Researches:

Article title: Exploring Student Mental Models and Student Experiences to Improve the Teaching Practice of Cell and Molecular Biology
Authors: Nikko Lorenz P. Lawsin, Genelita S. Garcia, Cyrus T. Esguerra
Publication title: American Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation 1(5), 2022

Abstract:
Teaching and Learning Biology requires a lot of memorizations of concepts, principles, and laws which may be one of the reasons why students find this area of knowledge highly conceptual. This action research is conducted to improve the teaching practice of Cell and Molecular Biology by investigating and exploring the mental models of students in learning this course under the program, Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) Major in Science. This study utilized an action research design by developing learning modules that contain asynchronous tasks which allowed students to design their own concept maps and other visual organizers to explain highly technical concepts in Cell and Molecular Biology. This targets to improve students’ critical thinking and enhance comprehension of difficult concepts which were assessed through summative assessments. Based on the results of this study, the students frequently used concept maps and bubble topical organizers or clusters of objects that show linkages among the topics that were discussed in the modules. Students relatively agreed that use of concept mapping helped them organize their ideas in the entire course of cell and molecular biology. This study recommends the testing of this intervention to other disciplines in science education such as in genetics & biotechnology and in anatomy and physiology to establish the consistency of results.
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/mu2adbnx

Article title: Strategies and Approaches Towards Environmental Biomonitoring of Freshwater Ecosystems in Philippines
Authors: J. S. Berame, M. B. Hojilla, E. Trinidad, N. L. Lawsin, J. A. Orozco, I. J. Arevalo, and Zeba F. Alam
Publication title: Nature Environment and Pollution Technology 20(4), December 2021

Abstract:
The Philippines, like many other Asian countries, is struggling to combat the current widespread aquatic pollution levels caused by anthropogenic activities. Environmental biomonitoring is an efficient tool to detect and monitor the fluctuating toxicity levels in a dynamic ecosystem using bioindicators like algae, macrophytes, zooplankton, insect, bivalve mollusks, gastropod, fish, amphibians, and others to assess the extent and levels of pollution in aquatic ecosystems. The present review deliberates on the biomonitoring techniques such as bioaccumulation, biochemical alterations, population, and community-level approaches to evaluate the current status with respect to the extent and levels of pollution in the aquatic ecosystems in the Philippines which also is one of the biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, the potential applications for biomonitoring are proposed to mainly include evaluation of actual aquatic pollutions, bioremediation, toxicology prediction, and research on toxicological mechanisms. The purpose of such evaluations is to critically analyze and help stakeholders to come up with a strategic action plan with recommendations on a low-cost, sensitive, and effective bioindicator for rapid and efficient environmental biomonitoring.
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/5cmxxcrj

Article title: Morphological variations of mangosteen fruits from Luzon and Mindanao Islands, the Philippines
Authors: J. Berame, N. Lawsin, F. Miguel, J. Chavez
Publication title: Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 21(7):3094-3100, July 2020

Abstract:
Luzon and Mindanao islands in the Philippines are the important mangosteen producing provinces whose growing areas are scattered on these two islands. With this, mangosteen variability was detected based on field fruit collections in summer of 2019. The morphological variations of mangosteen fruits were observed and collected in Quezon Province in Luzon and Davao-Zamboanga Provinces in Mindanao based on the total number of 175 mangosteen trees. The main objectives of the research were to find out the morphological variations of mangosteen fruits and using Tomato Analyzer 4.0 to determine the morphological characters that can be used to differentiate mangosteen accessions in the Philippines. The variables include fruit shape index (external and internal), curve fruit shape index, asymmetry, internal eccentricity and weight of the ripe fruits. The results show that fruit characters like ellipsoidal, circular, rectangular, lobe shape, size, pericarp area, and pericarp thickness. are highly resemblance particularly in its fruit shape characters, and even sharing a similar taste of ripe fruits. Data revealed that Garcinia mangostana shared a similar character with Garcinia malaccensis even though they are from different geographical areas. Based on the morphological variations and characters, the two varieties of mangosteen fruits in the Philippines, G. mangostana and G. malaccensis, are so closely related that they could be combined together as one species as identified in the morphological analysis of this study.
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/bde39hbz

Article title: Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teacher (BLEPT) Synthesis Classes: Their effects on Student's Performance and Learning Experience
Authors: Nikko Lorenz P. Lawsin, Ph.D., Fermae L. Tamayao, Ph.D, . Ligaya Panlilio, MA Ed, Edsel R. Umali, Ed.D., Danilo B. Solayao, Ed.D
Publication title: not stated

Abstract:
This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the synthesis classes as an intervention to improve student's readiness and performance in the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) and to enrich student's learning experiences in these review courses. It also aims to document the best practices that the lectures are conducting on their assigned topics. This study will utilize an experimental research design to determine the effectiveness of this intervention based on the above mentioned parameters. Google Forms served as the primary tool in recording and analyzing the student's scores in the formative tests (pretests, posttests), summative tests (midterm and final exam), and their responses in their learning logs per session. The results of the formative tests-pretests and posttests-guided the course instructors in improving their instructions while the results of the summative tests-midterm and final examination-were compared, analyzed, and it served as the basis of students' performance. Student's learning logs were tabulated and thematically analyzed to completely describe its effectiveness on student's performance and learning experience. Based on the results, student's performance improved in terms of the midterm and final examination results and students positively perceived the relevance of this intervention as preparation for their licensure examination. This study recommends the continuous implementation of this program as it helps the student's preparedness for their licensure examination, and encourages other board programs in PLMun and other local colleges to design this kind of departmental intervention for the improvement of their respective programs in terms of student's board exam readiness.
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/yxn63ejh

Article title: Development and Validation of Organismal Classification Achievement Test (OCAT): Basis for Implementation and Standardization for Test Construction in Junior Science High School
Authors: Berame J.S., Lawsin N.L.P. , Gacosta H., Yadao M. and Orleans A.V.
Publication title: International Journal of Biotechnology and Recent Advances 1(1): 30-34, July 2018

Abstract:
This study aimed to develop, validate and administer an achievement test in organismal classification for grade 8 junior science high school. In the development stage, the researchers followed the aligned topics in the K to 12 curriculum guide for grade 8 science that focused on taxonomy and systematics and these were the basis for the development of the achievement test. The developed Organismal Classification Achievement Test (OCAT) was validated by content experts in biology. The initial version of the instrument is 60-item test which was administered to grade 8 high school students. Reliability coefficient, (KR20), difficulty index and discrimination index were used to select which items were retained, revised or rejected. Result of pilot-testing retained 40 items in which 19 items were described as average to excellent items (x > 0.20) while 21 questions were described as items subject for revision (between 0.10 and 0.20) for discrimination index.
Full text link https://tinyurl.com/5eccfyxt