Dr. Aida I. Yap, Deputy Director for Administration and a member of the Elementary School Mathematics Group, and Ms. Sally B. Gutierez of the Elementary School Science Group presented their research papers during the Fifth International Conference on Science and Mathematics Education held at SEAMEO-RECSAM, Penang Malaysia on 11-14 November 2013.
The conference was organized in recognition of the importance of globalizing the trends, approaches and strategies of preparing citizens who will be able to address and solve local, national and global problems, as well as function well.
With the theme “Empowering the Future Generation through Science and Mathematics Education,” the conference aimed to: 1) provide a forum to review issues, exchange ideas and share experiences on the development of science and mathematics education at all levels; 2) discuss developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration to improve learning of science and mathematics; 3) exchange ideas on continuing professional development as a means to sustain the development of high quality Science and Mathematics teachers; 4) encourage the sharing of knowledge, skills and experiences of experts working on new strategies to sustain science and mathematics education reforms in teaching and assessment; 5) strengthen professional networking among science and mathematics educators both locally and globally; and 6) maintain professional contacts to enhance cooperation among a consortium of international organizations and educational institutions to facilitate greater dissemination and exchange of expertise at an international level.
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| Dr. Yap during her paper presentation in the parallel sessions. |
In a parallel sessions, Dr. Yap presented her paper titled “The Use of Technology for Student Learning Empowerment in Elementary School Mathematics.” She shared in her presentation the effectiveness of the use of mathematics courseware and Tablet PC on Grade 1 pupils’ learning of concepts as shown in the result of the pilot testing conducted among ten public schools in the Philippines. According to her, the interactive feature of the courseware made pupils more focused on the lesson and participate actively in classroom discussions.
Ms. Gutierez also presented her paper titled “Integrating Bioethical Issues to Enhance the 21st Century Skills of Biology Students.” Her paper focused on the importance of developing the critical thinking and bioethical decision-making skills of biology students. According to her, bioethics can be integrated in biology topics which require judgment such as the benefits and risks of the biotechnological advancements like genetic engineering, stem cell research, cloning, the Human Genome Project, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and the social acceptance of these topics. Thus, she said that when students acquire these skills, the construction of students’ knowledge in order for them to develop meaningful concepts is facilitated, critical thinking is honed, and their making of balanced, well-informed decisions relevant to their lives may be is ensured.
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| NISMED delegates pose with the conference organizers, keynote speakers
and plenary session speakers and other international delegates after the conference dinner. |
Aside from paper presentations to the parallel sessions, Dr. Yap and Ms. Gutierez also attended workshops on science and mathematics education. These workshops enabled them to participate in hands-on activities that enhanced their skills in the general practice of science and mathematics education.
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