MY REVIEW ON THE "STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE CLASSES IN THE PHILIPPINES"
STUDENTS’
PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE CLASSES IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Bernardo, A.B.I., Limjap, A.A., Prudente, M.S., Roleda, L.S.
This
paper aims to gain insight into the problems of poor achievement in science
education by exploring students’ perceptions of their science classes. This was
further conducted because among the countries in the world, Philippines was
ranked last in International Math and Science Study, having a very low
international rating. (Martin, Mullis, Gonzales, & Chrostowki, 2004). Researches
pointed different reasons and factors as to the declining performance of
Filipino students in Math and Science like inadequate science curriculum, poor
preparation of teachers in terms of science content and pedagogy, the
inefficient administration for the delivery of science education and lack of a
science culture in the country. The revised Perceptions of Science Classes
Survey (PSCS) questionnaire was used. The analysis revealed different
dimensions of the students’ perceptions: (a) factor 1: Pedagogical strategies,
(b) Factor 2: Faculty Interest in Teaching, (c) Factor 3: Student Interest and
Perceived Competence in Science, (d) Factor 4: Passive Learning, (e) factor 5:
Grades as Feedback, and (f) Factor 6: Laboratory Experiences.
Generally, the students perceived
relatively high levels of student-centered pedagogy; it indicates that students
perceived the pedagogy very often. The results also suggest that there is an
increasing trend from grades 5-10. In Factor 2, the mean perceptions are lower
compared to Factor 1, hence, the students perceived the science inquiry
activities less often. In factor 3, students reported relatively high levels of
positive affect and beliefs in their classroom. In factor 4, students also
reported relatively high levels of the accuracy of their grades as feedback for
their learning. While the last factor compared to all other factors, the
students registered their lowest scores for the support for self-learning and
effort.
What is noteworthy was that the
students generally reported high levels of positive affect and perception of
their science classes, and the trend suggests that the positive affect
increases in the higher levels. It seems that the students do not mind that their
science classes do not involve the more challenging inquiry-oriented
activities.
The results of the study reveal
important dimensions of the science classrooms in the Philippines from the eyes
of the students. The perceptions and the trends across grade levels and genders
reveal possible explanations to the low achievement levels of Filipino
students.
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