(OECD), the study ranked 79 participating economies based

REVIEWER FOR MIDTERMS - STS on their students’ performance in reading, science and math.
Filipino students had the lowest mean score in reading
MODULE 6: SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES comprehension (340 points, below the 487-point survey
average). They also ranked second to the last in science (357)
Performance of Students in Local and International Science and math (353), below the 489-point average in both
Assessment Tests subjects.
The performance of Filipino students in math and in science The results of the different examinations taken by sample
shows that there is a need to instate changes and students from our country show that there is a problem in
development and adopt measures to improve relation to administration of both mathematics and science
their performance not only in Mathematics but also in programs.
science.
Science Curriculum
 The science curriculum in the Philippines is much
 1999-2000 NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST
different from other Southeast Asian countries. Since
According to Rabino (2014) as cited by Ariola (2018), “Science
the beginning, the Philippine Science Curriculum has
is the most difficult subject in basic education in the
lapses which need evaluation and corresponding action.
Philippines. The National Elementary Achievement
The Education Curriculum, in general, is found to be too
Test (NEAT) result shows that Filipino pupils answered
congested with so many subjects that are not relevant
48.61% of the questions in science correctly which is less
to development
than 50%.This means that the students have difficulty to
 Below is an excerpt extracted from SCIENCE
answer at least 50% correctly.
FRAMEWORK FOR PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION
published by DOST-SEI and UP NISMED in 2011. It
 2003 TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND describes the basic science curriculum as follows:
SCIENCE STUDY (TIMSS)  The Philippines’ Grades 1-10 Science Curriculum
envisions the development of
The third Trends in International Mathematics and Science scientifically, technologically, and environmentally
Study (TIMSS) in 2003 shows that for high school, out of 45 literate and productive members of society. They
countries that participated the Philippines ranked 41st in HS II must possess effective communication and
Math, and 42nd HS II Science. For elementary, fourth grade interpersonal and lifelong learning skills as well as
participants ranked 23rd out of the 25 countries in both scientific values and attitudes. These skills will be
math and science. Our country stopped participating in the acquired through a curriculum that focuses on
survey in 2008 and so on. The obtained scores of our high knowledge relevant to real world and encompasses
school second year students is 200 points lower and the methods of inquiry. These will be implemented in
pupils’ score is more than 200 points lower than that of a learning environment that promotes the construction
Singapore which ranked first both in high school and of ideas and instills respect for others.
elementary categories (Ariola, 2018).  The above curriculum includes inquiry skills, scientific
According to the report aired by ABS-CBN on June 15, 2011, attitudes and content and connections. These things
the “Philippines ranks 7th among nine Southeast Asian are helpful in developing better science learners. With
nations in the area of education and innovation”. This result the implementation of K-12 Curriculum, the discussion
was mentioned by Guillermo M. Luz, co-chair of the National of the topics in science subjects uses spiral approach to
Competitiveness Council (NCC). At a forum on Innovation achieve continuity of the topics from one grade level
and Entrepreneurship for Globally Competitive Philippines, to the next thus eliminating congestion of so many
Luz presented that the Philippines was falling behind topics per grade level. A study initiated by a team from
Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and UP Diliman, in partnership with University
Vietnam. The country is second to the last which of Melbourne and funded by Australian government
is Cambodia when it comes to education, science and aimed to investigate the progress of students’ skills for
technology and innovation (Rabino, 2014) as cited by Ariola each unit of Chemistry over the four years of the junior
(2018). secondary curriculum. Identification of progress will be
achieved by assessing students as they progress from
 2014 NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST Grade 7 to Grade 10. The team is headed by Dr.
Ambag (2018) wrote that science education in the country Marlene Ferido from UP Diliman.
cannot be considered as strength”. Based on 2014 statistics,  Having the above goals for science education, only few
the passing rate for the National Achievement Test (NAT) for schools can achieve such goals due to some factors
grade six pupils is only 69.21% and the passing rate for high which hinder the 100% implementation of the
school is only 46.38% from 2010 statistics. curriculum.

