An umbrella program of NISMED, the Collaborative Lesson Research and Development (CLRD) Project, engaged in five
major activities in the first quarter. These are reported below:
In Balara High School
Using lesson study as the
approach, a research
lesson was developed
collaboratively among four
Biology teachers of Balara High
School and the Biology Workgroup
of UP NISMED. The research
lesson identified was “How do
intestines work?” The first cycle of
planning and implementation was
conducted from January to March
2014.
During the planning phase,
the team discussed and agreed
on the content of the lesson.
Decisions on who would be the first and second teacherimplementers
of the lesson were also made.
During the implementation of
the lesson, students used different
colors of yarn to represent the various
parts of the intestines. They were also
asked to describe the functions of
each of these parts. As this was the
last activity on the digestive system,
the students were asked to trace the
path of food from the mouth to the
intestines.
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| A student cuts different colors of yarn to represent various parts of the small and large intestine. |
This collaboration aims to promote teaching science through inquiry, practice collaborative lesson development, strengthen teaching practices, and improve students’ learning as a result of the well-prepared lessons.
Early this year, Ms. Monalisa T. Sasing of the Information
Science Workgroup and Mr. Michael B. Mantala of
the High School Biology Workgroup, completed one
lesson study activity with selected science teachers of
San Jose del Monte National High School in Bulacan. The
collaborative lesson planning which started in January aimed
to develop a technology-enhanced lesson that will capture
students’ interest to learn science. In addition to face-toface
meetings, some planning sessions were carried out via
email and SMS exchanges.
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| Ms. Peña clarifying to the student the instructions regarding the activity. |
The research lesson focused on using technology to
simulate the processes that different organs in the digestive system carry out to digest food and absorb nutrients. The
lesson was implemented on March 3 & 4 by Ms. Marivic S.
Rosales and Ms. Maricel Peña using an interactive Biology
courseware. The Science Department Head of the school,
Ms. Merlita Bautista, was one of the observers.
In Assumption University
On 15 March 2014, Dr. Amelia E. Punzalan and
Ms. Arlene P. de la Cruz of the High School Chemistry
Workgroup gave a one-day workshop on Lesson
Study in Assumption University in San Fernando, Pampanga
on invitation of Ms. Lani Junio, a student of Dr. Punzalan in
the UP Open University.
There were eight (8) elementary school teachers who
participated from Assumption University coming from
the English, Mathematics, Filipino, and MAPEH College
Department. The director of the Research Department also
attended.
Long-term and short-term goals of the lesson study group
were set during a brainstorming session in the morning. In
the afternoon, there was a workshop on lesson planning
and a teacher was selected to implement the lesson plan.
Critiquing followed after the Science teacher demonstrated
the lesson on density for Grade 6 pupils.
In the DepEd Division of Iloilo, District of Oton
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| The elementary school science and mathematics teachers, facilitators and district supervisor pose for a group photo. |
A three-day seminar-workshop
on lesson study was held on
23-25 January 2014 at the
Oton Central Elementary School for
69 science and mathematics teacher
participants from the 16 elementary
schools of the DepEd Division of Iloilo,
District of Oton. This was organized
by the district supervisor, school
principals, and the Federation of
Parents and Teachers Associations of
the district, in cooperation with the
local government unit. Professors
Jonny Pornel (UP Visayas), Naci John Trance (Western Visayas
College of Science and Technology), Roger Marapo (University
of St. La Salle), and NISMED Science Education Specialists Dr.
Amelia Punzalan and Ms. Arlene de la Cruz facilitated the
seminar-workshop. The science and mathematics elementary
school teachers were able to submit 10 revised drafts of K to
12 lesson plans in elementary school science and mathematics
(one each for Grades 1-6 mathematics and Grades 3-6 science).
These went through a series of revisions after two successive
peer teaching implementations, post-lesson discussions,
reflections, and revisions.
In Rizal High School
The Earth Science Workgroup is continuing its Lesson
Study collaboration with Rizal High School – an activity
that has been going on for about four years now.
One of the difficulties in learning a science concept is the
student’s lack of prerequisite knowledge. During the group’s
previous Lesson Study
cycle (SY 2012-2013),
it was discovered that
students find it difficult
to understand how
seasons change because
students have no in-depth
understanding of the
seasons themselves.
Many students simply
memorize the sequence
in which the various seasons occur. The group then realized
that in order to understand how seasons change, first, a good
understanding of the seasons themselves is needed. The group
decided to focus its forthcoming Lesson Study efforts on the
topic “Description and Patterns of Seasons.”
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| Earth Science Workgroup continues its Lesson Study collaboration with Rizal High School. |
From January to March 2014 (SY 2013-2014), the group
aimed for a lesson implementation before the school year
ended. It was unfortunate, however, that just a few days after
the group’s plans had been finalized, the school implemented
a new policy requiring all teachers not to leave their students
unattended. As a result, only four of the eight teachers would
have been available to observe, and it was already too late
to make any further adjustments. In a Lesson Study, it is
best if all members are able to attend the research lesson
implementation. Hence, the group decided to postpone the
implementation and agreed to resume efforts in the second
quarter of next academic year (SY 2014-2015).
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