Project EMPOWER: Empowering Educators through Classroom-based Action Research in Filipino, English, Social Studies, Math, Science and Values Education

Abstract

As an evidence-based practice, classroom-based action research (CBAR) provides educators with opportunities to respond meaningfully to imminent and emerging challenges, especially in basic education, where the Department of Education (DepEd) institutionalized its conduct to respond to the present needs of time. Attune with that notion, the proponents conceptualize the extension project "EMPOWER" under the College of Education (COEd) of Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus (BPSU-BC) in partnership with the integrated schools in the City Schools Division Office (SDO) of Balanga, Bataan that aimed at equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in CBAR in enhancing their professional development and instructional practices in Filipino, English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Values Education. Utilizing the research of Olubia (2016), this research and needs-based extension project is conceptualized with the concept of publication of CBAR in mind. Using the facilitated group extension method, forty (40) teachers are trained in the principles and theories of CBAR and in materializing their proposals for submission to the SDO. A series of hands-on face-to-face and online training sessions are given to the participants with guided modules (crafted and validated based on the needs assessment from the participants), activities, and video lectures shared onsite and through the assigned Google classroom. The training focuses on the DepEd-prescribed format and the latest trends in innovations, interventions, and strategies that can be applied to CBAR projects. As a means for collaborative learning as a community of learning, the extension project allows the sharing of best practices, feedback, and mentoring for the proposal and completion of CBAR projects. At the outset, the extension project is sustained through the proposal of EMPOWER 2.0, providing further assistance for the completion and publication of the submitted CBAR proposals of the first set of participants and cascading the best practices and outcomes of the first two extension projects to other schools needing further assistance in the conduct of CBAR for future EMPOWER 3.0.