 2018 PROGRAM FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT Factors Affecting the Performance in Science
ASSESSMENT (PISA)  The main factors that affect the low performance in
The country also participated in the 2018 Program for science of Filipino include the following: (1) lack of
International Student Assessment (PISA). Conducted by the support for scientific culture reflected in the deficiencies
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development regarding the school curriculum, (2) inadequate
 teaching-learning process, (3) insufficient instructional
materials and (4) lack of training among science
teachers. MODULE 7: SELECTED INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND
 The factors mentioned above boil down to the low TECHNOLOGY
allocation of budget to the implementation of science
program by the government. Whatever program or  Indigenous Science
project that the agency or department would like to
Indigenous science is a product of indigenous
execute if financial allocation is limited then success of
knowledge perfected by people through life
the said program/project may not be achieved. Ariola
experiences. Indigenous knowledge may connote
(2018) wrote that the allocated budget by Philippine
traditional and non-scientific knowledge because
government for public educational institutions for all
it includes superstitious beliefs and practices
levels of education is only 3.3% of the Gross Domestic
which maybe the products of fic
Product (GDP) which is lower than 7.4% of Malaysia;
human imagination.
4.0% of Thailand; 4.0% average for all World Education
Indicators (WEI) countries and 5.2% for Organization of However this products may become the
Economic Cooperation and Development foundations of people’s creativity, originality, and
(OECD) countries. At all levels of education, the inventiveness in defining the world where we live
Philippines spend only 7.2% which is still below the 40% in. Indigenous science covers a wide scope of
of Thailand and 28% of Malaysia but slightly higher than areas including metaphysics, philosophy, and
the 16.9% average for WEI countries and higher than practical technologies usually accomplished by
the 13.3% average of the OECD countries, respectively. people then and now ( Snively and Corsiglia; 2000;
 The budgeting allotted for a school correlate Pawilen;2013).
positively to the students’ academic achievement
as confirmed by Burckbuchler (2009) in his article  Indigenous Technology
“School Budgeting and Student Academic
Achievement. Indigenous technologies are processes or
products which are the results of
 The teaching-learning process is another issue.
studying indigenous science. Following are the
Iurea, et.al (2011), found out that the learning
indigenous technologies that have emerge out
styles used by the students and strategies
of Filipino’s creativity, originality and
employed by the teachers have great impact on
inventiveness. These technologies are now
the students’ academic performance. This means
parts of our lives when they come to
that when teaching strategy and learning style
medicines, food products, industry , and other
match there is a tendency to increase the
students’ academic performance. Further, Muvla aspects of human existence.
(2020) emphasized that the teacher-  Indigenous Science
student interaction matters a lot in the academic
performance of students. On the contrary, Knowledge in observing animal behavior to predict weather
the cross-country study of Cordero, JM., et.al conditions.
(2015) stressed that modern teaching strategies
give little significance on the academic  Activity 1. Observing and analyzing
performance of students. the
 On the other hand, the insufficiency of  croaking of frogs loudly when it’s
instructional materials in school especially in about to rain.
science laboratories is an issue that needs to be  Traditional health habit practices
addressed. Instructional materials help the  Activity 2. Examining the role of
students understand the lesson more easily than albularyo , mangtatawas to diagnose
without IM. Their academic performance is the cause of illness associated by
significantly correlated to the use of instructional prayers and incantations.
materials used (Adalikwu, 2013). If insufficiency of  The use of herbal medicine
IM is an issue what is more alarming is the  Activity 3.Implementing the use of garlic (Allium
absence of it especially during the conduct of sativum) as herbal medicine to treat infection with
science laboratories or experiments. antibacterial , anti - inflammatory , anti-cancer,
 Next problem is the lack of training among science anti hypertensive properties, and it is widely used
teachers. Commonly, science teaching is focused to reduce cholesterol level in blood.
much on lectures and the laboratory part of the  Knowledge in preserving foods
subject is being sacrificed. The reason is that some  Activity 4. Executing the traditional techniques for
science teachers themselves are not exposed food preservation
in manipulating science equipment or if they are  Building irrigation system
knowledgeable there is lack of
laboratory equipment thus the laboratory skills  Activity 5. Identify the
among students are not developed. traditional techniques
 Indigenous Technologies in particular with the firm's technical head,
Lamberto Armada.
