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Showing posts from September, 2012

Young Children Think Like Scientists

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My son, Alexander, when he was six months old Research shows that young children think in similar ways as scientists do. With the growing realization of how crucial early childhood education is, these latest results point to great opportunities in introducing science to children. A child does employ a natural way of addressing problems and experimentation. In fact, we may not be aware of this, but everyone, including adults, do this. There are still, however,  major differences between the natural problem solving and experimentation that a young child does, and what a scientist or any other person who practices the scientific method actually does. Scientists employ controls in designing experiments and analyzing data. This requires putting aside prejudgments, formulating a verifiable hypothesis, and critically evaluating the results of works of other scientists. This difference is highlighted by being able to account for what one observes in the light of what is already known. N

A KINSE (Panawagan ng Isang Guro)

A KINSE (Panawagan ng Isang Guro) Musika at Titik ni Joel Costa Malabanan G Bm C G A kinse na naman suweldo na naman Em Bm C D Ngunit pag binilang ay kulang pa rin G Bm C G Daming babayaran, daming naniningil Em Bm C D G D- D7 Ngunit ang lahat ay ayos pa rin Nakakapagod rin maghapong pagtuturo Nakakasawa rin tambak na sulatin Nakakapaos din, minsa’y parang ayaw ko na rin Ngunit ang lahat, tinitiis pa rin. C D G Em * Pagkat di matatawaran ang tungkuling ginagampanan C D G Em pause Paglilingkod sa ating bayan Bm pause C pause Umula’t umaraw, bagyuhin man at bahain D D7 G D7 Suminghot man at sipunin ako’y magtuturo pa rin. Ad lib: G - Em - C - D (4x) D7 Ang ating kabataan ay igabay natin Tungo sa mapayapa’t tuwid na landas Daing ng ating bayan ay dapat na dinggin Sistemang kolonyal dapat na buwagin (Ulitin ang * ) Ad lib: A kinse na naman suweldo na naman Ngunit pag binilang ay kulang pa rin Daming babayaran, daming naniningil Ngunit ang lahat

The Problem with Reforms that Focus on One Piece

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Right from the beginning, it is apparent that education reformers in the Philippines are fixated in the number of school years of basic education. With this emphasis, the real solutions have eluded those who are in power to improve the educational system. Comparisons are made against other countries but these studies have already been preconditioned by an agenda that the Philippines lacks years in basic education. Such inclination steers the observer into focusing mainly on curricula, which is perhaps the least important factor contributing to the quality of education.  When the United States, for example, compared its mathematics education against that of Singapore, a more thorough examination was performed. This is illustrated in the work of the American Institutes of Research entitled, " What the United States Can Learn From Singapore’s World-Class Mathematics System: An Exploratory Study (and what Singapore can learn from the United States) ". Figure downloaded fro

Thoughts on the Commision on the Filipino Language

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Banner downloaded from  http://www.kwf.gov.ph/faq/ang-kwf/ Republic Act 7104 signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1991 created the Commission on the Filipino Language (Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino(KWF)). Section 14 of this law describes the mission of this new body : The Commission, pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the Constitution, shall have the following powers, functions and duties: (a) Formulate policies, plans and programs to ensure the further development, enrichment, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other Philippine language; (b) Promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines to implement its policies, plans and programs ; (c) Undertake or contract research and other studies to promote the evolution, development, enrichment and eventual standardization of Filipino and other Philippine languages. This will include the collation of works for possible incorporation into a multi-lingual dictionary of words, phrases, idioms, quotations, sayi

Sequence of Science Courses

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DepEd's K to 12 employs the spiral curriculum in teaching sciences in high school. For example, in grade 8, the first quarter is assigned to chemistry topics which include the particle nature of matter, atomic structure, and the periodic table. The second quarter is mostly biology dealing with a wide spectrum of topics; the digestive system, cell division, biodiversity, and ecosystems. Physics is studied during the third quarter and in this year, the areas discussed are the laws of motion, work, power, and the different forms of energy. The fourth quarter is on earth sciences which include earthquakes, typhoons and the solar system. Looking back at Grade 7, one may then evaluate what the sequence of topics is and ask whether the various disciplines maybe influencing each other. In chemistry, Grade 7 talks about solutions, acids and bases, elements and compounds, and metals and nonmetals. Biology in Grade 7 seems to prepare students for Grade 8 biology as it covers parts and functio

Why Physics First: An Alternative to Spiral Curriculum in the Sciences

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There is a movement regarding science education in high school in the United States that has been increasing in popularity. Spearheaded by a Nobel laureate in physics, Leon Lederman, "Physics First" makes the claim that the proper sequence for teaching the sciences in high school should be physics, followed by chemistry, and then biology. The project " American Renaissance in Science Education " summarizes this order in the following flow chart: Figure downloaded from  http://ed.fnal.gov/arise/arise_lml/arise_science.html The University of Missouri currently has a program that helps train teachers in implementing the above course sequence. It is briefly described in a brochure  with the following brief rationale: Downloaded from  http://www.physicsfirstmo.org/files/Brochure%20Aug09B.pdf   Bottom line: Unlike the spiral curriculum that DepEd's K to 12 promotes, "Physics First" is a response to our improved understanding of how the brain l

