By Shenette T. Lape and May Joy S. Olmido, SILAK Media
With an aim to introduce science experiments in a way that children would understand, Japan Outreach Team, in collaboration with Philippine Science High School – Western Visayas Campus (PSHS-WVC), extended its scope of alliance to West Visayas State University (WVSU) in developing better science educators.
In partnership with the Federation of World Youth (FoWY) and Japan’s Educate and Develop (EDULOP), an initial meeting was held on Feb. 27, 2023, 2 p.m. at the WVSU Conference Room discussing the initial plans of pushing through “Project Re: TaNarau 3.0”, a collaborative science outreach activity headed by students from PSHS-WVC and students from universities in Japan — aiming to yield better scientists and entice children to get into the field of science.
“I’d like you to continue to interview schools that are open for collaboration and we continue with the project. You will enhance the students and the entire university – you educate people,” said Mr. Kouichi Hasegawa, head of International of EDULOP Japan.
Moreover, the team plans to conduct science experiments through the University’s pre-service teachers in the College of Education with the Japanese educators exposing them to science education strategies that are used in Japan.
“It is all about promoting science education. It is the best channel in the College of Education for their practice teachers — not only for the community but also for students who are aspiring to be teachers,” said Prof. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka, director of the WVSU International and Local Linkages Office.
Furthermore, Dr. Aris Larroder, research unit head of the PSHS-WVC, highlighted that Project TaNarau 1.0 enabled students to conduct home-based science experiments despite the absence of a school laboratory during the pandemic, while Project TaNarau 2.0 enabled them to design supplementary materials to show animated science concepts with the aid of paper only and not electricity.
“Science education is inclusive to the learners and here in Project Re: TaNarau, learning materials are designed by the learners for other learners. We simply integrate pedagogy, as we have to make sure that at a very young age, the students can already contribute to the learning gaps,” Dr. Larroder added.
A follow-up meeting is said to be held soon, hoping to make WVSU a part of the third installment of this project./END