ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--A groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing science education has brought together over 100 secondary school teachers from different parts of Mindanao through training.
The Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (BBL) and the Chemical Society of Thailand (CST) jointly organized this two-day small-scale chemistry training program in collaboration with the Premier Research Institute of Science and Mathematics (PRISM), the Office of the Vice Chancellor for International Affairs, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).
Transforming education
The training focused on imparting innovative small-scale chemistry techniques, which involve reducing the scale of chemical reactions and conducting experiments using plastic materials instead of traditional glassware.
This paradigm shift not only offers cost-effective alternatives but also ensures safety at the forefront of experimentation. By doing so, chemistry education is rendered not only accessible but also engaging for both educators and students.
Prof. Supawan Tantayanon, director of the BBL-CST Training Program of the Chemical Society of Thailand leads the Small-Scale Chemistry Training for high school teachers of Mindanao. (ADD/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
"The Chemical Society of Thailand would like to promote the learning of chemistry to the younger students or next generation, and we found that by doing small-scale chemistry, which is the reduction of the amount of chemical use in traditional laboratories down about 1,000 times less than the actual amount in general that we are doing right now," said Prof. Supawan Tantayanon, director of the BBL-CST Training Program of the Chemical Society of Thailand.
The impact of these revolutionary techniques extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. By embracing small-scale training, educators are liberated from the constraints of laboratory setups.
"Small-scale training allows you to do [experiments] in just a normal classroom; you don't have to have a laboratory. It does not take a lot of time, so the teacher can handle that on their own. That will enhance more technical lessons in the school," said Prof. Vudhichai Parasuk, president of the Chemical Society of Thailand.
Prof. Supawan Tantayanon, director of the BBL-CST Training Program of the Chemical Society of Thailand introduces the Chemistry Education Kit to Dr. Mylene Uy, director of Premier Research Institute of Science and Mathematics and MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
Championing a greener future
The training paves the way for a transformative path recognizing the role of green chemistry, or sustainable chemistry, which is an approach that embraces design, production, and usage strategies to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Incorporating Green Chemistry principles into schools creates a safer and more sustainable learning environment.
"The biggest challenge [that this training is addressing] is the chemical waste and its effect on the environment. If you have a lot of chemical waste, it will be damaging to the environment. The other one is cost; it will now be more affordable to do lab experiments in our high schools," said Dr. Mylene Uy, director of PRISM.
Meanwhile, MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan envisions the replication of this transformative program.
"We hope we can replicate this program so that we can train more secondary teachers that can do this kind of innovative approach to lab experiments without really spending so much and without the need for laboratory facilities. You can actually do this inside the classroom with minimal cost and minimal risk for the students," he said.
New horizons in chemistry education
Abdul Basit Barabat, a participant in the training and a research and science teacher at Munai National High School in Lanao del Norte province, shared that the workshop has been an eye-opening opportunity.
He mentioned that teaching Chemistry becomes a challenge, especially in remote areas where they utilize alternative methods for teaching. He said that the training and the Chemistry Education Kit provided to them will be helpful to their teaching.
"Thank you for this opportunity; thank you for sharing their knowledge; this is a great opportunity not only for me but for the whole secondary teachers. Nagpapasalamat ako kasi experience ko 'tong once in a lifetime (I am grateful because I experienced this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity)," he said.
The initiative will not only nurture the young minds but will also sow the seeds of environmental stewardship as it cultivates a generation of conscientious individuals who are dedicated to preserving the planet for generations to come. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
