Educator wins int’l award for innovative research

By Benilda Recebido

SORSOGON CITY --- A Filipino educator has made history by winning a Nadim Bronze Award for his innovative approach to teaching mathematics, recognized for excellence in classroom pedagogy.

The award ceremony took place recently at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics in Penang, Malaysia.

Aldrin John Estonanto, a professor at Sorsogon State University (SorSU), received the award during the closing ceremony of the International Symposium for Science and Mathematics Classroom Teachers.

In his acceptance speech, Estonanto expressed gratitude to his fellow SorSU professors for motivating him to complete his research, particularly during a challenging time following the death of his grandmother.

The award honors Estonanto’s innovation, which includes a learning model designed to alleviate students’ anxiety and fear when studying mathematics.

His work, titled “Contextualized Self-Regulated Blended Learning Model to Remediate Mathematics Anxiety in Pre-Calculus,” aims to help students overcome math anxiety.

Through his book, Estonanto seeks to make math learning more enjoyable and less stressful by incorporating thoughtful design, engaging illustrations, and supportive exercises.

Math anxiety

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment, Filipino students are considered low performers compared to their peers in other countries, particularly in mathematics. They average a score of 355 points, which is significantly below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s average of 472 points.

Estonanto views this as a key reason the Philippines lags behind its neighboring countries. As a result, he has dedicated his work to addressing math anxiety among students, which he sees as crucial for improving the country’s economy by increasing the number of professionals in math-related fields.

“Every piece of research and instructional material I create is aimed at developing a teaching strategy that helps students love mathematics. If students don’t learn to enjoy it, mathematics will not be popular among Filipino learners, and we won’t have more esteemed practitioners and professionals in the Philippines,” he stated.

He hopes to utilize his model to inspire students to love math and pursue careers in math-related fields, believing they are essential to the country’s development.

How it works

Estonanto conducted a thorough examination of various methods and approaches from around the world to address math anxiety in students, ultimately developing a unique and innovative textbook.

To enhance the textbook’s effectiveness, he collaborated with an illustration artist to design it, focusing on elements such as color, fonts, and the placement of page numbers—all intended to reduce anxiety and fear while studying math.

“Even the layout was a collaborative effort involving cartoonists, cartographers, and an illustration artist, with a design specifically tailored for this module. Each element aims to alleviate or remediate mathematics anxiety,” Estonanto explained.

Additionally, Estonanto incorporated fictional characters, including heroes from Mobile Legends, Marvel, and other popular figures from current trends, to engage readers and spark their excitement for learning.

Beyond the illustrations, he included remedial sessions at the end of each chapter, featuring engaging exercises and activities designed to motivate students, build their confidence, and energize their learning experience as they progress through the textbook.

His model was pilot-tested in a class of 33 students, and the results revealed highly favorable feedback.

“After conducting interviews, the responses were positive. Many students shared that they previously disliked math because it involved not only numbers but also letters. However, they now appreciate this new method and approach to learning,” Estonanto noted.

The Nadim Award recognizes individuals and organizations in Southeast Asian countries that exhibit remarkable creativity and problem-solving skills when faced with challenges in the classroom. It is one of the highest honors for innovation and resourcefulness in the field of education within Southeast Asia. (With reports from John Kenneth Aringo and Romell Baria, PIA 5/Sorsogon)