Symposium on emergency preparedness

Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, Director and Mr. Eligio C. Obille Jr., Chair of the High School Earth Science Group joins the APEC-Khon Kaen International Symposium 2013 with the theme “Emergency Preparedness Education: Learning from Experience, Science of Disasters, and Preparing for the Future (II) – Focus on Flood and Typhoon” held at the Faculty of Education Khon-Kaen University, Thailand last 13-16 September 2013.

Funded by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the symposium aims to bring together experts and practitioners and share ideas in developing teaching materials using data which are necessary to scientifically understand the mechanism and influence of disasters and essential strategies of evacuations in the disasters. During the symposium, Dr. Ulep and Mr. Obille Jr. shared Lesson Study experiences to the participants that focus on creating disaster awareness and preparedness integrating mathematics content.

Project HOTS: Implementation of research lessons

The lesson study team of Grade III elementary science teachers, under Project HOTS (Hands-on Teaching of Science through Inquiry) implemented their research lessons during the first grading period at their respective schools: R.P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School (RPCSES), Tenement Elementary School (TES) and Upper Bicutan Elementary School (UBES). Different lessons on the topic “The Sense Organs” were collaboratively developed and implemented by two teachers from each school, namely: Ms. Mary Joy Efondo and Ms. Chancel C. Galletes (RPCSES) on “The Sense of Smell”, Ms. Clotilde T. Besario and Ms. Regiena P. Marquez (TES) on “The Sense of Hearing” and Ms. Rosalina P. Trinidad and Ms. Corazon Erguiza (UBES) on “The Sense of Touch.” 

Ms. Mary Joy Efondo with her pupils (RPCES) during the lesson implementation.

The implementation is a follow-up phase of the three-day seminar-workshop on the “Development of Inquiry-based Science Activities” conducted by NISMED under DOST-SEI’s Project HOTS held at NISMED on 15-17 May 2013. Each teaching implementation was followed by a post-lesson discussion by the members of the study team (the two implementing teachers, observers, and researchers from NISMED and SEI). The aim however, of the post-lesson discussion and critiquing was to evaluate the quality of the lesson and to further enhance it towards becoming an inquiry-based lesson. All the necessary changes of the lesson based from the suggestions will be incorporated in the next lesson implementation.

PNU Eminent Alumni awardees from NISMED

Dr. Soledad A. Ulep (left), Dr. Ester Ogena, PNU President (middle)
and Mr. Allan Canonigo (right) during the awarding ceremony.

Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, Director of NISMED and Mr. Allan Canonigo, a member of the High School Mathematics Group received the Philippine Normal University (PNU) Eminent Alumni Award during the 112th founding anniversary of the country’s national teachers university held at the University Auditorium, PNU, Manila on 30 September 2013. This special award is bestowed on eminent alumni who are acknowledged outstanding and distinguished leaders in different sectors of the society.

Dr. Ulep and Mr. Canonigo were recognized prominent figures in the field of mathematics education. They were cited for their exceptional accomplishments as PNU alumni whose personal life, professional achievements, and humanitarian service symbolized the University’s tradition of excellence and exemplified the objectives of PNU.

NISMED welcomes pre-service teachers and students

NISMED welcomed three groups of visitors, namely: 14 pre-service teachers from De La Salle John Bosco College, 20 graduate students from the Department of Chemistry, Benguet State University, and 208 pupils from UP Integrated School K-2 Program during the third quarter of the year.

During these educational visits, the guests were given the opportunity to experience hands-on teaching and learning in science and be familiarized with the basic features of inquiry-based teaching and learning. These visits were facilitated by the Elementary School Science, High School Biology and High School Chemistry Groups. NISMED usually entertains requests from science teachers and students who wish to experience and be updated with new approaches, researches, trends, teaching strategies as well as practical materials in science and mathematics teaching and learning. Interested parties may write and email the NISMED Director at nismedup@gmail.com.

NISMED supports ATCPDE in ASEAN community-based drug abuse prevention seminar

Dr. Maria Helen D. Catalan, a member of the High School Biology Group and NISMED’s representative in the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (ATCPDE), participated in the “ASEAN Seminar-Workshop on Community-Based Prevention of Drug Abuse” held at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City on 2-6 September 2013.

The seminar-workshop, which was sponsored by the Japan ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) aimed to: (1) identify effective treatment and intervention programs at the community level; (2) develop community-based drug prevention and health promotion approaches; (3) design community-specific programs and activities for drug abuse prevention; and (4) conduct monitoring and evaluation of the community-based drug abuse prevention program.

Twenty participants from nine ASEAN countries participated in the seminar-workshop with experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand acting as resource speakers and facilitators.

Among the topics discussed during the seminar-workshop were: the drug problem scenario in the Southeast Asian Region; sharing of community-based preventive drug education (Family Drug Abuse Prevention Program “Barkada Kontra Droga,” Special Drug Education Center); Community-Based Approaches to Drug Abuse Prevention; Designing an Effective Preventive Drug Education Program at the Community Level; Community-Based Preventive Drug Education Program; Techniques and Tools; Sourcing and Networking for Community-Based Preventive Drug Education Programs; Development of a Monitoring Scheme and Use of Evaluation Instruments; and Strategic Areas of Action.

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DedEd), UP Integrated School (UPIS), and the Vice-Mayor’s Office of Marikina City also collaborated in this seminar-workshop.