The Extension Program titled: From Inquiry to Impact: Unlocking Practical Solutions for Continuous Teaching and Learning Improvement through Action Research in Mathematics was developed to support Department of Education teachers in Abra by helping them strengthen their skills in conducting action research in mathematics. This was reflected as one of the needs of the target clienteles after conducting the needs assessment survey questionnaire for extension program of the Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics. This extension program primarily aimed to help address concerns on the low performance of the Philippines in National and International Mathematics performance evaluations like NAT, PISA and TIMSS. The event is aligned with the university’s research thrusts and agenda, and is designed to boost graduate students and DepEd clientele’s participation in research, leading to publication, utilization, and patenting that will be of help in innovating and addressing gaps in the classroom and teaching -learning process. Dr. Jonathan P. Zales, Program Head and Training Coordinator for MAT-Mathematics, then delivered the rationale and opening remarks, highlighting the purpose of the gathering and the importance of the collaboration between the graduate school and the public schools in Abra.
The event commenced with Session 1, focusing on "Priority Thrusts and Agendas in Mathematics Education" and "Ethics in Research," led by Dr. Rynheart Atmosfera, a core faculty member of MAT-Mathematics. Participants engaged in discussions about current priorities in mathematics education and the ethical considerations essential for conducting research. In Session 2, Dr. Atmosfera guided attendees through "Mastering the Art of Identifying Research Topics and Questions," emphasizing strategies to pinpoint impactful research areas and formulate meaningful questions.
Session 3 featured Prof. Reymond S. Vasquez, also from the MAT-Mathematics core faculty, who delved into "Theoretical Framework and Related Literature Writing with Conceptual Framework Alignment and APA Referencing Style." This session provided insights into constructing robust theoretical frameworks, aligning conceptual models, and adhering to APA referencing standards. Continuing into Session 4, Prof. Vasquez addressed "Tool Development, Validation, and Reliability Testing," offering guidance on creating effective research instruments and ensuring their validity and reliability.
Alumna Novelyn B. Valera facilitated Session 5, focusing on "Research Design, Methodologies in Action Research, and Choosing Appropriate Statistical Tools." She shared practical experiences and methodologies pertinent to action research, aiding participants in selecting suitable statistical tools for their studies.In Session 6, Dr. Maria Rebecca Talledo conducted a workshop on "SPSS and Academic AI Tools," providing hands-on experience with statistical software and exploring AI tools beneficial for academic research.
In total, it was attended by 38 public school teachers and 6 MAT-Math students enrolled for the semester. Critiquing of capsule blueprint proposals were also done to culminate the activity. The program concluded with a closing ceremony, where certificates were awarded to participants. Dr. Talledo delivered the closing remarks, reflecting on the sessions' content and outlining future of the group.
This phase of the outreach program is in response to the needs of DepEd Schools in Abra for a Research making seminar workshop after letting them receive the results of the recently conducted Training Needs Assessment Teachers in the Public-Schools of Abra by Zales, J., Bose Jr, P., and Vazquez, R. (2024) wherein it presented that research assistance is the primary need of the target clienteles amongst all other indicators. This extension program primarily aimed to help address concerns on the low performance of the Philippines in National and International Mathematics performance evaluations like the National Achievement Test, PISA 2018 & 2022 and TIMSS.
Likewise, this was also a recommendation of the conducted research study of Zales J., Vasquez R., and Atmosfera, R. (2019) entitled “Needs Analysis on the Research Capabilities of the Diocesan School Teachers of Abra: Basis for a Capability Enhancement Program”, Zales, J. and Talledo M.R., (2022) entitled: Skills and Competence Self-Assessment and Level of Importance of CIMD Trainings of ASIST: Basis for Higher Education Professional Retooling Plan. That the institution could extend to address the needs of other members of the education workforce that will enable them to ensure quality of education offered to every learner in the basic education in which DepEd schools are also included. Many DepEd schools are partners cooperating schools of ASIST in the deployment of practice teachers of the college and to add that most of graduate students are coming from the partner institution. Moreover, there are also number of students who happened to be a faculty of the institution pursuing their masters who also participated in the extension program.