DOST awards two schools for using creative teaching strategies

By Jose Rafael Cesar Atencio

Thursday 13th of September 2012

QUEZON CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has awarded two schools for using creative teaching techniques in science and math.

Bacong National High School (BNHS) of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte and Looc National High School (LNHS) of Calamba City, Laguna bested four other finalists from Metro Manila to earn the distinction of having the best and most inventive teaching strategies in their large science and mathematics classes.

During the awarding ceremonies of the “Search for Innovative Practices in Managing Large Classes” held at the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, the DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) awarded the two public schools with P100,000 and a plaque of recognition for their winning entries.

BNHS' winning entry entitled "Bacong Developmental Instruction" employs various teaching-learning activities using sizing interventions designed to test the effectiveness of the facilitative mode of teaching in a large-class size.

The practice allows students to discover and, later on, master the high school Mathematics II concepts and hence improve student-performance in achievement tests.

On the other hand, LNHS winning entry entitled "Flock Program in Managing Large Class Size in Mathematics III" is based on the concept that the structure, management and monitoring of a class could be done by group or flock.

The program consists of three innovative practices, namely Flock Seating Arrangement, Flock Activities and Facilitation, and Flock Monitoring.

The combined effects of the practices make the management of large classes easier and more effective in improving achievement in high school Mathematics III.

The two schools bested four other finalists: the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, Las Piñas East National High School, Navotas National High School, and San Isidro National High School.

“We recognize the fact that many of our schools, especially in Metro Manila, experience clogging in terms of number of students per
classroom. While interventions are being done to solve this long-standing problem, this promotion of innovative strategies in teaching large classes is in a way introducing an alternative solution to the current problem,” DOST-SEI Director Dr. Filma G. Brawner said in a statement.

In a statement, DOST Undersecretary Fortunato T. De la Peña applauded the schools’ innovativeness and said he is optimistic that the entries will be adopted by schools needing them.

“While we believe that adopting innovative teaching strategies adds only a part of the solution in achieving the goal of improving science
education, this project achieves, in a way, the purpose of instilling innovative thinking among our educators,” de la Peña said.

“I hope that through honoring the fruits of our educators’ inventive minds, we have inspired others to keep on creating ways towards an effective and high-quality education system,” de la Peña added. (DOST/RJB/JRCA-PIA NCR)