Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, Director of UP NISMED, and Dr. Aida I. Yap, Chair of the Elementary School Mathematics Group, participated in the APEC-KKU 2016 International Symposium and the 9th International Conference on Educational Research (ICER) held at Khon Kaen University, Thailand on 12-15 November 2016. The theme of the APEC-KKU 2016 Symposium was Innovation of Mathematics Education through Lesson Study Challenges to Energy Efficiency on STEM and Cross-border Education while that of the 9th ICER was Challenging Education for Future Change.
In the APEC-KKU 2016 Symposium, Dr. Ulep and Dr. Yap, together with Dr. Haji Mohd Johan Bin Zakaria, Director of SEAMEO RECSAM in Malaysia, presented the results of the cross-border education cooperation that they conducted in relation to the APEC Lesson Study Project which started in 2006. The Philippines and Malaysia undertook a cross-border education cooperation involving one mathematics class from each country through videoconferencing. The videoconferencing was held at the UP NISMED auditorium on 29 September 2016. The UP NISMED Audiovisual Group and the UP Diliman Interactive Learning Center provided the technical support.
The teachers of these classes implemented a common lesson in which each of them had a particular role to carry out. The two classes took turns in asking questions and in answering questions. The video conference provided an opportunity for students to communicate and exchange ideas regarding energy conservation and energy efficiency. They compared the cost of electric consumption shown on the electric bill of a sample typical household from each country. The two classes acquired a better understanding and appreciation of the underlying reasons for the similarities and differences relative to energy use as well as the importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency.
The Philippine team was composed of Ms. Lady Angela M. Rocena of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) who implemented the lesson to UPIS Grade 5 students, Mr. Guillermo P. Bautista, Jr. of the UP NISMED High School Mathematics Group, Dr. Ulep, and Dr. Yap. On the part of Malaysia, the team was composed of Ms. Teoh Bee Yan of the Penang Free School (PFS) who implemented the lesson to PFS Grade 7 students, Mr. Pedro l. Montecillo, Jr., Mr. Julito Aligain, and Dr. Nur Jahan Ahmad, all of whom are from SEAMEO-RECSAM.
