BLOG GUIDELINE

1.     School: General Information and Academic Administration

1.1     School profile

School Name : Tarlac Agricultural University – Laboratory School

Address : Malacampa, Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines 2306

Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) is a public educational institution in Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines. Founded in 1944, the school started out as a secondary school called the Camiling Boys/Girls High School. Decades later, it was converted into Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) through PD 609 issued in 1974. By 2016, TCA officially became Tarlac Agricultural University through Republic Act No. 108000 signed by former president Benigno S. Aquino III. The university is mandated by law to provide advanced education, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture, agribusiness management, science and technology, engineering, teacher education, and other relevant fields of study. It shall also undertake research, extension services as well as production activities in support of the development of the province, and to provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization. Currently, TAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Agriculture, Forestry, Business, Education, Management, Engineering, Technology, Arts and Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university is officially recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).

TAU Facts:

The carabao is the official symbol of the school.

TAU's official colors are green and white.

School’s Vision : TAU as one of the top 500 agricultural universties in Asia

School Mission : TAU is committed to improved the quality of life through the production of competent graduates and relevant technologies in the service of society.

Laboratory School is project from College of Education. It has two levels of school. Junior high school and Senior High School. Junior High School in the Philippines is for four years and two years only for Senior High School. In TAU-Laboratory School, Junior High School is divided into two classes, Science and Technology Curriculum and Agriculture-Homemaking Curriculum. Science class is superior in academics beside AgHome class has other activities in their lesson such as gardening. For Senior High School, it is divided into four classes, there is Academic Track for Accountancy, Bussines & Management, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science,Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). There is also TVL Track for Agriculture and Home economics. The school conducts the lesson from Monday to Friday at 7.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The flag ceremony is always be held once a week, on Monday. The students have two break times; at 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. The students are around fifty (50) students in each classes. In each classroom there are fans provided (around 2 to 3), black board/white board, and LED TV without speakers. This school takes teaching materials based on k to 12. Every subject has two books. First book for teacher as teacher’s guide and second book for students. However, teachers usually add more materials from internet or other resources.

1.2     Academic support system

Based on my observation, all the teachers are very talented in their subject. For an example, my cooperating teacher, Ms. Leslie. Even though she came from physics education but he could teach basic science in grade 7 and she could play as a cheerful teacher in grade 7 and a more serious teacher in grade 12. It indicates that she is a professional teacher. All the teachers also speak in english in class even though sometimes they speak filipino to make students more understand about the topic. 

Beside the facilities are not complete enough. There is LCD TV in grade 7B AgHome but I didn't found it in grade 7A Science even I had to borrow projector from the dean's office and I had to order it from one day before I used it because there are only two projectors. That wasn't effective since I always need projectors in my lesson.

For the library, there is only one library in Admin Building and it is too far from Laboratory School Building so the students should walk first around 15 minutes to get there. Because of this, the students couldn't read books in library when break time because because the time is not enough.

1.3     Teaching system

I think the school use active and fun learning strategy because the teachers always have an activity in their lesson that involved the students so that the students never get bored in class.

1.4     Materials and other learning sources

Every subject has two books. First book for teacher as teacher’s guide and second book for students. However, teachers usually add more materials from internet or other resources.

1.5     Measurement and evaluation system

at the end of every lesson, there will be seatwork that the students should do after the lesson. that seatwork is for the students' evaluation but there is still mid term test and final test each semester.

1.6     Curriculum

TAU-Laboratory School is using K to 12 Curriculum. This curriculum is designed around the three domains of learning science: understanding and applying scientific knowledge in local setting as well as global context whenever possible, performing scientific processes and skills, and developing and demonstrating scientific attitudes and values. The acquisition of these domains is facilitated using the following approaches: multi/interdisciplinary approach, science-technology-society approach, contextual learning, problem/issue-based learning, and inquiry-based approach. The approaches are based on sound educational pedagogy namely, constructivism, social cognition learning model, learning style theory, and brain-based learning.

Science content and science processes are intertwined in the K to 12 Curriculum. Without the content, learners will have difficulty utilizing science process skills since these processes are best learned in context. Organizing the curriculum around situations and problems that challenge and arouse learners’ curiosity motivates them to learn and appreciate science as relevant and useful.

Rather than relying solely on textbooks, varied hands-on, minds-on, and hearts-on activities will be used to develop learners’ interest and let them become active learners.