 Medical Incubator invented by Dr Fe Del Mundo
Because it is amphibious, the Salamander can
An apparatus that is used to maintain travel both on land and in water. It stemmed
environmental conditions suitable for a from Llave's desire to do something really useful
new born baby. It is used in pre-term birth or for the benefit of his countrymen. That and his
for some ill full-term babies. Dedicated her life wish to put the Philippines on the global
to the cause of pediatrics in the automotive map. "I want to show the world that
Philippines, Doctor Fe Del Mundo – credited the Filipino can," Llave told TopGear.com.ph.
with studies that lead to the invention of an As you read this, Llave and his partners are
improved incubator and a device to treat launching the thing somewhere in
jaundice. Fe del Mundo’s invention has saved Mandaluyong (near our office, actually). It's a
countless premature infants around the world. big night for the group. They have been toiling
day and night in order to seamlessly roll out the
 Erythromycin
Salamander before the critical eyes of the
Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino scientist who
motoring press
discovered the Erythromycin in 1949. Dr.
Abelardo was testing samples of soils from his
backyard and isolated micro-organisms – a MODULE 9 INFORMATION AGE
bacteria that lead to
the development of the Antibiotic THE GUTENBERG PRESS
called Erythromycin.  German goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg, invented the
printing press around 1440. This invention was a result
 Aerogas Catalytic of finding a way to improve the manual tedious, and
Combustor ( ACC ) by slow printing methods. A printing press is a device that
Engr. Marinto C. applies pressure to an inked surface lying on a print
Martinez medium, such as cloth or paper, to transfer ink.
It was invented by Engr. Marinto C. Gutenberg’s hand mould printing press led to the
Martinez, a chemical engineer. creating of metal movable type. Later, the two invention
The gadget has been were combined to make printing methods faster and
rigidly tested with machines and on the road by they drastically reduced the costs of printing documents.
government agencies like DENR-EMB, DOST  The beginnings of mass communication can be tracked
– PICIERD, ITDI, LTO and private users at the back to the invention of the printing press. The
onset of legislation of the Philippine Clean Air development of a fast and easy way of disseminating
Act of 1999.Jun 16, information in print permanently reformed the
2017 structure of society. Political and religious authorities
who took pride in being learned were threatened by the
sudden rise of literacy among people. With the rise of
 Sustainable Alternative Lighting ( SALT )
the printing press, the printing evolution occurred which
Founded by Engr. Aisa Mijeno illustrated the tremendous social change brought by the
wide circulation of information. The printing press made
It all started with vision- a vision that no the mass production of books possible which made
one in the Philippines should live in books accessible not only to the upper class.
the dark. Sustainable Alternative Lighting  As years progressed, calculations became involved in
or better known as SALt was founded by communication due to the rapid developments in the
Engr. Aisa Mijeno in 2014 (SALT trade sector. Back then, people who compiled actuarial
Philippines). Sustainable Alternative table and did engineering calculations served as
Lighting (SALt) develops LED lamp fueled “computers”. During World War II, the Alies (U.S.,
by salt water. Australia, etc.) countries that opposed the Axis powers
(Germany, Japan, Italy, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria)
 Salamander Amophibious were challenged with a serious shortage of human
Tricycle Made by Atoy Llave computers for military calculations. When soldiers left
for war, the shortage got worse, so the United States
If you're into car customization, the name Atoy addressed the problem by creating the Harvard Mark, 1,
Llave will certainly ring a bell. The man behind A- a general purpose electromechanical computer that was
Toy Bodykits and the company's aftermarket 50 feet long and capable of doing calculations in
exterior designs is quite popular among Filipino seconds that usually took people hours. At the same
car lovers. The curious thing you see here—the time, Britain needed mathematicians to crack the
Salamander amphibious trike--is Llave's latest German Navy’s Enigma code. The Enigma was an
creation. He made this in partnership with a new enciphering machine that the German armed forces
company called H2O Technologies, developing it used to securely send messages.
TURING MACHINE (ENIGMA M4 CYPHER MACHINE) numerous social media platforms has immensely
 Alan Turing, an English mathematician, was hired in influenced the lives of the people. The impact of these
1936 by the British top-secret Government Code and innovations can be advantageous or disadvantageous
Cipher School at Bletchley Park to break the Enigma depending on the use of these technologies.
code. His code-breaking methods became an industrial
process having 12,000 people working 24/7. MODULE 10
 To counteract this, the Nazis made the Enigma more NANOTECHNOLOGY
complicated having approximately 10^114 possible
permutations of every encrypted message. Turing,  Nanotechnology is the branch of technology that deals
working on the side of the Allies, invented Bombe, an with the manipulation and study of matter at the
electromechanical machine that enabled the British to nanoscale. It covers all types of research and
decipher encrypted messages of the German Enigma technologies that deal with the special properties of
machine. This contribution of Turing along with other matter on an atomic molecular and supramolecular
cryptologists shortened the war by two years (Munro, scale.
