Last January 7 to 11, 2013, Mrs. Jinky Baltazar of Bataan National High School and I attended a seminar in Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo. The training was about Biotechnology. Basically, Biotechnology is an advance subject given to third year students of the Special Science Classes, but for the incoming school year (2013-2014) it will be catered to grade 8 students. To enrich the subject and the STEP (Science, Technology and Engineering Program), the Department of Education (DepEd) together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) designed a new curriculum for Biotechnology. The said curriculum was adapted and was based from the K to 12 which recognizes the role of science and technology in everyday human associations. It was designed around the three domains of learning science: understanding and applying scientific knowledge in local situation as well as global context whenever possible, performing scientific processes and skills, and developing and demonstrating scientific attitudes and values.
As participants during the training, we were delighted that we took part in making the Curriculum Guide for Biotechnology. I believe that teachers are good sources of information since they have first-hand experience in teaching the subject and they know the learning competencies that should be taught to the students. To avoid duplication or replication of lessons in the Grade 8 Science Class, they compared the contents that will be discussed in grade 8 Biology subject with the contents to be taken in the Biotechnology subject. As a whole, the inclusion of Biotechnology as an advance subject will better reflect the rapidly-changing world of science and technology and will provide students with a repertoire of competencies important in the world of work and in a knowledge-based society.
By: Ms. Cristina C. Samaniego | Teacher II | Limay National High School
