ABSTRACT
This study investigated the experiences and challenges faced by learners, teachers, and parents in a contextualized Festival of Talents at Ramon Avanceńa National High School. Interviews revealed that learners derived enjoyment, benefits, and increased self-confidence from the festival. A proposed program suggested focusing on student engagement, motivation, holistic development, contextualized learning, and collaboration. Positive experiences of all stakeholders were highlighted, emphasizing the festival's role in fostering artistic expression, personal growth, and social development. Despite constraints in resources and time, recommendations included seeking partnerships, prioritizing planning, clear assessment criteria, inclusivity, diversity, and continuous improvement. The study underscored the festival's positive impact as a foundation for an enhanced program, emphasizing the need to address challenges for a successful and memorable experience for learners, teachers, and parents.
Keywords: Experiences, Challenges, Festival of Talents, Enhancement Program
INTRODUCTION
Contextualizing the lesson is a meaningful and relevant strategy that benefits both teachers and learners throughout the school year. This approach emphasizes that Learners learn best when they can apply their knowledge and skills not only in the classroom but also during culminating activities held after each quarterly lesson. By doing so, the learning becomes more relevant to the learners' lives, preparing them for the future challenges they may encounter and empowering them to preserve their cultural heritage and artistic talents.
Contextualization provides Learners and teachers with the opportunity to showcase their talents in the arts and ensures the continuation and promotion of the rich culture of the province, passing it on to future generations. Through this process, learners develop a deep understanding of the subject matter and acquire skills and talents that can positively impact their community in the long run.
Additionally, contextualized learning encompasses active, applied, and manipulative approaches. It involves localizing and contextualizing the lessons to make them more meaningful for both teaching and learning processes.
When lessons are connected to the Learners' immediate environment, culture, and resources, they become more meaningful and tailored to their real-world experiences, thus better preparing them for life outside the classroom.
The culminating activity serves as a comprehensive assessment that evaluates Learners' understanding, achievements, and learning derived from lesson discussions, activities, and practical or written assignments. It offers a chance for teachers and Learners to monitor the Learners' progress, promote their learning, and cater to their individual needs (Senior and Culminating Projects, 2004).
Educators frequently employ culminating activities to evaluate the advancement of learners through their performance (Mansit, 2016). This indicates that there are specific requirements for facilitators, learners, and learning materials to meet developmental needs and fulfill the demands of school culminating activities.
Parents should also be involved in the school culminating activity of their children and witness how they have developed their skills and, acquired knowledge through experiences that showcase their talents. One of the lessons focused on Physical Education in Exercise Program (Festival Dance). Through this topic, learners can experience performing festival dance by using contextualized and localized materials. In this process, learners can attain the main objectives of these activities which are to perform dance steps of a festival of talents in different regions, divisions, and districts in local and national arenas, familiarize the different festivals of talents in the Philippines, appreciate the nature in terms of culture, the tradition of every festival, create and enhance their movement through performing various dance steps, and lastly create meaningful presentations to showcase their talents in school activities in the form of contextualized festival dances in the Philippines.
Moreover, learners can showcase their talents through festival dances that can be found in the Philippines.
The researcher aimed to build strong awareness among the youth and promote cultures and traditions of the country through meaningful, colorful, and vibrant forms of the different festivals found throughout the Philippines. The researcher would also like to determine the experience and challenges encountered by learners, teachers, and parents on the contextualized festival of talents in order to create a basic enhancement program for the benefit of the Learners not only for the improvement of the academic performance but also for the appreciation of their own culture and traditions.
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