Wednesday, June 14, 2023

UNP Education Students Visit The Living with Nature Center

UNP Education Students Visit 
The Living with Nature Center
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 
Heritage Zone of the North (RA 11645)

Annex 1 - 100 Research Topics
for Thesis, Dissertation, Special Problem, and Practicum
Annex 2 - Self-Examination on Effective Teaching and Teaching Models

Dr Abe V Rotor

Students taking up education from the University of Northern 
Philippines (UNP) pose at the Nature's Sanctuary, an arboretum 
with orchard trees and garden plants cum plant nursery.  The 
one-hectare area has a number of heritage trees like caimito,
native mango, anahaw, betel nut, and macopa, that are three 
or four generations old. 

   
 The second floor of a late colonial house has been converted 
into a museum and library, as well as a guest room featuring 
old furniture pieces.  Left, a coed poses with a wooden head of 
a Philippine deer, now at the verge of extinction. The staircase 
dates back to the early 19th century.  It leads to a section called
 Cryptobiology - Nature's art in driftwood, rock and fossils.
 
  
Gallery of modern art, features Dr. Rotor's experimental 
glass paintings with acrylic and oil. 

 
 
Art gallery displays  children's drawings and paintings which 
show  the evolving nature of art and awareness of today's 
youth on the subject of nature and environment as theme. 

The group poses with Dr. Rotor, the founder of the center.  
Dr Rotor is a former professor at UST, DLSU, and SPU-QC 
and former director of the National Food Authority, now in 
his early eighties. 

Wishing Icon, The Resurrection, occupies the center stage 
of the museum and library. It is the hallmark of the old house's 
history for having survived the Second World War, earthquakes,
 typhoons, other calamities and social upheavals.   

 
The library has a collection of books written by Filipino authors, 
Bannawag Magazine series, religious publications, memorabilia
 of famous Ilocanos, and children's books. ~

Part 2 
100 Research Topics 
for Thesis, Dissertation, Special Problem, and Practicum  

 In response to inquiries of students and researchers, I am posting these general   topics for their guide in choosing and formulating their research needs as well as reference materials for workshops, roundtable and informal discussions.

1. Displaced People and Communities

2. Post-Modernism in Philippine Context
3. "To conserve Nature, leave Nature alone." 
4. Green Wash: Ecology's Mask
5. Globalization and Sunset of Nationalism

UNP Education students delight in feeding catfish at the San Vicente Botanical Garden, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

6. Sex tourism - how widespread is it?
7. Depression and suicide claim more affluent victims than ordinary citizens. 
8. The Disappearing Rainforest and Lost Knowledge
9. Talipapa - People's Mall
10. Changing Image of the Filipina

11. “Rent-a-uterus” (Surrogate Mothers)
12. NSTP - has it achieved its purpose?
13. Opposition to Technology
14. Reviving the Indigenous games and sports in the Philippines
15. Pornography on the Internet

16. Divisoria - Bagsakan Capital
17. Body Beautiful trends
18. Garbage Scavengers - their Hopes and Dreams
19. The Fine Art of Propaganda
20. Homogenization and Loss of Cultural Diversity

21. Social Change and the Natural Environment
22. Age of Robotics
23. Wireless Technology: Impact on school children
24. Endangered Ecosystems
25. Social and Pandemic Human Diseases

26. "The Big One" Computer Scenarios in Metro Manila
27. Neocolonialism in the corporate world
28. Sari-sari store, no corner has without. So with the talipapa
29. Tricycle world - a Sub-culture. So with the korong korong
30. Phaseout the Jeepney - Rolling Coffin

31. Working students: Joys and Travails
32. Harmful Effects of Microsplastics to Health and Environment 
33. Wanted Kidney
34. Made in China – Anticipated obsolescence
35. Unsolved killing of media men in the Philippines.

36. The problem of the new general curriculum
37. Gene Therapy: Frontier of Today’s Medicine
38. Vatican and Conservatism
39. Born to Buy (Bilmoko)
40. Natural food is in

41. China: Socialism to Capitalism
42. Relocating Marginal Communities
43. The Expanding Field of Bioethics
44. Unsung heroes
45. Philippines dubbed Rip Van Winkle of Asia?

46. Philippines tops crime rate, graft and corruption, in Asia.
47. Autotoxicity: We are poisoning ourselves
48. Natural Farming: A Return to Tradition
49. Obesity now an epidemic
50. Mind Benders (Brain Drugs)

51. One-dish Meal vs Fast Food
52. Aftermath of the Cold War
53. Unsolved Murders of Philippine Journalists
54. Life under the bridge
55. Revival of Herbal Medicine 

56. Longevity Trends - Effects on Society
57. Single parenthood: Planned or Circumstance
58. Effects of TV and Computers on Child Development
59. The Sunset of Fine Arts 
60. Sustainable Environment - what is it really?

