Enhancing Students' Conceptual Understanding on Bioenergetics through Beep Cards

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Educators are challenged with the goal of developing educational materials to improve students' learning. The use of various strategies in the classroom makes the students actively engaged in the learning process. The focus of this study is to determine the effectiveness of BEEP Cards (BioEnergetics Enhancement Play Cards) on learners' conceptual understanding on bioenergetics.

METHODS

The study utilized the action research design to test the effectiveness of BEEP Cards on the learners' conceptual understanding on the lesson as compared to the conventional method. Two groups of Grade 11 learners at Caruhatan National High School were the participants in this study -experimental group (exposed to BEEP Cards) and control group (conventional method).

RESULTS

The data from the pretest and posttest showed that the mean gain score of the experimental group was statistically higher than that of the control group. The students from experimental group evaluated the BEEP Cards using the five criteria: Goals and Objectives, Design, Components and Organization, Playability and Playfulness, and Knowledge Acquisition. All of which received a very satisfactory rating. The statistical result on the effectiveness of the BEEP Cards was supported by the interview conducted in the experimental group. From the interview, two emerging themes have surfaced -motivation and active learning. The students perceived that the BEEP Cards increased learners' motivation to learn the concepts of the lesson. Moreover, it encouraged active learning among the learners.

DISCUSSIONS

The results of the study clearly indicated that the BEEP Cards improved the performance of the learners. The students evaluated the BEEP Cards across all the criteria as very satisfactory. The use of BEEP Cards as a strategy induced motivation and active learning among the learners. With the realization on the importance of learning through active engagement, the utilization of BEEP Cards as a teaching strategy is highly recommended by the researcher for the benefit of the teacher and the learner.