving, and ask them to stand in a place around their opinion then everyone is involved in stating their opinion. That gives teachers information and that makes them have to interact with each other and be able to express their opinion.”

Sr. Leona Panton, Adult Trainer
“This is a mercy school interacting with other mercy schools of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and we follow the czarism of Catherine McCauley who talked about equipping students not only for this world but what they can do towards the life hereafter too.”

The forum proved to be particularly interesting for teachers who did not previously have exposure to the new techniques.

Stephanie Acosta, Teacher, S.C.A.
“Through movement they learn better than just sitting behind their desks. It’s very interesting.”

Marion Ali
“This is something that you will implement at your school?”

Stephanie Acosta
“Of course, I will try it out and from the way I’m enjoying it right now I feel my students will definitely like it. This would work mainly for students who are a bit shy and a bit afraid to voice that they do not understand certain concepts so with these activities here, we the teacher would be able to assess immediately and see whether they know or do not know the concept by the movement that they’re doing.”

The Sisters of Mercy from throughout the region organize the event each year in a different country. This is the first time that Belize is hosting the training conference.