Rebooting El Filibusterismo’s “Class In Physics” 1891. “Class In PCs” 2023 – “Experience Is The Best Teacher? No, Search!” – Frank A Hilario

I memorized this in high school mid-1950s: “Oh to be in England, now that April’s here!” I was a denizen in the library of Rizal Junior College (RJC) in my hometown Asingan, Pangasinan, Philippines – oh, I loved RJC! An alumnus of UP Los Baños (UPLB, Elbi), 1965, 20 years before I learned to use the PC – Today, I checked and immediately Google said the quote comes from Robert Browning.

MinnaLearn says in “Personal Computer Revolution” (courses.minnalearn.com):

Without a doubt we can say that the personal computer has transformed our lives and is still shaping our future.

Me, I want that future now, today, right this minute!

I am reminded of Filipino National Hero Jose Rizal and his 2^nd Spanish-language book “El Filibusterismo” (Fili). The most memorable – and uncomfortable part of Fili is Chapter 13, titled “Class In Physics” – where Padre Millon is the professor. X JR Lim says (“ El Filibusterismo: Summary and Analysis of Chapter 13 (The Class in Physics)” (12 April 2011, The Life And Works Of Rizal, thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com):

Placid[o] Penitente enters Physics class, in which Padre Millon is his professor. The discussion drags on without the use of any laboratory equipment and other learning aids. The university had bought a number of instruments, but these remain kept in glass shelves and are never used.

Oh yes! Back in Asingan, our beloved RJC was showing on a glass case, locked, 1 binocular microscope. Remember, this was in the 1950s. And so, in our own class in Physics, “The discussion drags on without the use of any laboratory equipment”!

Ninah Villa says (05 July 2020, “El Filibusterismo Chapter Summaries 11-15,” Pinoy Wit, pinoywit.com, source of UST/upper image):

Oh, to be young and tormented by school again. Although for entirely different reasons, I must have been Placido at one time or another, more despondent than jubilant in the hallowed halls of the academe.

Now that I belong to the self-taught computer literati, thinking like an instructor in “Horticulture” with computer brains, I say, “Oh to be in an Elbi class, now that the PCs are here!”
(“Brain-Finger” from getmyuni.com)

Any lab equipment is expensive; a laboratory with several such is very expensive. Today, schools do not have to spend a single centavo in buying any pieces/ of lab equipment to teach! How? Use your head, teacher – use the Internet. Use the PC!

Our RJC teacher told us the names of the parts of the microscope, and we had to take so many notes. Today? No need to take that much notes. Instead, take note: Any high school can buy a number of PCs for the students to use in class.

Ancient proverb: “Experience is the best teacher.” Modern proverb, courtesy of Frank A Hilario: “Search is the best teacher!”

So, hard question: “How to use the PC to teach physics?”

As teacher, you teach your students how to Google to find answers to your relevant questions in a Physics class – or any other class. Class dismissed!@517