2012).  Scientists in the field of chemistry, biology, physics,
 In his paper On Computable Numbers, with an materials science, and engineering are all involved in
Application to the Entschiedungs problem, first studying matter on the nanoscale. Nanotechnology
published in 1937, Turing presented a theoretical is “convergent” because it brings together various fields
machine called the Turing machine that can solve any of science through its innovations, e.g., DNA silicon
problem from simple instructions encoded on paper chips, converging between semiconductor science
tape. He also demonstrated the simulation of the Turing (inorganic chemistry) and biology, with applications in
machine to construct a single Universal Machine. This the medical industry. It also involves
became the foundation of computer science and the design, characterization, production, and application of
invention of a machine later called a computer, that can structures, devices, and systems by controlling shapes
solve any problem by performing any task from a and sizes at the nanometer scale. This technology is
written program (DeHaan, 2012). “enabling” in the sense that it provides the platform
 In the 1970s, the generation who witnessed the dawn of and the tools to produce innovations.
the computer age was described as the generation with  To decipher how nanotechnology works, three
“electronic brains.” The people of this generation were dimensions must be considered. The dimension involves
the first to be introduced to personal computers (PCs). tangible objects which include materials, devices, and
Back then, the Homebrew Computer Club, an early systems. The second dimension deals with the passive
computer hobbyist group, gathered regularly to trade and static objects i.e., nanoparticles that have
parts of computer hardware and talked about how to properties different bulk objects, even if they have the
make computers more accessible to everyone. Many same composition; the active devices, i.e., those that
members of the club ended up being high-profile can store information, induce energy, or change their
entrepreneurs, including the founder of Apple Inc. state; and the nanofacture, which refers to atomically
precise manufacturing (APM), i.e., collection
Apple I Computer of instruments and procedures. The third dimension is
 In 1976 Steve Wozniak, co founder of Apple Inc., direct nanotechnology which refers to materials
developed the computed that made him famous: the structured at nanoscale components. This also extends
Apple I. Wozniak designed the operating system, to indirect nanotechnology, which starts with
hardware and circuit board of the computer all by nanoparticles but can be used in huge applications i.e.,
himself. Steve Jobs, Wozniak’s friend suggested to sell hugely powerful information processors with individual
the Apple I as a full assembled printed circuit board. This nanoscale components (Ramsden, 2009).
jumpstarted their as founders of Apple Inc.
 From 1973 onward, social media platforms were Applications of Nanotechnology
introduced from variations multi-user chat rooms;  With scientist and engineers continuously finding ways
instant-messaging applications ( AOL, Yahoo messenger, to make materials at the nanoscale, more uses of
MSN messenger, Window messenger); bulletin board nanotechnology arise.
forum systems, game-based social networking sites (e.g.,  In medicine, nanotechnology has
Facebook, Friendster, Myspace) and business-oriented numerous applications in the development of more
social networking websites (Xing); messaging, video and effective drugs. Assisted by the view of molecules
voice calling services (Flicker); discovery and dating afforded by X-ray lasers, biological mechanisms can be
oriented websites ( Tagged, Tinder); video sharing simulated to destroy a cancer cell while it is treated by
services (Youtube); real time social media feed drug-bearing nanoparticles. Nanobots, or molecular-
aggregator (FriendFeed); live-streaming (Justin.tv, scale workers can employ molecular processes within
Twitch.tv) photo-video sharing websites (Pinterest, cells, which can deliver drugs to specific molecular sites
Instagram, Snapchat, Keek, Vine); and question-and- or even carry out surgery (Biercuk, 2011). It is now
aswer platforms (Quora). To date, these social media possible to diagnose prevalent contagious diseases like
platforms enable information exchange at its most HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, among others, with
efficient level. screening devices using nanotechnology (Maclurcan,
 The information age, which progressed from the 2005).
