Social Attributes of Students Exposed Under Practical Teaching Approach

Abstract

The study focused on Practical Intelligence (PI) Teaching Approach as an intervention in Botany 1. Specifically, it sought to determine the characteristics of students exposed to the approach as compared to those not exposed in terms of their social attributes.

 Two sections of second year Botany students in a university located in Northern Philippines were taught by the researcher using the PI Teaching Approach and the conventional approach, respectively for eight weeks during the second quarter of School Year 2015-2016.

 Findings reveal that the PI Teaching Approach was more engaged in activities, recited fairly better than the control group, more enthusiastic in learning and exploring biology concepts as evidenced by their improved performance in recitation and laboratory work. Their interest to relate learned concepts to everyday real-world experiences was apparent than in the control group although it did not guarantee a higher achievement rate. Their fluency in the use of botany terms was also notable as they tried to create poems and songs about selected topics.  The researcher then suggests that back-up activities should be prepared by the teacher in order to utilize and channel the high level of energy that they students had since they tend to quickly accomplish given task (e.g. laboratory work). Varied types of home work should also be given to the students for them to be more challenged.