As a whole, the K to 12 science curriculum is learner-centered and inquiry-based, emphasizing the use of evidence in constructing explanations. Concepts and skills in Life Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences are presented with increasing levels of complexity from one grade level to another in spiral progression, thus paving the way to a deeper understanding of core concepts. The integration across science topics and other disciplines will lead to a meaningful understanding of concepts and its application to real-life situations.

1.7     Teaching plan

The lesson plan in Lab School and what I have learned in my university is different but it almost same. The lesson plan here is briefer. This is the example,

2. Pedagogical Contents

2.1      Teaching methods

The teacher use explanation and discussion method in their teaching process so that the students can participate in the class and it make the students can develop their own knowledge. From discussion, all the students can say their opinion and get new information from other students 

2.2      Learning materials and innovation

Based on my observation in grade 7 and 8, I never see the teacher use other media except video and power point.

2.3      Sources of learning and technology

sometimes teacher also use internet source for their explanation or for the activity like worksheet, practicum or questions for test. The technology that the teacher use is projector to display the power point.

2.4    Authentic assessment

The teacher also give them a quiz sometimes, like this one

3. TEACHING PLAN

3.1 Curriculum

Even the school follows the Kto12 System Education but they use two curriculum in grade 7. They are Science & Technology Curriculum and Agriculture-Homemaking Curriculum. There are gardening or cooking activity in AgHome class.

3.2 Teaching Plan

For the lesson plan, I made three lesson plan and my cooperating tecaher will check it first befire I use it in class.

4. OBSERVATION ON TEACHER

4.1 Planning for teaching

I begin my observation on August, 16th 2018 and start my teaching on August, 23rd 2018. I would teach grade 7A Science and grade 7B AgHome. There were three topic that I should teach, they were scientific method, lab safety and lab equipment.

4.2 Preparing lessons and materials

This is one of my favourite lesson plan

Lesson Plan in Science (Grade 7)

August 22, 2018

I. Lesson Objectives

The learners should be able to:

a.       Identify personal protective equipments.

b.      Classify the different safety equipments.

c.       Recognize laboratory safety symbol and its meaning of laboratory from their school.

d.      Give importance about the awarness of the safety measures in using laboratory facilities.

II. Learning Content

a.       Topic               : Laboratory safety procedures

b.      Resources        : Book, chalkboard, laptop, projector, video

c.       Methodology  : Lecture method and discussion

d.      Concepts         :

1.      Personal protective equipment: lab coat, gloves, goggles, shoes

2.      Safety equipment: fire extinguisher, fire blanket, eye wash station, first aid kit

3.      
Laboratory safety symbol: flammable, corrosive, toxic

e.       Skill                 : Present about laboratory safety symbol and its meaning of laboratory                    from their school.

f.       Value               : Give important about the awarness of the safety measures in using                        laboratory facilities.

g.      References       :

1.      Alumaga, Marie. Et al. Science and Technology (Grade 7). Vibal Publishing House, Inc. 2014 pp 28-37.

2.      Papa, Edward Christian R. Et al. Practical Science (Grade 7). Diwa Learning Systems Inc. 2018 pp 22-23.

3.      Jr, Rufino A. Villamar. SCIENCE: Conforming to the Globalized Trends in Education (Grade 7). STA. Teresa Publications, Inc. 2015 pp 2-6.

4.      Ching, Johnny A. Connecting Science (Grade 7). ST. Bernadette Publishing House Co. 2013 pp 4-8.

III. Learning Procedure

a.       Apperception/ Motivation

Teacher shows a picture about someone who conduct an experiment in a laboratory and then teacher will ask the questions: Do you ever go to the laboratory in school? Did you wear the same clothes like in this picture? Did you wear gloves, mask, goggles and lab coat?. It is important to have lab safety when you are working by yourself, in a group, and around other people. When dealing with something hot always be sure to wear gloves and when using a chemical that can hurt your eyes, goggles should be worn at all time when you are in the lab. Also when using a chemical or anything that can leave stains be sure to wear lab coat to protect your clothes. And some chemicals are very dangerous to the body, therefore when using them always do the right thing and never taste, touch, or smell the chemical unless the teacher instructs you to do so.

b.      Lesson Proper:

1.      Discuss why lab safety is important while conducting an experiment in laboratory.

2.      Show video about Laboratory safety procedures “General Safety in Laboratory”.

3.      Ask student to write dos and don’ts in laboratory based on the video.

4.      Explain personal protective equipments that could student wear when they are in laboratory and ask students “why should we use shoes instead of sandals when in the laboratory?”.