61. Fish Kill in Laguna Bay and Taal Lake
62. Frankenfood
63. Threatened and Endangered Species
64. Pollution-Related Diseases and Disorders
65. Effect of the Ozone Hole

66. Whatever happened to Piso sa Pasig
67. Can genetic engineering save man from hunger?
68. Can man conquer aging?
69. Will man become eventually immortal?
70. Are we - Homo sapiens - in our sunset as a species?

71. Computer Addiction
72. Giant billboards - freedom of expression or violation of human rights?
73. Can man live alone, like in Castaway movie?
74. How many people can Metro Manila accommodate?
75. Allergy - global epidemic

76. Confession of a drug addict
77. Overcrowded prisons.
78. Child Labor: Chinese and Filipinos compared
79. Electricity is most expensive in the Philippines
80. Golden Years and Post-retirement

81. Cryonics - Man's Hope of Resurrection
82. Pet therapy
83. Third sex in the entertainment world
84. Bad advertisements in the Philippines
85. Rolling Billboards on Buses

86. Tiangge and Ukay-ukay 
87. On-line Education 
88. Longevity and Early Death Compared 
89. Effects of Telenobela
90. University without Walls

91. Flower shops at Dangwa, Dimasalang, Baguio
92. NLEX Clover, Balintawak: bagsakan of farm products
93. Quiapo - where miracles happen, from herbal healing to fortune telling
94. Anticipating the Big One (Earthquake Intensity 7 Plus)
95. Buhay sa Bahay Kubo Ngayon

96. The Controversial K to 12 Education Program
97. Political Dynasty - A Social Hydra
98. ISIS - Radical Concept of New Nation
99. Racism is Alive
100. Deadly COVID-19, MERS-CoV, HIV and Ebola

*Dr Rotor is a former professor UST, DLSU-D, SPU-QC, UPH-LP. He also served as research adviser and critic, and panel member in these and other institutions.

Part 3 - Self-Examination on Effective Teaching
 and Teaching Models
In line with On-line Modular Learning and
 the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education
UNP students taking up Education Courses visit the Living with Nature 
Center cum Botanical Garden and Museum.  San Vicente, Ilocos Sur 

This set of questions was designed for participants in Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air), TATAKalikasan Ateneo de Manila University, and viewers of Living with Nature - School on Blog. This is posted on popular request by the audience, and visitors at the Living with Nature Center. I invite others to answer these questions often asked about teachers, their teaching methods and models, in True or False. Please refer to the answers at the end of the test which include details and other information.

1. In teaching, Humanities and Science must go together. This requires the use of both the left brain which is for creativity and the right brain which is for logic or reason.

2. The majority of the teacher-participants are experimentalists. They uphold the experimental educational philosophy. This means that these teachers are flexible and open to educational change.

3. Twelve are advocates to perennialists, educational philosophy, which means that they do not subscribe to just one philosophy, and they shift their roles from being facilitators of learning to transmitters and interpreters of knowledge

4. Twelve are eclectic that is, they perceive themselves as authority figures in the classroom, transmitting and interpreting knowledge.

5. Nine are realists. They tend to focus on the here and now. They stress knowledge as how it is applied or observed. For example the laws of nature are better understood through observation and research.

6. Most of the expert teachers are idealists. They view education as a means of developing students’ intellectual abilities. Influenced by the Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato, these teachers stress the importance of logic and philosophy.

7. Of the two compositions used as basis in relating it to effectiveness in teaching. Essentials refer to requisites or “musts” for the attainment of teaching expertise.

8. Enhancers are teaching practices and behaviors contributory to teaching expertise

9. The effective teacher draws inspiration from his or her family, school administration and his community.

10. Subject matter expertise – All of the experts demonstrates a very thorough knowledge of subject matter, which facilitates effective organization of content to promote learning.

11. Being up-to-date with the latest developments in their fields – The experts are updated and very knowledgeable, explain new alternative ways of solving a problem – refers to effective classroom diagnostics

12. Knowledge of practical application and concrete, interesting examples to clarify abstract ideas/concepts – All of the expert teachers have readily available examples which are clear, simple, and interesting, to clarify issues or ideas – subject matter expertise.

