The emergence of this global pandemic brought about with it changes in the lifestyle of individuals and systems of different sectors. The education sector was not exempted as the cancellation of face-to-face classes required the need for new modes of learning. To keep up with these changes, the promotion of science education has become important now more than ever to help inform the masses regarding necessary scientific facts and data. To respond to the shifting paradigms, the Ateneo Chemistry Society brings you a new face of Build-A-Lab 2020-2021, one that would contribute to catering to the needs of our educational sector amid the pandemic.
Build-A-Lab (BAL) is a year-long flagship project of the Ateneo Chemistry Society (ACheS) that aims to help public high schools have access to improved Science education by enhancing their laboratories through donating equipment, materials, and teaching aids for teachers, i.e modules. Given the restraints imposed by this pandemic and the implementation of the community quarantine, it is truly essential to adapt to the times while still responding to the needs of the partner schools. This is done in the project by allowing students access to necessary learning materials, which include modules, tutorial systems, worksheets, and load cards, to improve and maximize their online, distance learning.
The modules made for this project are designed to supplement students and their teachers in learning Chemistry. It shall be made available through the webpage created by the Filipino Science Hub, along with their publicly accessible modules, to further widen its reach and allow students greater access to different resources. These are also patterned from the Most Essential Learning Competencies provided by the Department of Education to maximize the learning of our young learners. Links to supplementary materials are provided to enrich their understanding of important chemistry concepts. Some learning tips from the authors’ experiences are also included in the special discussion section. In addition, worksheets are tailored to maximize learning given how limited their access is to essential learning materials.
Tutorial systems are also in place to ensure that no student is left behind. In this system, asynchronous video lectures are provided and discussion boards are made available to cater to the curious minds of the youth. Of course, to ensure accessibility, four months’ worth of load cards from partner institutions will be provided to the students. With these efforts, we can all contribute in providing young minds access to learning resources that they need.
The rise in the active cases in the COVID-19 in the Philippines over the past few weeks also gives rise to greater uncertainties for the future of Philippine education. With the threat of another school year following the distance learning setup, more challenges and difficulties are expected to arise with regards to accessibility and the acquisition of learning competencies. As such, the Build-A-Lab team implores you to support the project, so that the project may be of greater help to the brothers and sisters that need our support, students of our two partner schools, both in the predicament they are currently in and ones they’re most likely to face in the near future. You may support the project by donating cash through our official BDO, Paymaya, and GCash accounts. For BDO, you can donate in this account number: 002150313878 under the name of Justine Jules E. Valenzuela. For both PayMaya and GCash, you can donate via 09562366273 under the name of Michael Raymond T. Samson.The project team assures the public that all cash donations collected will be used for the benefit of the project’s partner schools, be it the provision of gadgets or load allowance. You may check our official Facebook page (@ACheSBuildALab) for more details about the project, as well as updates and transparency reports on the donation drive’s current status.
ADVT.