Enhancing Science Learning Environment, Attitude and Parental Involvement through Home Based Experiment (HBE)

Abstract

The paradigm shift caused by COVID-19 in education calls for education contextualized at home. The Department of Education (DepEd) directs the educators to implement Blended Distance Learning (BDL) executed in both online and offline modalities. Such pedagogy extends to how the science laboratory experiments will be conducted. To attain the goal in developing scientific, technological, and environmental literate students, the integration of Home-Based Experiments (HBE) was considered the intervention in this study to create a science learning environment, enhance science attitude and involves parents. Three intact classes consisting of Grade 9 students were the respondents of the study. They were taught based on the required Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC). The integration of activities using practical science at home were done on a step-by-step basis following the inquiry-based approach with the aid of a helpdesk. The study utilized adopted Biology Achievement Test (BAT) and face and content validated Science Learning Environment, Attitude and Parental Involvement Questionnaires to measure the intended objective of the study. Three intact classes of Research were taught based on the required Most Essential Learning Competencies and integration of activities using practical science at home on step-by-step basis in an inquiry-based approach with the aid of a helpdesk were done. The effectivity of the intervention in terms of the students' learning achievement, learning environment, science attitude, and parental involvement were analyzed. Data shows a significant difference in learning achievement in Biology, the inventory in learning environment showed high desirable interest and somewhat influential level of satisfaction in terms of science attitude. Students perceived the learning experience as a means to learn the concept and allow them to practice self-directed learning though a comprehensive direction stated in the Learning Activity Sheets (LAS). Students perceived the safety of HBE according to the standards of the conduct of the experiment and health protocols during COVID-19. The experience made them appreciate the opportunity to experience the conduct of experimentation however, the need of learning materials in the experiment itself was accorded as the most interesting factor to improve in the conduct in this study. The given observation was also recognized in the evaluation of parents in terms of their involvement followed by the clarification of concept ask by the students. The study further recommends validation of portable learning kit to be delivered at home coupled in Students Learning Modules (SLEMs) as next phase of the study.