13. Instructional Expertise – The expert teachers demonstrate facility in the use of varied instructional strategies, demonstrate knowledge of different teaching strategies, adopt group dynamics, and are particular in instructional clarity. They have the ability to simplify and clearly present lessons.

14. The founders of the world’s greatest religions were teachers.

15. Dr. Albert Schweitzer was great English explorer and teacher-missionary in Africa who became famous for his philosophy “reverence for life.”

16. Classroom Management Expertise – This is the ability of the teacher to prepare for and provide a physical learning environment. Students engage actively in class, time is properly managed, and students behave accordingly. A highly desirable study ethic prevails in class.

17. Efficient handling of routine activities and time management – refers to effective diagnostics.

18. Maintenance of students’ on-task behavior is a key enhancer. They use socialization techniques, encourage students to recite, motivate, and check their progress. There is never a dull moment in the classroom for an expert teacher.

19. Absence of class disruptions – The expert teachers make sure that the class does not suffer from unnecessary disruption. The experts are not reactive to disruptive situations; they are proactive, meaning they anticipate and prevent such situations to happen – or they can immediately remedy the situation from getting worse.

20. Classroom Management Expertise – this is the ability of the teacher to prepare for and provide a physical learning environment. Students engage actively in class, time is properly managed, and students behave accordingly.

21. Expert teachers have a range of teaching experience from 2 to 47 years, with a median of 25 years.

22. The experts were honor graduates and campus leaders.

23. In general, the 69 outstanding teachers did not choose teaching as their first career.

24. Women dominate the teaching profession.

25. Honor graduates are the best teachers because they are highly knowledgeable and can adjust easily to situation.

Reference: Unveiling Teaching Expertise: A Showcase of 69 Outstanding Teachers in the Philippines, Flordeliza Clemente-Reyes 2002. Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, DZRB 738 AM, 8 to 9 o’clock in the evening, Monday to Friday.

ANSWERS
1. False, brain lobes interchanged.
2. True
3. False, they are eclectic.
4. False, they are perennialists
5. True
6. False, there are very few – only 1 in the survey is an idealist.
7. True
8. True

9. True. Almost one-half of the expert teachers consider the supportive role of family members who understand the nature of teaching as having greatly contributed to their success. Twenty of the expert teachers mentioned of a family member as their mentor and source of inspiration. On the other hand the role of school administrators is very important, with almost 70% of the participants attributing the administration’s support to their success. The ambiance of teaching is equally important whereby the school is one large respectable family with a community atmosphere.

10. True
11. True
12. True

13. True. Use of varied teaching strategies – 90% of the expert teachers use varied teaching strategies. They employ other than lecture and recitation, song and movement, role-playing, pantomime, choral; reading visual imagery, concept mapping, brainstorming, contest, simulation, oral debate, cooperative learning etc.

14. True
15. True. He was one of the last great explorers to bring knowledge, peace and Christianity into the Dark Continent.

16. True
17. False. – All expert teachers manage classroom routine and time efficiently. The teacher is familiar with the names of his students, and knows who is absent, who is a fast or slow learner. More than half of the experts (58%) do not check attendance because the students are properly monitored and absenteeism does not pose a problem. Classes start and end on time. The teacher employs different ways of maximizing class time, such as the use of OHP, and other instructional devises, including handouts.

18. True, 92% of the model teachers used this technique.
19. True
20. True

21. True, it takes 25 years to be a model teacher. There is a saying, “Experience does not only make a good teacher; experience is the best teacher.”

22. False. They were academic achievers in college. There were only 14 of the experts who were active in extracurricular activities in college, say in athletics and campus politics. Fifty-eight are academic achievers, with 33 as top performers but who did not make it in the dean’s list, and 25 who were consistent scholars and honor students. Only 11 were average academic performers.

23. True Only 26 actually set their minds to teaching as early as upon graduation in high school. For one reason or another, 43 set out for other careers. Others found teaching compatible with their present professions, while a good number opted to spend their retirement as teachers or professors.

24. True. Of the 69 outstanding teachers, women constitute 74% as compared with that of men which is 26 &, or a ratio of 4 to 1. The reason for this is that men place less priority to teaching than better paying jobs. This is manifested in the choice of careers. In the case of men, they prefer law, engineering, and applied courses in industry and technology that offer better professional growth opportunities and pay as compared to teaching.

25. False, however high intelligence is preferred.~

Rating: 
23-25 Outstanding 
20-22 Very Good
16-19 Good 
13-15 Fair
12 and below - Study more 

(More lessons are found in avrotor.blogspot.com and Naturalism - The Eighth Sense)

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