invention of the printing press to the development of
 Water purification systems containing nanomaterials Challenges of Nanotechnology
and utilizing new membrane technologies containing
variable pore-sized filters (i.e., the forward-osmosis  The advantages brought by innovations in
membrane technology of Hydration Techno-logies) are nanotechnology come with a price. With rapid
now available (Jadhawar, 2004). developments in nanotechnology, its adverse effects
 Nanoparticles are also used to prepare heat-resistant become more visible. The environmental effect of
and self-cleaning surfaces, such as floors and mineral-based nanoparticles found in cosmetics, paints,
benchtops. Nanoparticles of silicon dioxide or titanium clothing, and other products are questioned as they go
dioxide can also make a surface repel water, thus through sewerage treatment plants untreated due to
preventing stains. Detergent molecules self assemble their undetectable size. They can be carried down
into a sphere to form a micelle that allows the by fine silts or microplastics with inorganic and organic
detergent to trap oils and fats within the cavity of the pollutants. Thus, these may affect water source
sphere that aids in washing surfaces. Zeolites are silicon (Biercuk, 2011). For instance, in the 1980’s a
oxides and aluminum oxides that have specific nano- semiconductor palnt contaminated the ground water
porous cage-like structures that are used as molecular Silicon Valley, California (Zhang et al., 2011).
sieves.
 In agriculture, novel techniques of nanotechnology  Carbon nanotubes in manufacture of memory storage,
applications are applied to breed crops with higher electronics, batteries, etc. were found to have unknown
levels of micronutrients to detect pets and to control harmful impacts to the human body by inhalation into
food processing (Heckman, 2005). Ultrasmall probes on lungs comparable to asbestos fiber 11. A pulmonary
earth surfaces for agricultural applications and control toxicological evaluation of single-wall carbon nanotubes
of soil, air, and water contamination are also developed indicated that it is more toxic than carbon black and
using nanotechnology (Zhang et al., 2011). quartz.
 Due to its size, a nanoparticle is not easy to analyze.
 A simple, cheap, and effective way of removing arsenic Lack of information and methods of characterizing
in soil and water is through the use of TiO2 nanomaterials makes it a challenge to detect its
nanoparticles. (Pena et al., 2005). A concentration in air or in any matrix of the environment.
nanotechnology inspired detector from Washington, Predicting the toxicity of a nanomaterial relies heavily
which can sense the smallest amount of radiation, on information about its chemical structure since minor
located a nuclear leak faster and more accurately at the changes in its chemical function group could drastically
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Zhang et al., change its properties. Point-to-point risk assessment
2011). Chlorinated compounds (i.e., chlorinated at all stages of nanotechnology should then be
solvents and pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls conducted to ensure the safety to human health and
(PCBs), and brominated compounds) are environment. Risk assessment should include the
major environmental contaminants that can be reduced exposure risk and its probability of exposure,
using nanoscale metal particles, such as FeO and Fe-Ni toxicological analysis, transport risk, persistence
in conjunction with iron filings [Fe(0)] (Dayrit et al., risk, transformation risk, and ability to recycle (Zhang et
2008). Silver (Ag) has long been enhanced with the al., 2011). This is which is quite expensive due to the
discovery that the bactericidal properties of Ag difficulty of detecting nanoparticles.
nanoparticles (1-100nm) are dependent on both
their size and shape. Ethical Dilemmas of Nanotechnology
 Bionanotechnology can support cleaner production  With the identified potential hazards that nanoparticles
methods and provide alternative and renewable energy can bring to human health and the environment,
sources to enhance the sustainability of factories should people disregard the benefits that
(Colvin, 2003). Nanotechnology helps in energy nanotechnology provide them?
consumption like in the use of grapheme into a coating  Issues raised regarding nanotechnology should be
material resulting in the need for only one layer, which further studied, and nanotechnology methods should
does not require a multifunctional film coating. be modified. For example, altering the compositions of
Nanoscale chemical reagents or catalysts are smaller graphene, known to be one of the most advanced
yet they increase the rate of chemical reactions, thus materials for structural improvement, replacing silicon
lessening the input of raw materials (Zhang et al., in electronic devices, and thermal transferring
2011). nanomaterials can be done to diminish environmental
 In the Philippines, nanotechnology can be applied in hazards of nanotechnology. Some studies also found
making sources of renewable energy accessible to microorganisms that can decompose grapheme to
many, developing medicine that would address serious make it less toxic for the environment (Zhang et al.,
diseases, improving the state of agriculture, and more. 2011).
There are also existing and ongoing research studies  It is imperative, therefore, that experts and
funded by the Department of Science and Technology governments support themselves with enough
(DOST) on the possible application of technology, as knowledge on how nanomaterials work for the benefit
well as on Nano-Metrology and Education and Public of the society.
Awareness.