Name: Armand James A. Vallejo, MAEd Research Title: The Higher Order - PDF document

Name: Armand James A. Vallejo, MAEd Research Title: The Higher Order Thinking Skills of Students on Visayan Poems Name of the Organization: CamTESOL - Phnom Penh, Cambodia Date of Presentation: February 16-17, 2019 Venue of presentation: Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) Abstract: Dissecting the understanding of the students on Visayan poems prevails appreciations. This intensifies the level of comprehension and interpretation towards poems. This explanatory sequential research dissected the higher order thinking skills of English major students. This project focused on the identification and understanding of the students’ weakness in analyzing, comprehending, and understanding the Visayan poems. The researcher crafted the researcher-made test and identified the level of the higher order thinking skills of the students. Both generation and explanation skills of the students were found to be on satisfactory levels while selection skill is considered as the major problem in which students had a difficulty in answering the test on Visayan poems. Using this finding, the researcher conducted a semi-structured interview for further investigation. In the interview, it was found that students have difficulty in answering the test questions. This difficulty specifically includes: distinguishing the open-ended type of test, such as uncertainty in identifying the meaning per stanza like ability in categorizing the connotative meaning; ability in recognizing the denotative meaning; identifying the meaning of the symbols; understanding the implication of the poem; identifying the meaning thru figurative language; translating the Visayan words and phrases; and using appropriate words or diction. Given this result, an extensive review of the curriculum is much needed to address the emerging problem. Keywords: Higher Order Thinking Skills, Sex, Poem, Visayan, Philippines

Name: Armand James A. Vallejo, MAEd Research Title: Experiences of High School Principals in Managing the Academic Deviancy Name of the Organization: Tomorrow People Organization Date of Presentation: March 5-7, 2017 Venue of presentation: Lumphini, Bangkok, Thailand Abstract: This phenomenological study explored the experiences of high school principals with students with derogatory records and provided valuable insights to high school principals in terms of managing the academic deviancy of students with derogatory records. Using purposive sampling, the researcher identified public and private high school principals as participants of the study. Data from the participants were generated through a semi- structured interview using validated interview questions as instrument. Results revealed that the experiences of high school principals in dealing with students with derogatory records are being feeling sorry for what happened to them, disrespecting by the parents and students, encountering bully students, comforting students with family problems, giving them advises and opportunities, and conferencing with parents. Furthermore, school principals encountered students who misbehave, members of the gang, fighters, liars and students who tend to cut classes. These students who have derogatory records are also victims of their environment. They were just a receiver of the action being shown to them. The management style of the principal in dealing with students with derogatory records is democratic. They perform such style through delegating, empowering, consulting and empathizing. However, the impact of this management style of the high school principals to students with derogatory records are fear, strict, threat, not visible and oblige. Thus, principals should implement rules which are agreeable by the subordinate. Keywords: academic deviancy, derogatory records, management style, high school principals, experiences.

Name: Armand James A. Vallejo, MAEd Research Title: Experiences of ESL Learners on Language Assessment Name of the Organization: Asian Society of Teachers for Research Date of Presentation: March 25-27, 2017 Venue of presentation: N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines Abstract: Appropriate language assessment needs to be reassessed in accordance with the needs of the second language learners. This phenomenological study explored the sentiments of the college students towards departmental examination. Using purposive sampling, the researcher identified the key informants who have undergone the test. The instrument used in data collection was generated through the semi-structured interview. Results revealed that the students encountered difficulties in answering the departmental examination. They elaborated that the departmental examination was difficult, the words being used in the test were unfamiliar, and some of the topics were not discussed in English subjects. There was a manifestation that the structure of departmental examination like the question is difficult to comprehend because it is situational and confusing. Though test choices are related to one another, it is still confusing. Students stressed out that they had a difficulty in comprehending because of limited grammar knowledge. However, informants emphasized that the structure of the sentence is grammatically correct. On the other hand, they had apprehended that the effect of departmental examination in their lives was affecting their grades resulting in low academic performance; thus, motivating them to strive hard in their academic endeavor. Moreover, the school is an open admission which simply means that all students are qualified to enter and take the chosen profession. In this regards, both institution and students should make things possible in order to achieve the set goals of the school. Keywords : Bilingual learners, departmental examination, standardized test, language assessment