WORKING TOGETHER. Teachers from the Lapasan National High School work over an activity provided during the seminar-workshop. Often done in groups, activities ranged from filling acrostic term to listing down current school or class issues on worksheets distributed. Supplied photo.
Words by Angelo Lorenzo
Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan’s Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) held the three-day KUMILOS Maglayag sa Pagtuturo at Pagkatuto: A Seminar-Workshop on Action Research held at the Department of Education Regional 10 office from October 27 to 29.
Participated in by around 50 teachers from schools selected by DepEd, the seminar-workshop focused on the importance of action research to overcome challenges in the teaching profession, as well as an endeavor encouraged by DepEd Order No 39, also known as the "Adoption of the Basic Education Research Agenda."
These selected schools serve as pilot schools to coordinate with XU’s School of Education (SOE) in a three-year timeframe for its service learning program, SOE’s mode of engagement to allow students the experience of being teachers in the field and apply theories discussed in their classes.
RCE DIRECTOR. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan’s Regional Center of Expertise director Maria Victoria Trinidad (left) opens the three-day seminar-workshop with her remark, “Research is very much fitting to our call that we have a reflective attitude when it comes to our practice.” Supplied photo.
“We are very serious about student-formation,” said RCE director Maria Victoria Trinidad, pertaining to the service learning program where students can be further honed for the profession through their experience.
Along with experience comes doing research which Trinidad added, “is very fitting to our call that we have a reflective attitude when it comes to our practice.”
This was supported by action research’s purpose for overcoming challenges in teaching as explained by seminar-workshop speakers and trainers Dr Joel Javiniar and Dr Jerome Buenviaje, both professors from the University of the Philippines Diliman’s College of Education.
PASSION AND COOPERATION. Dr Joel Javiniar, one of the speakers, hands out paper strips to Jerry Pallo, a teacher from Mambuaya National High School who handles biological sciences, during an activity. While the seminar-workshop is grounded on the importance of action research in the education sector, it also invites its participants to engage it with passion and cooperation. Thus, games involving teamwork were played in the event. Supplied photo.
Besides introducing action research, its methods, and its possible contribution for school policy reforms to improve education quality and assess teacher performance, the seminar-workshop included drills and activities, part of which required teachers to list existing problems in their classes and schools on worksheets provided.
On the last day, these were presented along with proposed solutions based on the lectures and exercises given.
Through the steps discussed to complete an action research, teachers from Mambuaya National High School and special education (SPED) teachers from CDO City Central School planned to involve parents and guardians for their students’ learning.
Teachers from Mambuaya NHS considered students’ failure to submit assignments possibly caused by excessive household chores as among the major problems. To overcome this, they plan to conduct symposia and focus group discussions in participation with parents and guardians as part of their action research.
On the other hand, SPED teachers from CDO City Central School discovered through educational sources that parent-involvement in classes is an effective way for their students to learn.
OVERVIEW. Dr Jerome Buenviaje, University of the Philippines Dilliman College of Education professor, presents the overview of the seminar-workshop to the participants. With master’s and doctorate degrees in education from UP Dilliman, Buenviaje also teaches Management of Schools, Educational Research and Educational Leadership at the said university. Supplied photo.
Mathematics teacher Ester Alias, who handles grade nine students in Iponan National High School, said that time-constraint in teaching as a challenge.
Eager to let her students fully understand topics comprising numbers and equations, she shared that doing so should require her more time. “Besides teaching your students with your heart, you should make sure that they learn,” Alias said.
However, after taking part in the seminar-workshop, she now believes this challenge can be overcome through action research.
“Action research is a good avenue for your concerns to reach the school’s administration in a professional way,” Alias added. “It can effect change.”
ACADEMIC LEADERS. (From left to right) School of Education Special Education professor Elinesa Abamonga, Regional Center for Excellence director Maria Victoria Trinidad, XU School of Education dean Dr Jovelyn Delosa, UP Dilliman professors and seminar-workshop speakers Dr Jerome Buenviaje and Dr Joel Javiniar. Supplied photo.
Complementing to the fulfillments of an academic research for filling gaps of knowledge, an action research also enables teachers to not only identify the problems but enact effective solutions for them.
Further, it was encouraged by SOE dean Dr Jovelyn Delosa. “This is a meaningful engagement in research,” she said.
Pilot schools chosen by DepEd included Bulua Central School, Camaman-an Elementary School, CDO City Central School, Gusa Regional Science High School, Indahag National High School, Iponan National High School, Lapasan National High School, Mambuaya National High School, Suntigon Elementary School, South City Central School, Tablon National High School, and West City Central School. ∎
THE PARTICIPANTS. Teachers who participated during the three-day seminar-workshop pose with the speakers and organizers. Supplied photo.