Teaching science for a day
Today’s Guest Column is from Kevin Smith.
School has started here in Pennsylvania and I’ve been busy making lesson plans for science class. I teach six classes every day and this keeps me running. We now have Smart boards this year in our district which are really neat. A Smart board will project the internet on a white board where the teacher can interact with content or the internet on a touch sensitive board. So if I am teaching about volcanoes, for example, I can pull up images of the inside of a volcano, or show a QuickTime video previously downloaded or go to the internet and show a video all while standing in front of the class. This technology is expensive but it will help to raise achievement levels in the schools.
As you know, this is not the way it is in the Philippine schools. When I was there in 2005, I asked my mother-in-law if the students did any science labs. She said the teachers didn’t do many labs or activities because of the cost. She teaches fourth grade there and also said that if they did want to have a lab or activity, the teacher would ask the student to pay for the lab. I felt bad for the kids so I volunteered to go to her school and do some science as I enjoy teaching and I like doing labs and activities.
The arrangements were made for me to go to her school the following week to teach science. I was so excited as I wanted to contribute is some positive way. I made up some grade appropriate lesson plans and went to the food store to buy the lab supplies. I bought paper cups to measure water and food coloring to show the different densities of the water. I also bought salt to change the density and plastic spoons to measure with. I calculated about how many spoonful of salt would be equivalent to grams as there were no scales to use. My wife also helped to translate the handout to Bisayan.
This was a lab I’ve taught many times before and it really helps the student to understand that water will not mix together if the densities are different. My plan was to teach the concept of density in the classroom and then have the students do the lab.
When I arrived at the school in the morning, the Principal said that I could use the outdoor area with the large hangover for shade to do the lab. I was expecting about 50 or so students to participate but, instead, I needed to pick 30 students from each of the three grades for a total of 90. Luckily my mother-in-law and her co-teachers helped me with all this. I never expected to do this with so many students at one time, but I was eager to try.
As I slowly explained each step to the students in English, they followed along and I was very impressed with what they were able to do. This lab is for 7th or 8th grade, but here were younger students doing it. Many of the students completed the lab. It was also nice to have many other teachers helping me. It made my day to teach and know that everyone really wanted to learn the lesson. This was one of the best days I had while in the Philippines. Have a great day.
Kevin,
I enjoyed your story and it brought something to mind about densities of water that, if you have not seen, I think you and your classes would enjoy.
The other day I was watching a series on Discovery Channel. It was called “Blue Planet” and the show was “Deep”
In the show, they were in a submersible, deep in the ocean, and they see what looks like a lake. Their first comment, how can it be a lake when they are already in the ocean. It even had ripples when something hits it. They lowered the sub to it and it landed on top and sent ripples accross it. He then realized, the salene level was much higher so the density kept it together, It was a wonderful and educational series.
Kevin,
What a wonderful endeavor. These young kids will not forget what you did for them. When I was at this age, we had a young Peace Corp volunteer who taught math at the elementary level. Even to this day I still remember him trying his best to get his points across. And we were very happy to be taught by this American fellow. Today, I encourage people who go back for vacation to spend a day or two to give seminars in a subject that they excel at that would be beneficial for the locals. This past summer, my brother who is a Jesuit priest and professor in Chemistry, gave a one day talk on Ethics to high school students. Good idea Kevin!
It is inspiring when limitations inspire people to persevere.
Your article reminded me of the world-class Filipino science teacher from Iloilo who won the very prestigious Intel International Excellence in Teaching award here in the US in 2002, besting 4,000 other competitors from around the world. Her name was Dr. Josette Biyo.
Some notable tidbits from:
http://www.smartschools.ph/SmartSchools/Features/JosetteBiyo.htm
- Dr. Josette Biyo is the first Asian to win the prestigious Intel International Excellence in Teaching Award.
-The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory named a planet after Dr. Biyo for winning the award. Planet Biyo, formerly known as Planet 13241, is about 9 kilometers in diameter and is located between Mars and Jupiter.
Aldel,
Actually, we don’t even have to wait to go back and be physically there. The internet allows us to help because we can get connected to others who might need help.
