“We are in the business of surgery without a scalpel.” This is how Dr. Alyssa Covington, the keynote speaker of the 12th International and 13th National Teachers and Education Students’ Conference (TESTCON), describes the teaching profession.

 

In her speech before nearly 300 educators and student attendees from across the country via Zoom, she emphasized the importance of building relationships. Hence, teachers must have the heart for teaching.

 

“By having a heart,” she said, “teachers must connect with students by asking them about their home life, educational experiences, activities, reasons for learning, and transformative learning experiences.”

 

She added that by being connected, teachers “make students more relaxed and more comfortable.”

 

She also urged teachers to be resilient, which begins with healing, as “it is difficult for broken people to heal broken people. That’s why as adults, we must take time to heal,” Dr. Covington expressed.

 

Among the key points of her address included integrating technology in classroom instruction and management to enhance learning. She also underscored that to begin producing resilient role models in the future, educators must with themselves, hence, the need to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually capable.

 

The conference was also attended by the Vice President for Research, Publication, Innovation, Commercialization, and Extension, Dr. Joseph Elvir Tubilan along with Research, Development, and Publication (RDP) Director Dr. Genara Pacana, and College of Teacher Education (CTE) Dean Dr. Reynaldo Inocian.

 

A series of plenary sessions will also be held throughout the day.

 

Padayon, CNU!