5.      Explain safety equipments that laboratory should have and ask students “when will you need to use the eyewash equipment?”.

6.      Introduce some different laboratory symbols and their meanings and ask students “why do we need to use those symbols?”.

7.      Match each laboratory symbol to its proper name on lesson 2 page 43 (practice science book grade 7).

8.      Give additional “true or false” game to check their understanding about general lab safety.

c.       Generalization

Ask some students to share their own understanding of the lesson by giving a summary

IV. Learning Evaluation

Seatwork

LAB SAFETY

Name   :_______________________________________________ Class    :______________

Answers the questions below based on the illustration. Write the answers on the back of paper!

1.      List 3 unsafe activities showsn in the illustration.

2.      What should Bob do after the accident?

3.      What should Sue have done to avoid an accident?

4.      What are three things shown in the lab that should not be there?

5.      What will happen to Ray and Tim when the teacher catches them?

6.      Compare Joe and Carl’s lab techniques. Who is doing it correct way?

7.      List three items in the illustration that are there for the safety of the students in the lab.

V. Assignment activity

Make a mind map of general lab safety on paper sheet. You can add pictures or drawing and color it. Do as creative as possible! The deadline will be on the next meeting.

4.3 Teaching in class

Nips Counting Activity

Presentation

Watching Video about Lab Safety

Writting Dos and Don'ts in the lab based on the video

Doing seatwork

4.4 Measurement and Evaluation

To know whether my students understand what I have taugt or not. I use my seatwork as evaluation for each topic. These are some of my seatwork..

5. TEACHING PRACTICE

5.1 Procedures of teaching

I follow the teacher's step for teaching. Starting the lesson with ask student what they have learned in the previous meeting to make sure that the students still remember the material and then continue with discussing homework (if any) and then continue to the next topic. teacher will explain first and keep asking the students about something related to the topic so the students will involved in the learning process. At the 20 minutes before end the lesson, teacher can give the students seatwork to discuss together and then after that explain about the assignment.

5.2 Time management and organizing actvities

This is the hard thing that I have been through because I just have one hour in class beside the activities in my lesson plan are so many. So I decided to use one lesson plan for two meetings.

5.3 Problem-solving

My another problem in class is about my voice. Ms. Leslie always ask me to make my voice louder but I can't so that Ms. Leslie give me advice to walk around the class while explaining something.

5.4 Classroom management

Since the numbers of students in class is 50 students or can be more so it will be so noisy if they have an activity. They are smart students but also so noisy when there is no teacher around.

What I did to make them keep silent was I made a rule in class.

If they can't be silent while I explain something, they can't ask me about what I have told.

If they can't be silent when there is a group present their work, I decrease their score.

If they can answer my questions, I will give them points.

 6. SUMMARY AND SUGGESTION

6.1 Purpose of practicum

This programme is aimed to prepare the better future teacher. Getting experience from teaching in other country with different curriculum. Improving teaching skill.

6.2 Procedures of practicum

Online orientation - Orientation in TAU - Observation - Assisting and Making lesson plan - Teaching - Evaluation - Reflection

6.3 Outcomes of practicum

- Improving teaching skill

- Improving english speaking skill

- Improving self-confidance

- Learning new culture and language

6.4 The challenges of practicum

The biggest challenges along this programme is about my speaking in english. This was my very first time to teach in class and also my first time speak with english in front of so many people (pupils). Fortunetely, I had cooperating teacher that always support me and also the students were very kind-hearted so that I could pass it so well.

6.5 Overall impression

I feel lucky to be able to teach at Laboratory School. I learned many things because of the differences in the school here and in Indonesia such as making lesson plans, how to organize the learning process with a short time, how to make learning fun and active learning. All of the teachers and stuff that involved in this programme are also very helpful. They always support us. The tudents are also very active, making us feel important. That's why all the problems can be resolved properly.

6.6 Suggestion for future improvement

Suggestions for School

I hope the school provides more projectors and if possible the whole class is provided with projectors and speakers, so the teacher does not need to borrow or even bring his own speaker. I also hope to take part in sports events that held on every Friday but because there was no information at all at that time so we didn't know that Friday was a sports day.

Suggestions for Tarlac Agricultural University

I hope Tarlac Agricultural University as a recieve university and to be responsible to arrange our schedule while in the Philippines can tell us what school or class we should teach before inbound.