In 2000-2002, I helped a couple of people who were doing research work for their thesis. They didn’t know me and I didn’t know them (personally) but we only met thru a yahoo discussion group. Since internet access was expensive for them, their ability to research was severely limited by this. So I offered my time/services for free. Between internet (and phone calls with me calling them), I think I was able to provide a helping hand to these ambitious folks who were going thru a rough time with their graduate degree work.
That’s just one way I helped, given also my time constraints here.
Another over-the-internet project I sponsored before was an essay writing contest among HS students on the topic of leadership. I offered enough cash incentive that I think the students got really excited because the prize was large enough to help them with school expenses for starting college the following year.
(This was all grassroots, informally though-about. I did not have any infrastructure, no formal NGO or anything like that.)
That also tied in with a Leadership Award that I also sponsored. Sadly, the locals did not have the time to coordinate (or read: volunteer their time) so the project fizzled out eventually.
Angie, the internet is probably the greatest equalizer in education. Lots of educational information can be obtained from the internet, and until the Philippines is wired, students in the outlying areas will just have to do without. What Kevin had done is more of a hands on lesson which will be difficult to replicate.
Another approach that my other brother had done was to donate personal computers (over 40 in all) and about half a dozen laserjet printers. Along with these equipments we provided encylopedia on CDs and educational DVDs. Although not hooked up to the internet, the teachers were able to get the information from these materials and have them printed out for the students. My brother provides the toner cartridges and maintenance for these PCs. Now you kind of get an idea why I am not too enamored with the Philippine Dept of Ed.
Hi Aldel,
Don’t get me wrong, when I mentioned about the internet projects, I wasn’t comparing it with what Kevin had done… Far from it… I admire Kevin’s sincere effort to help, singlehandedly, in whatever capacity.
But since we’re on the subject of helping schools, etc, and since you encouraged people going “back for vacation” to donate their expertise/time to locals, I took your comment to be directed to vacationing Filipino balikbayans. That’s why it occurred to me to mention that we can already help even as we stay wherever it is that we call “home” nowadays, w/o waiting to set foot again in the Philippines.
That way, we’re leveraging our time and other resources (internet, other communication channels, etc, which are cheaper and more affordable to us than our kababayans.)
I would have wanted to continue on with the Leadership project but I was disappointed also that after the initial year, the awardees (2 of them) just dropped out of communication and did not even say anymore where they enrolled, how they were doing etc. The plan initially was to use them as role models for the next round of competition.
As to the Dept. of Ed., I would not dare go there, discussion wise. I did not have any direct dealings with them because I left the local contacts to deal with the bureaucracy on that side… I relied on what they (my contacts) would tell me. Given the fact that I did not hear them directly, I will err on the side of giving the benefit of the doubt.
All I can say is even “helping” is not easy. So now I just do whatever hits me when I feel that it is right and I only do it now thru organized charitable orgs that are already in operation. There are already many of them out there. I realize time is fleeting, I don’t have time to deal with bureaucracy, myself.
Bruce,
That’s just what we did for the lab. By changing the density of one layer of water by adding salt, the one layer would not mix with the next layer. I’ll get a picture of the lab from my digital recorder. I also like the Discovery Channel.
Adel
Thanks for the comment
Angie
That very interesting about Dr. Biyo. Throughout the year in my class we learn about different scientists and mathematicians like Einstein and Curie. I also try and find some lesser known scientists. I may incorporate Dr. Biyo into the schedule of scientists. I want my students to learn about the Philippines. In the volcano unit, we research volcanoes in the Philippines. Thanks
Hi Kevin,
It’s good that you’re considering Dr. Biyo into your list of scientists. The unique thing about her are the circumstances under which she operates and yet is still able to produce world-class results. You can google for her as there are enough write-ups about her, esp. when she first won the award in 2002.
I used to keep up then with her stories because we were trying to “model” her. So I was feeding back info to some locals who wanted to emulate her style of teaching. Don’t know if she still does but at the time she was teaching at Phil. Science High School in Iloilo.
You are a caring soul. Thank you for all you do for the Filipinos, esp. the school children.
Hi Kevin,
One of these days, I hope to experience the joy you get from teaching.
I just started thinking, my mom and 2 aunts were teachers. I have about 10 cousins in the academia. I just realized that it runs in our blood. No wonder I’ve always wanted to teach! Wow, what a revelation, thank you! Can’t wait…
Keep up the good work! I hope to meet you in person sometime soon…