Pedagogical Content

 

TEACHING METHODS OF THE TEACHER I OBSERVED

My cooperating teacher, Sir Jake T. Quesada, applied a structured and effective teaching method in the classroom. Before starting each lesson, he always prepared a Weekly Lesson Plan for each chapter of the subject matter, ensuring that every session was well-organized. During the teaching process, Sir Jake used a combination of methods, including lecture, discussion, presentation, and question-and-answer. This combination was designed to encourage active student participation and provide variety in the learning approach.

Each class session began with the students standing and greeting him with “Good morning, Sir” as a sign of respect. Afterward, they started the lesson with a prayer led by one of the students at the front of the class. Following the prayer, Sir Jake routinely checked student attendance to ensure that everyone was present and ready to learn.

The lesson started with Sir Jake explaining the material using the LED TV at the front of the class. His explanations were very detailed and aligned with the textbook and the lesson plan he had prepared. After explaining the material, Sir Jake gave students several problems to solve. Each question was allotted 2-3 minutes to allow the students to think critically and apply the knowledge they had just learned.

Once the time for answering was over, Sir Jake continued by explaining the steps and rules for solving the problems correctly. He also patiently corrected common mistakes made by the students, helping them learn from their errors and improve their understanding. Before the class ended, Sir Jake always summarized what had been learned that day, ensuring that students grasped the key points of the lesson.  At the end of the class, the students would say “Thank you, Sir” as a gesture of appreciation for the lesson. Sir Jake’s approach not only focused on understanding the material but also fostered discipline, courtesy, and cooperation among the students.

LEARNING MATERIALS AND INNOVATION

During the classroom sessions, Sir Jake T. Quesada implemented various innovative and engaging teaching materials to enhance student understanding. The instructional tools he used included an LED TV, which allowed for a more visual and interactive presentation of the material, and PowerPoint presentations specifically designed to support his explanations. A laptop was utilized to access additional information and provide variety in instructional methods. In the classroom, the whiteboard and markers served as tools for directly explaining chemistry concepts, encouraging students to actively participate in discussions. Additionally, they were equipped with a periodic table and a scientific calculator, which were essential tools in helping them perform calculations and understand chemical formulas.

When learning in the laboratory, students used various laboratory equipment that was appropriate for the experiments they were conducting. During my observation, I saw students carrying out separation experiments using distillation and paper chromatography. In the distillation experiment, the equipment used included a Bunsen burner, round-bottom flask, tripod, wire gauze, condenser, thermometer, Erlenmeyer flask, funnel, watch glass, and beaker, as well as materials such as alcohol and water. Meanwhile, in the paper chromatography experiment, students used colored markers, scissors, ruler, pencil, filter paper (in appropriate sizes), alcohol, and beaker. With the combination of varied teaching materials in the classroom and appropriate laboratory tools, Sir Jake created an effective learning environment that supported the development of practical skills and the understanding of scientific concepts among his students.

SOURCES OF LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY 

USED BY TEACHER

Sir Jake T. Quesada used the book General Chemistry 1 (2^nd Edition) by Apodaca, D.C. (2020), published by Diwa Learning, as the primary source in his teaching for the 11^th grade STEM A-E classes. This book contained comprehensive information about relevant chemistry concepts and served as an important guide for students in understanding the material being taught. In addition to the textbook, Sir Jake also utilized various supporting media, such as charts that displayed the rules for naming chemical formulas. The use of these charts greatly assisted students in comprehending and retaining the information presented, encouraging them to engage more actively in classroom discussions.

In terms of technology, Sir Jake T. Quesada utilized a laptop connected to an LED TV available in each classroom to display teaching materials and quiz questions. Through this use of technology, he was able to present information in a visual and interactive manner, making the learning process more engaging and effective. This combination of diverse learning resources and advanced technology significantly contributed to enhancing students' understanding of complex chemistry topics.