Competency-based problem solving and life skills of science

Thesis Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Biological Sciences University of Rizal System-Morong. 2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This study aimed to find out the problem solving skills and life skills of the science education students enrolled in Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) Major in Physical and Biological Sciences . This was conducted in the University of Rizal System Morong during the academic year 2017-2018. The study used descripted research design exploring correlation between the problem solving skills and the life skills of the respondents and determined whether a significant relationship exists. Competency-based problem solving test in Biology comprised of items in the levels of Biological organizations, respiratory and circulatory systems, plant organ systems, biodiversity and evolution. A table of specification (TOS) was designed to complement the eighty-five (85) standardized test in Biology and to match the competencies specifiedin the curriculum guide. The respondents were the eighteen (18) third Year in the BSEd Physical Sciences and twenty-six (26) third Year in the BSEd Biological Sciences. No grouping of the respondents was assigned. Hence, generally named Teacher Education students. After profiling they answered the problem skills (85 items) and the life skills tests ( with perfect score of 96) in different occasions. Mean was used to describe the problem solving skills and life skills and Pearson r for the correlation. Respondents recorded an average problem solving skills in the test and a high life skills. However, there was no significant relationship found between these skills. Instead, skills were branching from a point on how one perceived a problem and how one actually solved it. Conduct of parallel study was recommended to further verify the results and strengthen the conclusion in this research: utilization of other instrument(s) in the determining and describing the life skills were recommended to either support or contest the result of this study; conduct of longitudinal studies for in-depth qualitative description was also recommended to better describe the life skills of respondents and further tests problem-solving for life-long learning