Application of Constructivist Teaching Approach in Introducing New&amp;nbsp;Environmental Concepts to Young Elementary Students in the Philippines:&amp;nbsp;A Small Class Sized Experience from Slime Moulds Modeling

Nikki Heherson Dagamac,Likha Jose Q Arioder,Violeta V Quintana,Veronica Q Arioder

doi:10.29333/ijese/7818

Abstract

The traditional elementary science education setting in the Philippines mainly focuses on using macro-organisms as a biological model. To introduce the fundamental environmental concepts of microbial predation and other related environmental concepts such as decomposition, nutrient cycling and species interaction to the young elementary Filipino students, an initial pilot study was conducted in a small class-sized setting of one international school in the Philippines. Our goal was to (i) design an activity-based teaching program utilizing the constructivist 5E (engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate) method using solely slime moulds as an example organism and (ii) obtain the impression of the students regarding the activity-based teaching program. A purposive sampling size with a total of 45 number of students aging from 10-12 years old were divided into control (16) and experimental (29) groups. Likert scale survey was also given to the student experimental group to assess their overall impression about the newly developed teaching program. Significant differences on test scores between the control and experimental group and the high priority mean scores given by the experimental group points out the effective facilitation of the program. Hence, innovations in teaching pedagogies for difficult science concepts such as the development of the Slimy Business teaching program improves not only the learning quality of the young learners but as well as their environmental appreciation. Applying such novel teaching approach in the conservative Philippine elementary schools is recommended.

Highlights

Today, the interdisciplinary teaching approach is a key concept to the advancement of school curriculum at all levels
With regards to the instruction manual provided in the teaching program, the teachers were in strong agreement with its clarity, comprehensibility and organization with a score ranging from 4.50 – 4.75
The descriptive statistical analysis in this study shows that the pre- and post-test scores of the control and experimental group followed a goodness of fit model and a bell shaped curve histogram plots (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

The interdisciplinary teaching approach is a key concept to the advancement of school curriculum at all levels. Debates are still ongoing on whether it is the best approach for elementary school curriculum. The approach has advantages such as stimulating student’s appreciation of the different disciplines and enriching communication skills especially among the young generation (Jones, 2010). The present young generation branded as Generation-Z can be the most effective disseminators of the beneficial uses of environmentally important organisms. Children are more pliant and open-minded since they are devoid of prejudices and biases and can absorb new ideas (Bowles, 2005). The creative skills of these children, who are more imaginative, showing inventiveness and originality of thought, should be initially developed by exposing them to different learning environments (Longshaw, 2009)

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Conclusion