Teachers' and students' biology laboratory skills: Basis for the development of laboratory guide

Abstract

This Design-based research was conducted to determine the extent of acquisition of Biology laboratory skills of STEM students, to determine the extent to which Biology teachers integrate laboratory in their classes to better equip these students with the needed skills, and to assess the present conditions of Biology laboratory of the Senior High Schools offering STEM in Guimaras. Using these as basis, the ADDIE model was utilized to create a Biology laboratory guide to enhance the laboratory skills among STEM students in the Senior High School, in preparation for college. The researcher used a researcher-made questionnaire for students' laboratory skills acquisition, teachers' integration of Biology laboratory, and present conditions of laboratory among schools. One-on-one interviews with the teacher-participants were conducted in order to enrich the data gathered. For the Analysis phase, the responses were analyzed, and found those Biology laboratory skills acquired to a low extent, as well as those without laboratory activities conducted by the teachers were identified as 'gaps'. These became the basis for the Design of the Biology 1 Laboratory Guide for Senior High School. During the Development phase, 5Es (engage, explore, explain, evaluate and extend) was used in the content of the laboratory guide. The different laboratory procedures were carried out in the Implementation phase, of which the teacher-implementers, teacher-observers and students have given their observations and comments on the delivered guide. The Evaluation phase then followed, where the developed laboratory guide was evaluated by a set of experts. Students have generally acquired Biology Laboratory Skills to a high extent, except for certain laboratory procedures. These certain laboratory skills were not developed because of the lack of activities to enhance their skills; laboratories among schools lack the appropriate Biology laboratory facilities and equipment. Laboratory work in Biology must be viewed as essential to every Biology class. Finally, the use of the developed Biology I Laboratory Guide for Senior High School is recommended. Improvements in facilities must therefore be taken into consideration and teachers include laboratory activities in Biology classes.