Analysis of a Stanza in Florante at Laura, Classic Filipino Literature Using Multimodal Approaches to Address Student Learning Style

My Why?

As a former classroom teacher wayback in the 90's I struggled to make teaching Filipino literature specifically, Florante at Laura, fun, relevant and engaging for my students. There were no technology back then, and I just use my drawing skills using manila paper and marker pens, aside from chalk and talk. We deeply rely on role play to add excitement and fun in the classroom. Now that we have Apple technology, I imagine myself teaching Florante at Laura in today's time, and this is how I will design my lesson if I were to teach it today :)

Lesson Material: Florante at Laura ni Francisco Balagtas, Saknong 14-15

This is the book cover of Florante at Laura, a classic Filipino literature that uses poetry in story telling.

Under the DepEd MATATAG Curriculum for Grade 8 Filipino (Fourth Quarter), the primary goal is not just the memorization of the story of Florante at Laura, but the deep analysis of societal themes using multimodal approaches (a combination of visual, audio, and digital elements).

One of the most critical parts of this curriculum is the "Analysis of the Four Rebellions of Francisco Balagtas" (Against a cruel government, religious conflict, wrong traditions/customs, and low-quality literature). The performance standard (Performance Task) for this is the creation of a "Multimodal Advocacy Campaign" or "Spoken Word Poetry" that connects these themes to modern societal issues.

Here is a suggested teaching methodology on how to deliver this using Apple Technology to make the experience interactive, creative, and collaborative for students:

Lesson Flow (Teaching Methodology)

1-EXPLORE

Exploration and Understanding: Using iPad and Apple Pencil, each student group will use the Freeform app on the iPad to create a collaborative digital brainstorming board. They will read selected stanzas of Florante at Laura that showcase a specific "Rebellion" (e.g., the injustice of Florante's imprisonment). They will write and draw their initial ideas here, using the Apple Pencil for sketching and handwriting.

In Filipino : Babasahin ng klase ang Saknong 14 at 15. Sa pamamagitan ng Freeform app, bawat pangkat ay gagawa ng isang digital board. Gamit ang Apple Pencil, bibilugan at bibigyang-kahulugan nila ang mga talinghaga tulad ng "kaliluha'y siyang nangyayaring hari" (kasamaan ang naghahari) at "inililibing na walang kabaong" (tinatago ang katotohanan).

Collaborative digital board using Freeform app.

2-DEEPEN

Connecting to the Present :Research via Safari.

Students will utilize Split View on the iPad to display their Freeform board and the Safari web browser side-by-side. They will research current news or social issues (such as cyberbullying, corruption, or discrimination) that reflect Balagtas's rebellions, recording their voices or adding links to their Freeform space as evidence.

In Filipino: Pagsasaliksik at Koneksyon-Gamit ang Split View at Safari.

Gamit ang Split View sa iPad, pananatilihing bukas ang Freeform board sa isang tabi habang nagbubukas ng Safari sa kabila. Magsasaliksik ang mga mag-aaral ng mga kasalukuyang balita sa Pilipinas o sa mundo na nagpapakita ng kawalan ng katarungan, korapsyon, o paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Ika-capture nila ang mga headline o larawan at i-drag-and-drop ito sa kanilang Freeform board upang maging batayan ng kanilang ulat.

This is how your iPad will look like in Split View.

3-CREATE

Creating a Modern Masterpiece :Using GarageBand or iMovie.

This is where the multimodal aspect of the MATATAG Curriculum comes in. Students will choose their digital product format:

• GarageBand: They will write and record Spoken Word Poetry or a podcast, overlaying it with their own original background music or sound effects to effectively convey the poem's emotions.
• iMovie / Clips: They will produce a short digital advocacy video or a "Modern Monologue" where they act as characters from the literary piece addressing the modern generation.

In Filipino: Pagbuo ng Digital Report: Gamit ang iMovie o GarageBand

Ipe-perform ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang MATATAG Performance Task bilang mga modernong mamamahayag. Gagamitin nila ang iMovie sa iPad upang i-shoot ang isang maikling "Investigative News Report." Gagamitin nilang panimula (voiceover) ang Saknong 14 at 15, at kasunod nito ay ang pag-uulat sa nasaliksik nilang modernong isyu. Maaari silang maglagay ng built-in filters, subtitles, at sound effects upang maging kapani-paniwala ang kanilang ulat. Maari din gumawa ng Spoken Poetry o monologue at gamitin ang Garageband sa pag edit nito.

SHARE & ASSESS

Sharing and Assessment : AirPlay and Apple TV.

Each group will showcase their completed project to the class using AirPlay to stream to the classroom projector or smart TV. While the class watches, the teacher and peers will use Numbers or Keynote for real-time peer evaluation using a digital rubric aligned with MATATAG curriculum standards.

In Filipino: Pagbabahagi sa Klase:Gamit ang AirPlay at Apple TV.

Upang masuri ang gawa ng lahat, ibabahagi ng bawat pangkat ang kanilang video sa pamamagitan ng AirPlay patungo sa screen ng silid-aralan. Habang nagpapakita ang video, ang guro at ang ibang mag-aaral ay gagamit ng Numbers app na may pre-formatted digital rubric upang magbigay ng real-time na marka at feedback para sa peer evaluation.

Why is Apple Technology effective for the MATATAG Curriculum?

The MATATAG curriculum focuses heavily on 21st Century Skills (Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication). Instead of simply answering traditional worksheets, built-in apps like Freeform and iMovie empower students to become active content creators, collaborators and drivers of their learning process while preserving the depth and soul of classical literature. Through this approach, students will see and understand the relevance of classic Filipino literature that transcends beyond its time.