Before the coronavirus pandemic emerged in the first quarter of the year, and the subsequent extended community quarantine (ECQ) was declared to prevent the spread of the virus, many students in the provinces get to appreciate science through the “Science Explorer” and “nuLab” buses developed by the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-SEI).
These facilities bring science and laboratory experiences to schoolchildren in different parts of the country.
However, with the current situation, where mobility is limited and personal distance needs to be observed, these buses will have to be parked temporarily.
But this does not mean that the schoolchildren’s learning will also have to stop.
“Learning the basics in science, technology, engineering and mathematics [STEM] at the pre-secondary level is considered foundational in that it serves as the pillars for processing more complex concepts in later years of education,”said Dr. Josette Biyo, director of DOST-SEI.
Supplemental education resources
To ensure that the schoolchildren’s learning will not be hampered by the current national health crisis, the DOST-SEI is developing supplemental educational resources that will enable the students and teachers to enrich their STEM learning even outside the confines of their classrooms and, in effect, promote STEM careers.
This school year, elementary pupils, especially in the remote areas of the country which do not have a reliable Internet connection, and high-school students who have access to the Internet, will be able to learn the sciences even when they’re at home.
DOST-SEI will be collaborating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to enhance STEM learning for elementary pupils through RadyoEskwela sa Siyensya, and for high-school students through TuklaSiyensya sa Eskwela programs.
These programs will be on the roll in time for the opening of classes this school year.
‘RadyoEskwela’ for elementary pupils
Radio remains as the most accessible medium in the rural area. It has proven to be an effective educational channel in the past when used in combination with classroom learning and/or printed learning materials.
Online learning may be feasible to students in the urban areas, but not for those in many disadvantaged areas in the country who do not have access to reliable Internet connection at home, and whose family may not own tablets, laptops or computers.
For them, information comes from the radio, which is considered to be the second most-used media, reaching 85 percent of Philippine households, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority data.
This school year, grade-school pupils can listen to RadyoEskwela sa Siyensya, a radio program which will feature story-based science lessons. It will be aired by a network of community radio which will be the media partner of DOST-SEI in implementing this project for the students.
RadyoEskwela consists of 20 episodes of 30-minute materials which are story-based and produced for early, primary and intermediate clustered grade levels.
The episodes may be replayed by regional stations and offered to the DepEd as learning resources for students who will be in distance learning mode anytime during the school year.
The teachers will also be provided with Teacher’s Guide to help them in integrating the episodes in their daily lessons.
The guides may be downloaded from the SEI web site and will also be accessible through the DOST regional offices and Provincial S&T Centers
Some of the topics for the RadyoEskwela include Mikrobyo, Lutang, Insekto, Pagsukat, Tala, Street Food and Tubig.
‘TuklaSiyensya sa Eskwela’ for junior and senior high
Tuklasiyensya is designed as both a supplement to the traditional learning method for junior and senior high-school students, and a STEM career promotions package.
The modules are designed to help students adapt to the “new normal” and ensure their continuous learning amid the post ECQ.
Online modules will be produced using the facilities available at the nuLab and based on the existing modules developed by young scientists and scholars who will also serve as facilitators.
It will feature engaging presentations by the scientist-facilitators, process demonstrations, animations and post viewing activities to enrich the students’ learning experience and inspire them to explore natural phenomenon or know more about a particular STEM discipline.
Results of project evaluation reveal how the nuLab and Science Explorer modules were able to influence the participants in their choice of future careers in the STEM fields.
TuklasSyensya will produce 15 science lessons, each running for 30 minutes to 45 minutes. The lessons will be uploaded to an online platform, making it available to formal and informal learners anytime.
Topics include aerospace engineering, geological hazards, oceanography, nanotechnology, among others.
Besides all these, not only are the students’ learning enriched. The teachers also get to enhance their teaching skills because they will be provided with 15 Teachers’ Guide to be published online by DOST-SEI or reproduced as low-cost printed materials by DOST Regional Offices.
Both teachers and students learn from adapting to this online platform.
The country may have been caught unaware by Covid-19, and it is not certain until when some areas will remain in quarantine. But what is certain is that the earlier initiatives in S&T education is built on solid ground, strong enough that other initiatives can be developed on top of it.
RadyoEskwela and TuklaSyensya are paving the way for students and teachers to not just cope, but creatively adapt to the “new normal.” Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin/S&T Media Service
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