Reflective Pedagogy: Making Meaning in Experiential-Based Learning in Mathematics 9

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience."

- John Dewey

Education serves as an integral part of life as it provides framework in the holistic development of every man. Students must be holistically developed through quality instructions and variety of strategies given by teachers. One of the ways is through writing reflections and insights in the students' journals. Learners can express their understanding as well as their needs through writing. It can also be the basis of the teachers on planning their lessons. In this process, both students and teachers can evaluate the entire teaching-learning process. Because of this, the researcher wanted to provide pieces of evidence through qualitative approach in reflective pedagogy in making meaning to the experiential-based learning in Mathematics on the selected Grade 9 students of Calamba Bayside Integrated School for the School Year 2018-2019 which will be the basis in crafting an action plan to address the developmental needs of the students.

METHODS

The primary source of data was the testimonies of the 50 grade 9 students who were chosen through random sampling. Their responses were treated through qualitative analyses. The researcher prepared the guide questions, recording gadgets, writing materials before facilitating the interview. The recorded interviews were transcribed and reconciled with the written account. Afterwards, the researcher encoded the verbatim transcription, tabulated, and analyzed the data to arrive with the emerging themes.

RESULTS

Based on the testimonies of the students which were encoded, the emerging themes are reflective pedagogy as it provides connection and as it exhibits learning by doing.

DISCUSSIONS

In reflective pedagogy as it provides connection, students can give feedback to their teacher through journal writing. They can write the things they learned in a specific lesson and even the concepts they found difficulty. It makes a connection between the teacher and the students that can really make a harmonious relationship which will be resulted to a positive outcome. On the other hand, reflective pedagogy exhibits learning by doing, teachers relate the concepts of their lessons to everyday routine wherein some of these routines are already experienced by the students. They can share their own life experiences that will help others to really understand the concepts of the lessons. Students also learned more if they are engage in class discussion through different learning activities.