PHILIPPINE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

The National Center for Teacher Education

Mindanao
Prosperidad Agusan del Sur

Activity Title: Philippine Science and Technology: Where are we going?

Brief Introduction:
The Philippine’s current state of Science and Technology may not be familiar to many
students. With regards to the current research priorities and its role in national development, it
often comes to a surprise that there is a general national policy for research priority areas. This
activity aims to familiarize the students with government supported research projects. It allows
them to evaluate these research areas with regards to their role in national development, and to
reflect on how the current state of science and technology in the country can be improved. This
activity serves to support the topic of the role of science and technology in national development.
It involves both individual reflection and small group discussion.

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the activity the students should be able to:

1. Identify key areas for research prioritized for government support.

2. Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of national science policy as determined by government
spending and support.
3. Identify gaps in local research with regards to technology transfer and commercialization.
4. Reflect on the general views of Filipinos towards research carried out locally.

Materials Needed:
Reference material (Available online):

1. What is the role of science in developing countries by Jose Goldemberg, Science 20 Feb
1998: Vol. 279, Issue 5354, pp. 1140-1141
http://science.sceincemag.org/content/279/5354/1140.short
2. Innovations: PCIEERD Annual Report 2015.
http://pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/images/downloads/publicatios/PCIEERD Annual Report
2015.pdf
3. UNESCO Science Report; Towards 2030. Southeast Asia and Oceania, p. 693 – 706;
Country profile Philippines, pp. 716 – 718.
http://en.unseco.org sciencereport
4. State of S&T by Michael Tan. Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 31, 2015.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/87174/state-of-st

Materials for reporting (computer, projector, etc.)

Instructions:
1. Ask all members of the class to read the reference materials provided above.\
2. Individually, ask them to reflect on the state of S&T in the country, while going through the
reference material. You may use (but are not limited to) the following reflection points:

Activity designed by Maria Katrina C. Constantino, December 2016 Ateneo de Manula University
 a) What are the strengths and weaknesses of Philippine Science and Technology research
development?
b) Do you think the government and private sector support relevant science and technology
priority areas?
c) Is the support of the government for science and technology research adequate (in terms of
its prioritization compared to other expenditures)?
d) If you were to draw up 3 top research priorities for the country, what do you think they
should be?
e) How do you “popularize” or drum up support for science and technology research in the
country for different target groups (i.e. students, politicians, investors, local scientists, etc.)
3. Allow them time to read the materials and reflect on the questions given above, making sure
they can give specific examples. (You may ask them to write individual reflection papers.)
4. Group the class into small groups of 4 – 5 students each. Have them share among themselves
their reflections and discuss their points of view and answers.
5. Have the students report to the class the highlights of their sharing (around 5 – 10 minutes per
group), allowing other groups to comment on the reports.

Processing and Assessment Guide:

After all the groups have reported, summarize their answers. Point out similarities among the
groups as well as answers that stood out.

Most likely, answers regarding research priority areas would deal with established technologies
(i.e. agriculture) or those which are very familiar to the students (i.e. communications, etc.)
Emphasize the importance of those but equally point out some areas which may have not received
as much attention. Relate this to the difficulties in “popularizing” science research.

If a reflection paper is required, it may be graded according to the following criteria:

Depth of reflection (conscious and thoughtfulness, understanding)
Clarity (ability to communicate ideas and to address the topic directly)
Use of textual or historical examples or references (correct application of examples)
Mechanics (sentence structure, grammar, spelling, creativity in presentation)

Activity designed by Maria Katrina C. Constantino, December 2016 Ateneo de Manula University