‘Students must learn to connect science with reality’

Elementary students must learn how to connect what they learn in science through reinforced lessons that would allow them to apply what they learn to their daily activities, according to Developmental Approaches for Science and Health trainer Carol Ann Brennan.

Brennan said schoolchildren should be taught in ways that would make science easier to understand and apply to reality.

Together with fellow trainer Brooke Davis, Brennan is currently conducting a two-week certification workshop on Developmental Approaches for Science and Health, or DASH, to 87 local elementary teachers at the Kagman Elementary School. Both Brennan and Davis are from the University of Hawaii.

Public School System science and health coordinator Jackie Quitugua said the workshop is also being held to certify seven local teachers who underwent DASH summer training for two consecutive years in Hawaii. The seven trainers are currently helping the two visiting trainers.

The seven CNMI teachers seeking certification as DASH trainers are Koblerville Elementary School’s Rizalina Maratita, Alicia Taman, Elizabeth Mendiola, and Francis Mendiola; San Antonio Elementary School’s Hilda Rios; and Sinapalo Elementary School’s Euterina Calvo and Leslie Barcinas.

Brennan said these teachers are excellent and have shown exemplary knowledge in science.

She said the workshop also aims to align methods of science teaching with the standards- and research-based teaching under the standards of the U.S. Department of Education. The workshop also intends to increase the children’s understanding of the subject by helping them connect their understanding with science.

Brennan, a pioneer DASH trainer since 1987 when the program started, said DASH was created by the University of Hawaii’s Curriculum Research and Development Group, in collaboration with a consortium of universities and associated school districts across the United States.

She said the program provides a comprehensive, integrated, inquiry-based program in science, health, and technology for grades K-6 initially. She said students with a wide range of backgrounds, learning styles, and abilities will learn concepts and skills through technological and scientific exploration, invention, and explanation on how the world operates and the historical development of the sciences.

Quitugua said science is an important subject content area and the workshop would open up the mind of the teachers on how to motivate the children in appreciating the subject matter.

The workshop will end today, and Brennan said they would be giving certificates to the teachers, making them full-fledged DASH teachers.

Brennan said DASH has now reached more than 15,000 teachers since its inception.

Quitugua said the Pacific Math and Science Consortium, PSS, and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning helped fund the workshop.