EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DOST SEI - SCIENCE TEACHERS ACADEMY FOR THE REGIONS (STAR) TRAININGS IN REGION 6 - WESTERN VISAYAS.

This paper determined the effectiveness of Science Teachers Academy for the Regions (STAR) trainings on the teaching practice of participants in Region 6 - Western Visayas. The research participants of this study were STAR trainees who attended the STAR Trainings from 2014-2017. The researchers employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey with regards to the effectiveness of their teaching practice. The extent and quality of adaptation of STAR training content and skills in their practice through focus group discussions consisting of 8 participants each in Science and Mathematics were determined. The methods of data collection were online survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), classroom observation, and interview guide questions for In-depth interview. The findings of the study showed that Science and Mathematics teachers showed a great change in their teaching experiences after undergoing Project STAR training. Moreover, the participants insights about the STAR trainings were the different inquiry-based activities that they applied in their classroom, application of the 7Es in the lesson plan, improvement of the learning pedagogy, concepts and skills were easily learn through interdisciplinary contextualization of teachers in preparing a lesson plan was effective in ensuring the appropriate strategies in the lesson. Furthermore, students developed and enhanced their science process skills from the participant's learnings in the STAR trainings. The quality of the adaptation of STAR trainings revealed that trainees had a great transformation from the traditional method of teaching to the inquiry-based method of teaching. The STAR trainings were unique in such a way that participants did not feel that they are bored, it is interactive and less stressful, it is specific and lots of hands-on activities, and it focus more in the content on how to apply it in the classroom. The STAR trainings made a great impact to the STAR trainees in their professional growth by giving them an opportunity to become speakers in their respective institutions and by living the expectations of other people and enabling them to study more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]