This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pedagogical Content Knowledge-Guided Lesson Study (PCKLS) as an intervention to develop PCK competencies among teachers and consequently enhance student achievement in terms of conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Using quasi-experimental design, teacher competencies and student achievement in the PCKLS group and the conventional group were compared. In the PCKLS group, the intervention involved planning the lesson by the research team, teaching the planned lesson while PCK observations were made by the researcher and another teacher from the group, including a feedback meeting, implementing the improvements in the reteach stage of the lesson study cycle by another teacher from the research team, and, finally, revising lesson plans based on the consolidated suggestions for improvement. Analyses of data showed that there was a significant difference in the science teacher competencies of the PCKLS group teacher respondents compared to those of the conventional group. Also, student respondents showed a significant increase on mean scores in terms of conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. Therefore, it was concluded that PCKLS was an effective method to develop the teachers’ PCK competencies and student achievement in terms of conceptual understanding and problem solving. This study recommends that this intervention be used across chemistry topics and in other science classes such as Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics, and Mathematics.

The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of career-oriented performance task (COPT) approach against the traditional teaching approach (TTA) in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills. Specifically, it sought to find out if students exposed to COPT have higher critical thinking skills than those students exposed to the traditional teaching approach (TTA). COPT approach aims to integrate career-oriented examples and inquiry-based activities in general inorganic chemistry. The study used the quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The sample of the study consisted of two (2) intact sections of first-year students in a private higher education institution in Manila who are enrolled in general inorganic chemistry during the second semester of school year 2011-2012. Thirty-nine (39) students are in the COPT class while thirty-eight (38) students are in the TTA class. The instrument used in the study is the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA) to evaluate students’ critical thinking skills. The study found out that the mean posttest score in the WGCTA was not significantly higher for students exposed to COPT than for students exposed to TTA. The COPT approach in teaching chemistry was not effective in enhancing students’ critical thinking skills given the limited time of intervention. Longer exposure to intervention is necessary to enhance students’ critical thinking skills.

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Introduction"What do I teach in my science lesson and how should I teach it?" is a question asked regularly by science teachers. It is a query as to content and strategy that will equip students with the skills necessary in making informed and thoughtful decisions on myriads of science arguments and environmental issues. AbstractThe study focused on media cartoons as a teaching strategy in Environmental Education. Specifically, it sought to determine the effects of media cartoons on the issue resolution skills of first year high school students. The study was conducted in La Salle Green Hills that had eleven sections in the first year high school level for the School Year 2009-2010. Two comparable sections being taught by the researcher were chosen as the groups for the study. Both classes met for 80 minutes per meeting, three times a week. The students were given a pretest and a posttest on both Issue Resolution Skills Test (IRST). The IRST measured the ability to provide solutions to various environmental issues and problems. A teaching strategy that included film showing, group dynamics, laboratory activities, and motivational games was utilized for the conventional group. Media cartoons that improve skills in issue resolution and conceptual understanding of topics on Environmental Education were introduced to the students in the experimental group.The scores in the pretest and posttest of the participants were tabulated and used to determine the significant difference of the students' mean performance in the media cartoons and conventional groups. The t-test was utilized in the treatment and analysis of data gathered. Findings reveal that exposure to media cartoons results to a significantly better issue resolution skills on environmental education topics than the conventional approach. The researcher observed that students actively engaged themselves in media cartoon activities that enabled them to make responsible actions and provide solutions to local and global environmental problems. Students had an active participation in sharing insights and opinions in evaluating the message of media cartoons.Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concludes that exposure to media cartoons significantly improves the issue resolution skills of students. The strategy provided a learning opportunity in a non-threatening setting that promotes students' skills of observation, formulation of hypothesis, and creativity. In this regard, the researcher encourages the use of media cartoons as an alternative teaching strategy as it improved the issue resolution skills of students. Learning activities in combination with environmental education methods can greatly enhance students' engagement with environmental and science issues.

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