Introduction
Much of the development in science
education today has to do with how science is taught, through inquiry,
discovery, demonstration, practical work, laboratory, and other hands-on
approaches. Yet in the majority of science classes today according to Ibe and
Ogena (1997), the “chalk and talk”, expository and lecture methods are what
teachers use. In these methods, students are not actively involved in the
construction of meanings. Teachers feel more confident telling the students
facts and principles rather than facilitating the meaning of these learnings,
and getting the students to develop and use science process skills such as
inferring, predicting, and generalizing. With the teacher as the key to the
development of quality education, there is an urgent need to comprehensively
address the programs on science education development to those involved in the
teaching process. Therefore, teachers should avoid lecturing all the time,
instead, encourage personal exploration through discussion with students, and
allow learners to develop their cognitive processes.
As classrooms shift to inquiry-based teaching, there is a need to
prepare teachers to convey the principles that will form the foundation of
scientific thought. Over their teaching careers, a well-trained teacher will
use these skills to engage the students who enter their classrooms.
The Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City divisions are fortunate enough
to have gotten the 3-Day Live-Out Regional Training on Inquiry-Based Approach
for Teaching Science spearheaded by no less than the Hon. Victor J. Yu, Congressman
of the First District in partnership with the two division superintendents,
Dr. Arturo B. Bayocot and Dr. Marcom F. Borongan. The said training was
conducted by pool of trainers from MSU-IIT and DOST-SEI Team last October
13-15, 2015 at the Teachers Center of Excellence, Dao, Pagadian City.
Objectives
In
an effort to effectively and efficiently deliver quality science instruction to
students, this seminar-workshop aims to: 1) introduce different approaches to
inquiry-based learning and the 7E model of teaching; 2) review and revisit the
Kto12 learning materials for science teaching; 3) acquaint teachers in the making
of Science Investigatory Project (SIP) and lesson planning; and 4) conduct
demonstration teaching with critiquing.
Participants
There
were 50 participants of this training composed of 40 Grades 7 and 8 Science
teachers of the schools offering Special Science Curriculum and 10 Science
teachers from Pagadian City division both coming from Congressional District I.
TrainingObservations
The training matrix provides direction
in the duration of the conduct of the training.100% of the participants
attended the opening and closing program, an indicator of a promising training.
The DOS-SEI Team and the pool of trainers from MSU-IIT facilitated the
training.
Day 1 of the training, an opening
program was held at the Teachers of Excellence attended by the two superintendents,
two Division Science Supervisors, pool of trainers from MSU-IIT and DOST Staff
and the participants. After the short opening program, the pool of trainers
introduced the different approaches to inquiry-based learning and the 7E model
of teaching to the participants. This topic has made teachers more focused
since this model has been first introduced to them. Teachers knew only the 5E
model of teaching in the K to 12 training.
On day 2, the trainers started to review and revisit
the Kto12 learning materials for science teaching. This time, teachers reviewed
the learner’s materials of the K to 12 program and eventually applying the 7E
model of teaching. This activity highlighted teachers to make revisions of the
learning materials that is attuned to inquiry-based approach to teaching
science. On the other hand, the Hon. Cong. Victor J. Yu came and gave his
message to the teacher-participants about the importance of strengthening the
Special Science Curriculum implementation in its quest to make “Smarter ZamboSur 2025”, a vision
bearing total responsibility of teachers coupled with dedication, commitment
and conscientiously sharing teaching experiences of teachers handling Special
Science curriculum. The Hon. Congressman Victor J. Yu pledged to provide more
training to all teacher-participants in order to fulfill this vision.
Day 3 of the training was allotted for demonstration
teaching of seven teachers applying the 7E model of teaching which was held at
Saint Columban College – High School Department in the morning. This day was
indeed great because the DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo arrived to
observe the demonstration teaching of identified teachers. Later in the
afternoon, demonstration critiquing was done. It was a moment of discovering
strengths and weaknesses in the delivery of the lesson. Moreover, the lecture
on Science Investigatory Project (SIP) came next but the salient process was
not discussed deeply considering constraint in time and thereby shifted to
action planning instead. A closing program followed later in the afternoon
attended by Hon. Cong. Victor J. Yu, SDS Dr. Arturo B. Bayocot, DOST-SEI
Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo, Science Education Supervisors, MSU-IIT Trainers,
DOST-SEI Staff, Municipal Mayors, School Heads of implementing Special Science Curriculum
schools, and teacher participants. In general, the 3-Day training paved new
approaches to science teachers on how to make their individual classroom
motivating, inviting, and conducive for learning to the students and that
teaching Science is fun!
Training
Recommendations
To better address the vision of
attaining “Smarter ZamboSur 2025”,
the following salient points are hereby recommended as suggested from the
teacher-participants:
1.
Teachers should have on-site visit /
benchmarking to some well-known
schools/colleges/universities offering best pedagogy of instruction;
2.
Teachers should be trained in Science
Investigatory Project (SIP) making that promotes Science and Technology
consciousness among youth and identify the most creative/innovative/best
Scienceresearchers who will represent the country in the next Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF);
3.
Teachers should be trained on Science
Instrumentation or the Do-it-Yourself (DIY) use of SciKit B in conducting
experiments making use of locally available materials.
4.
Each recipient Special Science Curriculum
implementing school should have a separate science laboratory for students use.
5.
Training of teachers should be conducted on
a low cost hotel accommodation (Live-In Training) considering the distance of
the teachers from the venue.
6.
An identified pool of trainers should be
created in our division that will be sent to Manila for a rigid training.
Prepared
by:
LITO P. BAHIAN, DTE
EPS II / OIC, Division Science Coordinator
References
Ibe, Milagros and Ogena, Ester. (1997). Science Education in the Philippines: An Overview, University of the
Philippines.
Pictorials
Pictorials
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