Science (and math) education

Several years ago, I stumbled on an article that talked about a research showing that the problem of young American students in science and math lies in their lack of conceptual understanding of the things that they are supposed to be learning in such subjects. Probably, according to the study, this has to do with the American students' tendency to focus on computation rather than on gaining conceptual understanding.The same study states that Japanese students are not wanting in conceptual understanding in science and math. There are good reasons to believe that our own students here in the Philippines are comparable to their American counterparts. Evidence for this is our students' dismal performance in the TIMSS. We could, however, say that while our students could do the numbers game, they could not articulate the central concepts in the problems that they are asked to solve. I think, the study finally suggests that students shall improve greatly with their performance in the TIMSS if only they have a firm grasp of the key concepts that figure in the problems that they are asked to solve. Here, of course, they need the assistance of well-trained teachers. I believe that some fine examples of excellent teaching of scientific concepts could be found in William Laurence's old article titled A Primer of Atomic Energy, T. Ryan Gregory's Understanding Natural Selection: Essential Concepts and Common Misconceptions, and Stephen Hawking's books, A Brief History of Time and Black Holes and Baby Universes, and youtube lectures.

Schoolteachers

Where do you think will you be today without them?

So, don't you dare make fun of them even if you think that you are now smarter and more moneyed than they are.

The raison d'etre of the UP College of Education

Every teacher education institution exists to train students who wish to become school teachers. It is thus quite obvious that this task is not the one that distinguishes the UP College of Education from other similar institutions. But even if the UPCOE produces highly competent school teachers, such societal contribution won't simply do to say that it is an august institution. It's nobility rather lies in it's unique and heroic function of turning out highly trained and well-educated teachers of future school teachers.

Sinning and seeking forgiveness

The man solemnly sought forgiveness from God, but it's quite easy and inappropriate, so he never felt forgiven. He turned to the people he had wronged, but he can't bring himself to say he sincerely regrets wronging them, so he remains soiled and unforgiven.

Teaching children intelligent thinking

I received the invitation letter below on August 22 and I think I should share it with all of you. Let me know if you want to attend the workshop so that I could email the registration form to you. See you.

Dear Friends

Warm greetings!

The Popular Education for Peoples’ Empowerment (PEPE, Inc.), in cooperation with the Office of the Dean of the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (UP-CSSP), would like to invite you and your colleagues to “A Meeting Of Minds: Helping Local Communities Address Bioethical Issues Through Participatory Teaching Methodologies in Basic Education.” The 2-day training workshop will be held on September 16-17, 2009 at the UP Bahay ng Alumni.

The training/workshop for teachers and other stakeholders in the field of education will attempt to bridge the gap between bioethics' concepts and the local issues actually confronted by local communities through participatory approaches to teaching in basic education.

Experts in the fields of community organizing and learning methodologies will present philosophical and methodological principles along with examples of best practices that will lead to workshops among the participants who will in turn share and document their own best practices on how these principles and exemplars can be applied to their surrounding communities.

To help defray the cost of the 2-day workshop (which includes meals and workshop materials), registration fee of P400.00 will be charged. We would appreciate that interested participants accomplish and submit to the training workshop Secretariat c/o Ms. Abby Salacata, the attached registration form on or before September 11, 2009 (Friday) at philo4children@yahoo.com or send it by fax to tel/fax number (02) 426-4473.

Hoping for your positive response, we remain.

Respectfuly yours,

Dr. Rainer Ibana, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Ateneo de Manila University

Mr. Noel Valencia, Executive Director, Popular Education for People's Empowerment(PEPE)

Raw thoughts on Howard Gardner's MI theory

People from different places have different conceptions of intelligence. And Gardner’s view of intelligence is only one of the many ideas of intelligence that we could find in different cultures all over the world. We could say thus that Gaardner's meaning is true only insofar as it coheres with his own system of findings and claims about intelligence. And it may be thought unsatisfactory by those who do not share his view of intelligence.