Honing Cognitive and Manipulative Skills in Science of Junior High School Students in Area 1 Division of Batangas

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive and manipulative skills predict performance in science. Efforts at developing skills in science to become scientifically literate citizens are a laudable reform that should be considered by all educators. This is in response to resolve issues involved in the declining performance of students in science. Along with this view, this study aimed to assess the cognitive and manipulative skills in science of junior high school students with the end view of proposing enhancement activities.

METHODS

The study used the descriptive method of research with the questionnaire as the data gathering instrument with an interview conducted to substantiate data. Respondents were 53 junior high school science teachers in three selected biggest schools in Area I, Division of Batangas. Frequency, percentage, weighted mean and Pearson product correlation were the statistical tools utilized to treat data.

RESULTS

Results of the study revealed that the respondents were mostly biology majors with MA units who had attended local and national seminars and training for the last five years of teaching and participated in science competitions. As based on their assessments, the students' cognitive skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics were sometimes observed and students' manipulative laboratory skills were evident. A significant relationship between the cognitive skills in all science areas and manipulative skills in terms of cleaning and safekeeping were noted; however, no significant relationship was noted between the cognitive skills in chemistry and manipulative skills in terms of handling scientific laboratory apparatus.

DISCUSSIONS

Findings also indicated that science teachers agreed that there were factors that hindered the development of the students' cognitive and manipulative skills. As a contribution to enhancing science literacy among students, the researcher proposed activities to hone students' cognitive and manipulative skills, which were recommended for evaluation. Moreover, it was recommended that factors that hindered the development of students' cognitive and manipulative skills be addressed and found solutions to make students science literate individuals.