Teaching Competence and Challenges Encountered in Secondary Science Instruction

The main purpose of this study was to assess the teaching competence of secondary science teacher instruction in terms of the teaching competence in educational qualification; eligibility; teaching experience; number of training attended; utilization of instructional support system such as laboratory apparatus, facilities and equipment; the teaching method employed and the relationship among these variables. The study was conducted in the big schools of the First Congressional District of Bohol. A total of 812 participants were identified comprising 72 secondary science teachers, 20 school principals and 720 students. The data were subjected to statistical treatment using the weighted mean to assess the teaching competence of science teachers as perceived by themselves, principals and students. The weighted mean was used to determine the educational qualification, performance rating, number of teaching experience, number of trainings attended, utilization of instructional support system such as laboratory apparatus, facilities and equipment and the teaching method employed by the science teacher. Analysis of Variance was used to determine the relationship of teaching competence between educational qualification, years of service, Bachelors and major Degree. Bonferonni and Holms Multiple Comparison test was used for years of service since ANOVA resulted to significantly different results. For the eligibility and performance rating, T-test for two independent means because they were only two (2) groups being compared. However, for the utilization of laboratory apparatus, facilities and other teaching resources and teaching methods employed, both use the correlation because the independent and dependent variables are continuous variables and that is, numerical scale was used. Findings showed that there is a significant relationship on teaching competence between number of teaching experience and teaching methods. This study found out that teaching methods and number of years in teaching affect the teaching competence. Hence, it is urged, that DepEd Personnel should utilize the result of this study and consider the proposed enhancement plan for the improvement of teaching competence in science instruction.

Characterization of Customized Encapsulant Polyvinyl Butyral Used in the Solar Industry and Its Impact on the Environment

Taking climate and geopolitical issues into account, we must shift our thinking towards “eco” and focus on renewable energy. The accessible solar energy represents 400 times the amount of consumption, while its potential represents 10,000 times the amount of demand. The paper aims to analyze recycled, customized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with high purity (more than 98%) concerning its physicochemical and mechanical properties and its possible applicability in the photovoltaic industry as an encapsulating material. The detailed investigation on polyvinyl butyral starting from characterizations, homogenization, and moulding process to tensile tests and used exposure testing in laboratory apparatus are performed. Samples of recycled polyvinyl butyral were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the value 0.76 W.m–2.nm–1 at 340 nm, water spray, drying at 50 °C and condensation for 320 h when the radiation was turned off. The results obtained were more controlled in a laboratory environment than those found in external, uncontrolled environments. These conditions subsequently accelerate any degradation of polyvinyl butyral as a material and subsequent degradation of the final product.

The Effectiveness of Indigenous and Low – Cost- Teacher Made Science Instructional Materials in Selected Third Year Students of The Balayan National High School

The study entitled “The Effectiveness of Indigenous and Low-Cost-Teacher Made Science Instructional Materials in Selected third Year Students of the Balayan National High School” aimed to strongly emphasized the manner by which science is taught as well as the content are matters of concern that need careful analysis. The use of indigenous and low cost-made instructional materials by the science III teachers becomes highly commendable and their relation to selected variables: students’ achievement in science, students’ attitude toward the use of low-cost teacher made instructional materials in selected third year students of Balayan National High School .The researcher would like to find out whether the use of indigenous and low-cost instructional materials will be of great help to the students’ improved achievement in science and contribute to upgrade the science instruction in secondary level. Based on the results, it was found out that indigenous and low – cost teacher –made science instructional materials were effective substitute for different laboratory apparatuses and there were positive attitudes of the students with regard to the utilization of indigenous and low – cost teacher – made science instructional materials. There was a significant correlation of the degree of utilization of the materials with respect to students’ performance in Science; the effectiveness of indigenous and low – cost teacher – made science instructional materials were 100% effective as that of the actual laboratory apparatus.

The design of a laboratory apparatus to simulate the dust generated by longwall shield advances

A laboratory apparatus (shield dust simulator) was designed and constructed to simulate the dust generated during the advance of longwall hydraulic roof supports, or shields. The objective of the study was to develop a tool that could be used to test the hypothesis that foam applied to a mine roof prior to a shield advance could be used to reduce the respirable dust generated during shield advances. This paper will outline the design parameters for the development of the system, as well as describe baseline testing of coal and limestone dust. Results show that the average instantaneous respirable dust concentrated during simulated shield advance. Confidence intervals were calculated from the instantaneous respirable dust data to determine the repeatability of the data produced by the device.

Downscaling of Industrial Turbo-Distillation to Laboratory Turbo-Clevenger for Extraction of Essential Oils. Application of Concepts of Green Analytical Chemistry

In the effort of innovation towards green analytical chemistry concepts and considering the six principles of green extraction, the industrial turbodistillation process was downscaled into a laboratory apparatus turbo-Clevenger (TC) for the extraction of essential oils. Turbodistillation is used as an industrial purpose for the extraction of essential oils from hard matrixes such as wood, barks, seeds. In this work, a TC and the conventional technique of hydrodistillation (HD, Clevenger apparatus) are used for the extraction of essential oils from three spices with hard structures (Illicium verum, Schinus terebinthifolius, and Cinnamomum cassia) and are compared. This study shows that the essential oils extracted by TC in 30 min were quantitatively (yield and kinetics profile) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar to those obtained using conventional hydrodistillation in 3 h. This process, which gave a reduced extraction time, was perfectly adapted to the extraction of hard matrixes.