Ilocano Youth, Study History (A Martial Law Commemoration Statement)

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Kabataang Ilocano, Pag-aralan ang Kasaysayan, Labanan ang Pasismo ng Kasalukuyang Rehimen by  ANAKBAYAN - NUSP - CEGP - KABATAAN PARTYLIST ILOCOS REGION  40 taon na ang nakakalipas nang ideklara ni Marcos ang Martial Law.Isang malagim na kabanata sa ating kasaysayan kung saan ang kalayaanng mamamayan ay binusalan. Ngunit bago pa lamang nito ay samu’t saring anti-mamamayang polisiya na ang ipinatupad ni Marcos. Setyembre 11, 1982, sa mismong kaarawan ni Marcos ay ipinasa ang Education Act of 1982. Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito ay lalo pang lumalaang komersalisasyon ng edukasyon. Tinanggal ang kapangyarihan ng estado na iregularisa ang pagtaas ng mga bayarin sa mga paaralan. Makalipas ang 40 taon, ano na nga ba ang pagkakaiba ng rehimeng Aquino sa batas militar ni Marcos? Kung kay Marcos naisabatas ang Educ Act of 1982, kay Noynoy naman ipinatupad ang sunud-sunod at walang prenong pagtaas ng mga bayarin sa mga State Universities and Colleges mismo. Bukod pa dito ay an

Philippine Basic Education - A View from a Former President

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President Fidel V. Ramos is sharing his thoughts on Philippine basic education. Photo downloaded from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_V._Ramos   In " Empowering the Filipino People ", the first of two parts of his article on the 2012 Education Forum for Asia (EFA), Ramos writes: The bottomline for all our leaders and concerned Filipinos is that, whatever be their level or quality of education (if any), NO FILIPINO CHILD OR YOUNGSTER SHOULD BE DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION AS A HUMAN RIGHT.  WE STILL HAVE TOO MANY CHILD BEGGARS, HOMELESS URCHINS, KID VENDORS, AND STREET CHILDREN – ALL OF WHOM DESERVE TO BE IN SCHOOL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAMILY INCOME, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, CULTURAL-ETHNIC ORIGIN, OR GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION.  IN THE 21ST CENTURY, TO BE OUT-OF-SCHOOL AT A YOUNG, FORMATIVE AGE EQUATES TO A LIFE OF POVERTY, HARDSHIP, AND EVEN CRIME. Ramos likewise notes a comparison between China's efforts and DepEd's K to 12: Among the most impressive (although “

CBCP: "Pass the Information Bill Now"

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One of the reasons why basic education is very important to society is that it prepares the young members to become positive contributors. When the public school system is failing, when students are not meeting the standards, it is important to address these problems. Equally pressing is the intricate web tangling education, poverty and human rights. While reforms in education are truly necessary, other measures must be taken to address the other factors affecting society. The poor state of education can easily be an advantage for those in power.  The social arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has recently issued a call. It urges the Philippine government to immediately pass the Freedom of Information bill. Here is the CBCP statement (downloaded from:  http://pcij.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CBCP-NASSA-supports-FOI-bill-2012.09.20.pdf ): Our peoples’ right to information – access to the records, documents, papers of/on contracts, transactions, decisi

Martial Law: Teachers and Professors Who Fought the Dictatorship

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Here are the teachers and professors whose names are enshrined on the Wall of Martyrs and Heroes at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. The pictures and the captions are from the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation. A Martial Law Posters' Exhibit will be on at the Bantayog from Sept 20 until the end of September. Downloaded from : ActPhils Facebook page,  http://www.facebook.com/actphils

Two Lessons on Martial Law

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Here are two perspectives, each one is shared here in its entirety. SALUTE THE PEOPLE’S RESISTANCE TO FASCIST RULE! by  Act Phils  on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 1:47am · Teachers and Education Workers: Persist in the struggle for national freedom and democracy! ACT Statement on the 40th year of the imposition of martial law September 20, 2012 It was in the 23rd of September 1972 and not the 21st when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Marcos supposedly signed the declaration on the 21st, but it was the staged assassination attempt on then Defence Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile on the 22nd that was used as justification for the declaration. Thus on the night of the same day, opposition Senators Benigno Aguino, Jr. and Jose W. Diokno were arrested; offices of critical media outlets such as the  Manila Times  and television stations owned by the Lopezes were padlocked. The public would only have an inkling of actual martial law—the declaration of which has for a long