Dolores Hernandez Lecture Series
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The Dolores Hernandez Lecture Series is a celebrated series of public lectures in Science and Mathematics Education, traditionally read at Vidal Tan Hall of the University of the Philippines, National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) by one or a group of Academics or Educators, both from the Philippines and other countries. Named in honor of Dr. Dolores F. Hernandez (1925-2006), the founder of the Science Education Center (now, National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development of the University of the Philippines)[1], the lecture series was conceived by Dr. Milagros D. Ibe during the start of her term as Director of UP-ISMED in 1993, to be a monthly Friday afternoon event as part of the Institution's extension activities. The series continued through the years during and after her term[2] though much less frequently.
The following are the well-attended ones, partly due to the relevance of the topic at the time of presentation, and partly due to the caliber and independence of thought of the lecturer or presenter:
- The first of the series was delivered by the Mathematics Group of UP-ISMED, headed by Dr. Soledad A. Ulep with Dr. Elvira Nguyen, on July 23, 1993 on the topic: Students' Understanding of Concepts in High School Mathematics. They discussed some practical work for teacher trainers to facilitate the understanding of students of distance, perimeter, area, percentage, and equivalence.
- The second of the series was given by Jose Fadul, Science Education Specialist and OIC Chair of the Information Science Group of UP-ISMED, on August 27, 1993, on Case Analysis of School Computerization and Computer Education. His findings on the longitudinal, action-type researches were presented providing a variety of insight on the use of computers and software in private and public school all over the Philippines.
- The speaker for the third of the series was Dr. Muhammad Memon, then Project Manager of Girls Primary Education Development Project Assisted by the Asian Development Bank, Education Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi, Pakistan. His paper entitled, An Illuminative Study of Curriculum Changes in Pakistan was delivered on September 24, 1993. The Naturalistic Enquiry (Lincoln and Guba, 1985) and Illuminative Evaluation Approach (Parlett and Dearden, 1977) provided a theoretical framework for his paper. Sindhis are demanding intraprovincial merit-based admissions to state run educational institutes, similar to the one existing in other provinces, to provide equal opportunities to all students of Sindh. The study also mentioned that the armed forces have also entered the education sector, funded by the government and operate like private costly education providers.
- The fourth of the series was delivered on November 12 1993 on the topic: Examinee Performance in the Professional Board Examination for Teachers (PBET) in 1990-1992 by Dr. Milagros D. Ibe herself, then Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University and concurrently the Director of UP-ISMED. Her study revealed how examinees fared and was able to identify teacher education institutions which contribute significantly to the supply of qualified teachers for the Philippine Educational System.
- The lecture for the fifth of the series was on Educational Technology and Some Implications for Science Education by Dr. Robert T. Ward, Chair of the Science Education Faculty, University of Northern Iowa, on February 11, 1994. The lecture dealt with the recent trends and developments in using educational technology in science teaching at all levels.
- The sixth of the series was given by Dr. Amelia E. Punzalan, Science Education Specialist of UP-ISMED, on the topic: Scientists' View versus Rural Students' View on October 7, 1994. The thinking or views of 26 rural third year secondary students regardng five chemistry concepts are documented and contrasted with the scientists' views.
- The 19th Dolores F. Hernandez Lecture Series was held in January of 2001 on the topic, Alternative Conception on Physics presented by Josefina Ll. Pabellon, then Chair of the Physics Group working on her doctorate in Education at the De La Salle University, and one of the Science Education Specialists of the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED), Diliman, Quezon City. Her paper was part of her doctoral dissertation.
