TECH4GOOD
Much has been talked about the recent release of the OECD’s 2022 Programme for International Students Assessment or PISA Report, showing the Philippines still mired in the bottom 10. In fairness, the report says many countries included in the ranking saw their student learning outcomes decline primarily due to the global disruptions related to the pandemic. Amid the unprecedented performance drop, however, some outliers bucked the trend and were able to maintain or improve their rankings.
PISA measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics, and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges. The Philippines participated in PISA for the first time in 2018. The results were supposed to allow our policymakers and educators to see how our education system compares with other countries and, consequently, learn from their policies and practices.
The report highlights the reasons for the global drop in educational learning performance: declining student engagement, deteriorating teacher support to students, and overall well-being. It says that, globally, there is now a need for education leaders to refocus their improvement initiatives on creating better frameworks for schools. It has also become necessary for schools to reimagine teaching methods to make learning more inspiring and engaging.
Of the three reasons mentioned in the report, student engagement is the biggest issue for the Philippines. Yes, there is an urgent need to address the lack of classrooms, teacher training, and the student-to-teacher ratio prevalent in the country, but getting our students to focus on learning activities must be the biggest challenge to achieving the learning outcomes we all would like to see. Student engagement definitely plays a crucial role in shaping these outcomes, including PISA scores. Their learning activities compete with all the noises around them, like the constant need to be seen on TikTok and Facebook and getting on the latest dance craze.
We all would like to see a classroom where glazed eyes are replaced by heads nodding, hands waving, and voices crackling with excitement. For the students, learning should not be a chore but a captivating adventure they cannot wait to dive in. This is not some educational utopia – it is the result of harnessing the power of student engagement. But how do we unlock this hidden potential and turn even the most reluctant learner into a champion of curiosity?
Can technology help? Absolutely! Although most of the noises that students prefer to engage in right now are caused by digital platforms, technology can be a powerful tool for boosting student engagement when used strategically and thoughtfully. Collaborative platforms like Google Docs enable students to work together on projects in real time, even if they are not physically in the same place. Adopting technology as a learning platform may not be possible in the Philippines, considering that most of our classrooms, teachers, and students are not yet provided with the essential digital tools necessary for a national rollout. Even if they are, technology should complement, not replace, traditional teaching methods.
Studies show that student engagement can be improved by creating a positive and supportive learning environment, using engaging teaching methods, making learning relevant to the student’s lives, and providing them with a sense of ownership over their learning to help them become more motivated.
Connecting what they are learning in school to their interests and experiences outside school may also be a great idea. How about using TikTok as a learning platform? Some schools are beginning to experiment with new learning methodologies, like the convergence theory of learning. Today’s learning environment may require new approaches, such as building relationships with students, respecting their individual needs, and providing opportunities for them to feel valued.
As evidenced in the PISA report, engaged students learn more effectively, are more motivated, develop better learning strategies, are more invested in their learning, and have a more positive attitude toward school.The OECD administers PISA and has conducted extensive research on the relationship between student engagement and PISA scores. Their findings consistently show that engaged students perform better on the assessment.
Improving the Philippines' PISA ranking is a long-term endeavor that requires sustained commitment and effort from all stakeholders. There is no single solution, and a multifaceted approach is necessary to address the education system’s complex challenges. It may involve revising the curriculum, improving teaching quality, reducing class sizes, incorporating technology, more funding, and the use of data-driven decision-making and policy development.
By incorporating these strategies, classrooms can be transformed into dynamic learning hubs where students are not just recipients of knowledge but active participants in their own educational journey. Remember, engaged students are empowered,and empowered students are the future talents who will bring the Philippines into the 21st century. [email protected]
(The author is an executive member of the National Innovation Council, lead convenor of the Alliance for Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), vice president of the Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines, and vice president, UP System Information Technology Foundation.)