Page 47 - ATENEO SERVED 2020 E-BOOK_Neat

Ateneo Science Educators and Researchers in Virtual
Engagement (SERVE) 2020 Ateneo de Manila University
School of Science and Engineering
MS Science Education Program of Biology Department

The Development of Adaptive and Self-organize Classroom in Biology Instruction
through Agile-based Learning Approach

a*
Cheryl C. Mislang, MSc , Catherine Genevieve B. Lagunzad, PhD b

a b
Natural Science Jose Rizal University, Philippines , Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering,
Ateneo de Manila University * Corresponding Author: cheryl.mislang@jru.edu

ABSTRACT

The Agile methodology involves specific strategies adopted from software industries to
develop independent learning and agility. The agile-based learning through the scrum framework enables
the students to work on given learning goals and design their own way of transforming the concepts
into learning tasks. The teacher starts the scrum session by giving the learning goals or main topics and
facilitates all throughout the session, ensuring that the desired outcomes will be achieved. The students
work with their team (Sprint) and construct their learning canvas; a list of small chunks of tasks or specific
topics derived from the learning goals given by the teacher (Scrum Owner). The learning canvas can be
updated by the leader (Scrum Master) in the online platform called Trello.com, where the teacher can also
monitor the progress of each team. In every scrum session, each student in the team identifies the
important biology concepts by completing the learning radiator sheets and specifically shows understanding
of the topic or if there is still a need to revisit the concept. There is also a “stand up meeting” in each week
where every team presents its final product and biological concepts are synthesized. A quasi-experimental
design used to study the employment of agile-based learning approach in Biology instruction, confirmed
that agile-based learning approach has positive effects on students’ academic achievement. With significant
improvement in students’ conceptual understanding of biology topics, it is highly recommended that
agile-based learning approach be employed in flexible teaching and learning with the scrum framework as
the basis for designing the contents in virtual classrooms, not only in biology but in other branches of
science as well.

Keywords: agile-based learning, scrum framework, academic achievement, virtual classroom

47