Increasing Students Achievement in Science using Intentional Vocabulary Approach

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Science is a core element in the elementary and high school levels. Its inclusion in the school curricula aimed at achieving a degree of "scientific literacy", which will enable citizens to be effective in modern societies. However, based on the result of the National Achievement Test, poor achievement levels in Science of Filipino students have been observed for years. The purpose of this action research is to observe student achievement in Science based on different vocabulary teaching strategies. It also aims to increase students' knowledge of Science concepts by developing their vocabulary background.

METHODS

This study used experimental design to determine which teaching approach provides better learning outcomes, the traditional teaching approach or the INTENTIONAL VOCABULARY APPROACH. The respondents of the study were purposively selected based on the mean gain performance on the First Periodical Examination and were assigned as the control and experimental group. A validated pre-test was given to the respondents prior to the use of INTENTIONAL VOCABULARY APPROACH to the experimental group and the traditional teaching approach to the control group. After incorporating different vocabulary strategies, validated post-test was administered to check if the proposed approach increases science achievement.

RESULTS

Data were statistically analyzed using the mean to determine the level of performance of the control and experimental group based on the pre-test and post-test in Biology 7. Dependent t-test were used to determine the significant difference between the pre-test and post -test results of the control and experimental group. The significant difference between the post-test results of the control and experimental group were analyzed using the independent t-test. The results show that INTENTIONAL VOCABULARY APPROACH significantly provides better learning outcome as compared to the traditional teaching method.

DISCUSSIONS

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT is explicitly teaching specific words to students and is commonly used in English subject. However, there are domain-specific words that must be clearly introduced to the students before, during and after a discussion on other learning areas specifically in Science. Developing the vocabulary background of student increases literacy and content-area achievement. Direct instruction enables students to learn complex concepts and ideas that are more common inthe written text compared to spoken language. Thus, it is suggested that teachers should incorporate vocabulary learning as a priority and include it on the instructional activity.