The SorSU community proudly congratulates Mr. Nestor L. Lasala Jr., SorSU-CoTEdM faculty member, on winning the Best Research Paper award for his paper, entitled: “𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘜𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴” during the 11th Annual BIOTA-Bicol Chapter Convention and Scientific Sessions, conducted from August 4-5, 2023, which was hosted by Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), in San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, and organized by the Bicol Teachers Association of the Philippines, Inc. – Bicol Chapter.
Bannering the theme: “𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺”, one of the highlights of the convention was the widely anticipated research presentations, where three (3) finalists from various institutions competed to triumph the coveted Best Research Paper award, in which Mr. Nestor L. Lasala Jr., whose research output, entitled: “Student Intrinsic Motivation Using Game-based Activities,” qualified for the Top 3 Best Research in the first round of the competition. During the final oral presentation round, the top three researchers were given ten minutes to present their findings, followed by a five-minute Q&A session. After the intense and challenging presentation and Q&A, Mr. Lasala Jr.’s research, centered on utilizing game-based activities to enhance student intrinsic motivation, providing valuable insights for Biology educators to create engaging learning experiences — 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫.
Meanwhile, with the goal to emphasize the importance of understanding the mind’s impact on behavior in the field of Biology, fostering a holistic approach to education, the two-day event comprised of engaging activities, including plenary lecture sessions, parallel lecture seminars, poster presentations, and the Young Biologists Forum (YBF). Day 1 of the convention commenced with talk session on “𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺” by Dr. Maricar Prudente, in which she stressed the significance of conducting research to enhance science education while also addressing mental health concerns among students.
Following the first talk session was the presentation of Dr. Robert Joseph C. Sarmiento on “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴,” who provided insights on notable achievements in the field of neuroscience worldwide, furthering the attendees’ understanding of brain science’s implications for Biology education, proceeded by the presentation of Mr. Efraem A. Janairo, M.Ed., LPT, RGC, CSASS, who delved into “𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘦𝘯 𝘡 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.”
In the afternoon, a series of workshops ensued, focusing on vital aspects of teaching, which included “𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨,” “𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮,” and “𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴’ 𝘍𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.” Such workshops provided practical insights to enhance the effectiveness of Biology educators in the region. Day 1 concluded with a fellowship and academic networking session, enabling participants to establish meaningful connections and share insights on how to implement effectively the knowledge gained during the convention.
In addition to paper presentations, Day 2 began with a lecture by Ms. Magnolia Vida A. Cano, MST, called: “𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘵: 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦,” while Dr. Chozara P. Duroy, from the Department of Education Regional Office V, then delivered a talk on “𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘐𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”
Moreover, in recognition of his commitment to the field, Mr. Nestor L. Lasala Jr. was also elected as a Board of Director for Higher Education, joining the new set of officers responsible for organizing future projects and programs for the organization.
Relatively, the convention brought together Biology educators, researchers, and students from various public and private schools, as well as educational and research institutions across the region. Along with Mr. Nestor L. Lasala Jr., Prof. Edna Marie L. Mijares (Area Chair, SorSU-Laboratory High School) and Ms. Mylene J. Lascano (CoTEdM faculty member), esteemed members of BIOTA-V, likewise participated in the two-day convention.
The 11th Annual BIOTA-Bicol Chapter Convention and Scientific Sessions concluded on a high note, equipping and empowering delegates with valuable knowledge and tools to further Biology education with an emphasis on mental health advocacy. Beyond encouraging academic exchange, it also fostered and established a supportive community of educators and researchers committed to nurturing a mindful and resilient of students.
𝙊𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙧. 𝙉𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙇. 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙖 𝙅𝙧. 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙤𝙧𝙎𝙐-𝘾𝙤𝙏𝙀𝙙𝙈! (SorSU PIO)
