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As the education system in the Philippines has adapted to distance learning due to the global pandemic, self-learning modules also have become the primary learning resources of the learners. However, many modules distributed to learners were criticized due to erroneous contents, level of difficulty, number of tasks, and printing costs. Meanwhile, there were lack of modules for specialized subjects in some public senior high schools. In this regard, this study attempted to develop and validate offline yet electronic modules in one of the specialized subjects in senior high school, Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences (DISS). In developing these, the study used Normative Design and Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model. Twenty (20) Social Science and five (5) ICT teachers in the Division of Biñan City were asked to validate the developed e-modules, while thirty (30) learners from Biñan Integrated National High School were asked to participate in the Implementation Phase. An adopted questionnaire was given to the validators to assess the e-modules’ validity and acceptability while pretests and post-tests were given to the participating learners. Through the ADDIE model, the study was able to design and develop offline e-modules named Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences Knowledge-Amplifying Remote Training E-Modules (DISSKARTE). Using the four-point Likert Scale and the simple mean, findings revealed that its objectives, concepts, topics, directions, exercises, and reflections were all highly valid. The findings showed that its functionality, accuracy, suitability, usability, and efficiency were all highly accepted. Pretest results showed that most of the participants did not meet expectations while the post-test results revealed otherwise as the majority got outstanding and very satisfactory remarks. T-test for dependent means revealed that there were significant differences in the pretests and post-tests. This implied that through DISSKARTE, the learners’ performance on DISS can improve. The study is limited to developing e-modules covering only a quarter of DISS subject. However, it is hoped that the study was able to contribute to the world of literature as there were only few to zero studies about developing instructional materials for DISS especially in the context of new normal.

It is well documented that prenatal ethanol exposure via maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy alters brain and behavioral development in offspring. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises against maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. However, little emphasis has been placed on educating new parents about alcohol consumption while breastfeeding. This is partly due to a paucity of research on lactational ethanol exposure (LEE) effects in children; although, it has been shown that infants exposed to ethanol via breast milk frequently present with reduced body mass, low verbal IQ scores, and altered sleeping patterns. As approximately 36% of breastfeeding mothers in the US consume alcohol, continued research in this area is critical. Our study employed a novel murine LEE model, where offspring were exposed to ethanol via nursing from postnatal day (P) 6 through P20, a period correlated with infancy in humans. Compared to controls, LEE mice had reduced body weights and neocortical lengths at P20 and P30. Brain weights were also reduced in both ages in males, and at P20 for females, however, female brain weights recovered to control levels by P30. We investigated neocortical features and found that frontal cortex thickness was reduced in LEE males compared to controls. Analyses of dendritic spines in the prelimbic subdivision of medial prefrontal cortex revealed a trend of reduced densities in LEE mice. Results of behavioral tests suggest that LEE mice engage in higher risk-taking behavior, show abnormal stress regulation, and exhibit increased hyperactivity. In summary, our data describe potential adverse brain and behavioral developmental outcomes due to LEE. Thus, women should be advised to refrain from consuming alcohol during breastfeeding until additional research can better guide recommendations of safe maternal practices in early infancy.

The Bienvenido Program engages Latinx communities to better understand their mental health concerns and to develop a program that meets their needs., Stanford Social Innovation Review, 19(3), A25-A26