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As Junior High School students return for another year of Online Distance Learning, most were welcomed with academic programs, both old and new. Two activities that made their comeback were the Oral Test and the Science Investigatory Project.
These activities could not be pursued due to the sudden shift in learning brought by the pandemic. Since 2020, this is the first time students get to revisit the said activities. Upon observing the students’ outputs made in ODL, the school was convinced that students already had the skills needed. This prompted the return of SIP and Oral Test.
The return of SIP allowed students to reminisce. For Fiona Dela Rosa from 10A, having an online SIP has its pros and cons.
When asked to rate her experience, she gives her experience a 7 because she can develop her knowledge on certain topics and learn skills needed for research. However, she also shares that SIP could be mentally tiring.
While some students have something to look back on, that is not the case for some. For freshmen students like Gabrielle Baura of 7C, the Oral Test is a new thing. Like many first timers, reviewing for her first Oral Test made her feel scared and anxious.
“When reviewing, I feel scared of what will happen, if I will get a low score or not,” she said. However, Baura also claimed that one of the benefits brought about by the Oral Test is one’s ability to master the lesson. As such, formulating one’s response first before answering the question is a great technique to avoid mental block.
The “ates and kuyas” of JHS are already familiar with the Oral Test. However, having it online is a whole new experience. Franshei Duana of 9B shares that for the online version of the nerve-wracking test, students get called one by one in Zoom. Students randomly pick a number with a corresponding question, and they must answer within one minute.
“I think it’s better in ODL [because] it’s teacher and student basis, unlike in face to face, [where] everybody is looking at you,” Duana said, when asked to choose between face-to-face or virtual oral tests.
Indeed, the return of SIP and Oral Test came as a surprise. Sir Benjamin Baggay, the JHS Science Coordinator, explained the plan to revive SIP was already in discussion since last school year. The said proposal was then finalized for hands-on learning, as opposed to numerous exams.
“SIP is an authentic type of activity, and at the same time, a form of assessment. It is also an opportunity for all the students to have an engaging way to learn more about Science. Kumbaga, ito yung tinatawag natin na learning by doing,” Baggay stated.
Compared to what most students were accustomed to, major but substantial modification schemes were made for the program. Grade 7 students are tasked with completing only Chapter 1. For Grade 8 students, an SIP proposal is their final requirement. Meanwhile, Grade 9 and 10 students have to work on a full paper following the IMRAD method, with the latter showcasing their SIP products at the end of the year.
Apart from the changes in the coverage, new set-ups were introduced. For example, with the absence of hands-on experimentation done in a face-to-face set-up, most studies are now centered in using qualitative data. Consultations and pre-graded outputs were also allotted so that teachers could guide students.
“SIP in SSI will always be a very successful endeavor. Ako, naniniwala ako diyan. This could be one way to spell the difference between SSIans and other students,” Baggay said.
Despite the fact that SIP and Oral Test may be dreaded by some students, there is no denying that their comeback brings us the opportunity to learn and discover more. With the comeback of activities like SIP and Oral Test, productive and engaging learning continues, even beyond the comforts of our own homes.
