FS 1 Episode 4

Field Study 1: The Learner's Development and Environment

Episode 4

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND LEARNING INTERACTION

OBSERVATION REPORT

Name of School Observed: Mayapa Elementary School

School Address: Mayapa, Laguna

Date of Visit: September 06, 2013

As I observed the Grade 5 students handled by Ms. Jennifer by the time I visited, I noticed the different approaches of interaction by the students to everyone in the classroom. The students interact respectively and politely, they use “po” and “opo” when they are talking and asking something to their teacher. As I observed this practice I found out that there is a boundary to the teacher and student in a very nice way, because the students knew that they should use polite words when interacting to their teacher for the main reason that their attainment in life are far enough. On the other hand, the students interact with their classmates in a very comfortable manner, very ease and with no hesitations. There are students or group of students who interact mostly with their teacher.

While observing the learners who seated at the front and the back, I noticed that they behave almost the same. They interact actively, during class discussion all of the learners from the front or back participate, they raise their hands to answer the teacher’s question and when they want to share their ideas and insights during the subject matter. This only shows the unity and oneness of class their uniformity in participating in the class.

The relationship among the learners is very light and jolly. They accept ones ideas and thoughts; they do not quarrel on their different point of views and beliefs but rather accept and understand one another. Students cooperate with one another especially during group works, each member participate and shares his or her insights. If there are instances that they compete with one another it is in a form of a friendly competition. This kind of competition will boost the students eagerness to be competitive with one another and will help in their learning and developmental process.

Those students who participate actively are those that stand as class leaders, they are the ones who usually excel in the class and for those who seek the most for help are those who are at side or corner of the class maybe because they are far from the board that’s why they ask for more help.

When a student is called and can’t answer the teacher’s question, some of his classmates try to help him by whispering the correct or right answer and there are also students who will just raise their hands so that they will the one to be called. This also shows the unity of the class and their concern to their classmates which is good because they care for one another.

The students group themselves usually by gender, this is just normal because the students will choose a group that has their same interests. For example there are groups that is all girls because they have the same likes like playing girly things; there are also group that is all boys because they share same interests like war craft and action games; and there are also mixed social groupings, even that they are different gender they still have the same ideals for example a group who loves to play indoor or outdoor games belong to the same group, because they share common likes.

Learners interact with each other freely and with no rules to follow they just talk about what they want without any restrictions. Almost all groups talk about today’s tending topics like: the latest television sitcoms; computer games; hottest celebrities and icons; newly upgraded gadgets; and different games they want to play.

MY ANALYSIS

1. Identify the persons who play key roles in the relationships and interactions in the classrooms. What roles do they play? Is there somebody who appears to be the leader, a mascot/joker, an attention seeker, a little teacher, a doubter/pessimist?

• The main persons who play key roles in the classroom is the teacher himself or herself and of course the learners. The teacher plays the role of a facilitator he or she guides and facilitates the learner when doing their perspective works. There are students who plays to be a class leader, she is the one whom facilitates and control the noise level and regulates her classmates when the teacher is not around; there are a lot of jokers in the class they usually balance the class and make a light atmosphere when the class gets too boring, they usually crack jokes to make the class happy; there is also an attention seeker in the class, he will surely get the attention of the teacher by doing different acts and some of this acts is not good but still he will do it just to get attention; there are also little teachers in the class, they teach their other classmates when some of them didn’t understand the lesson, these students are very caring and have the heart to help others; there are also doubters or pessimist in the class who easily gets disappointed and stop working on a certain activity when they find it very difficult or hard.

2. Are the students coming from the minority group accepted or rejected by the others? How is this shown?

• Yes. This is shown by making them feel that they belong to the group even though they belong to a different minority group. Their other classmates make them join to their group to let them feel that they are united.

3. How does the teacher influence the class interaction considering the individual differences of the students?

• The teacher influence greatly in the individual differences of the students by not having biases. The teacher should treat his or her students equally so that the students will feel that they are all the same in the eyes if the teacher.

4.What factors influence the grouping of learners outside the classroom?

• I think the factors that influence the grouping of learners outside the classroom is their common interests. Because as an individual you will go with the group that you’ll feel the sense of belongingness and where you can share your likes and dislikes because as you join a certain group this will reflect who you are. And if that’s the case you will be going to the group that will surely suit your personality and attitude.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. How did you feel being in that classroom? Did you feel a sense of oneness or unity among the learners and between the teacher and the learners?

• When I’m in the classroom, I already feel that I’m already a teacher. I also feel the sense of oneness and unity among the learners because I can see their eagerness to strive hard so that they can learn a certain topic. And also the unity among the teacher and the learners because unity implies uniformity and harmony and the class I visited portray this characteristic.

2. In the future, how would you want the learners in your classroom to interact? How will you make this happen?

• In the future, I want my students to interact in a way that they will feel no tension at all. I want them to express freely what they feel but in a manner that they will not offend their other classmates. I will make this happen by briefing them and by letting they know the essence of harmony in the classroom and making them realize that we will all benefit if we practice this type of interaction.

3. How will you encourage all learners, regardless of religious, ethnic or racial background to interact and participate?

• I will encourage all learners regardless of their differences to interact and participate by letting them know that even we have our own differences we still have to participate and interact with others because after all we are in a world with different characteristics, attitudes, personalities, religious beliefs and differences but we are all sons on God Almighty that’s why we should communicate with one another no matter we have different views in life.