Scribd
Upload
187 views

Chapter 1 Lesson 4

The document discusses indigenous science in the Philippines. It aims to have students discuss the concept of indigenous science and its contributions to the development of science and technology in the country. Indigenous science is the traditional knowledge developed by indigenous groups through observing nature and developing complex practices to interact with their environment. It uses science skills and is guided by cultural values like respect for nature. Examples of indigenous science include herbal medicine, food preservation, and agriculture techniques.

Uploaded by

Kyla Mae Luciano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
187 views

Chapter 1 Lesson 4

The document discusses indigenous science in the Philippines. It aims to have students discuss the concept of indigenous science and its contributions to the development of science and technology in the country. Indigenous science is the traditional knowledge developed by indigenous groups through observing nature and developing complex practices to interact with their environment. It uses science skills and is guided by cultural values like respect for nature. Examples of indigenous science include herbal medicine, food preservation, and agriculture techniques.

Uploaded by

Kyla Mae Luciano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

 discuss the concept of indigenous science; and

 discuss the contribution of indigenous science in the development of science


and technology in the Philippines.

Introduction

This lesson focuses on indigenous science and technology in the Philippines.


Filipinos, especially during the early times, tried to invent tools that will help them in
everyday life. They also developed alternative ideas in explaining various phenomena
and in explaining the world around them. This system of knowledge is called
indigenous knowledge, which is the foundation of indigenous science.

Indigenous Knowledge System


Indigenous knowledge is embedded in the daily life experiences of young
children as they grow up. They live and grow in a society where the members of the
community prominently practice indigenous knowledge. Their parents and other older
folks served as their first teachers and their methods of teaching are very effective in
transmitting cultural knowledge in their minds. The lessons they learned are intimately
interwoven with their culture and the environment. These lessons comprised of good
values and life stories of people on their daily life struggles. Their views about nature
and their reflections on, their experiences in daily life are evident in their stories,
poems, and songs.
Some examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practiced by the
indigenous people are:

 predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing


animals’ behavior and celestial bodies;

 using herbal medicine;

 preserving foods;

 classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural
properties; ;
 preserving and selecting good seeds for planting;

 using indigenous technology in daily lives;

 building local irrigation systems;

 classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;

 producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and

 keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard.

Indigenous Science
Indigenous science is part of the ‘indigenous knowledge system practiced by
different groups of people and early civilizations (Gribbin, 2001; Mkapa, 2004; Sibisi,
2004). It includes complex arrays of knowledge, expertise, practices, and
representations that guide human societies in their enumerable interactions with the
natural milieu: agriculture, medicine, naming and explaining natural phenomena, and
strategies for coping with changing environments (Pawilen, 2005). Ogawa (1995)
claimed that it is collectively lived in and experienced by the people of a given culture.
According to Cajete (2004), indigenous science includes everything from
metaphysics to philosophy and various practical technologies practiced by indigenous
peoples both past and present. Iaccarino (2003) elaborated this idea by explaining that
science is a part of culture, and how science is done largely depends on the cultural
practices of the people.
Indigenous beliefs also develop desirable values that are relevant or consistent
to scientific attitudes as identified by Johnston (2000), namely: (1) motivating attitudes;
(2) cooperating attitudes; (3) practical attitudes and (4) reflective attitudes. These
cultural beliefs therefore can be good foundation. for developing positive values toward
learning and doing science and in bringing science in a personal level.
Pawilen (2005) explained that indigenous science knowledge has developed
diverse structures and contents through the interplay between the society and the
environment. According to Kuhn. (1962), developmental stages of most sciences are
characterized by continual competition between a number of distinct views of nature,
each partially derived from, and all roughly compatible with the dictates of scientific
observation and method. Sibisi (2004) also pointed out that indigenous science
provides the basics of astronomy, pharmacology, food technology, or metallurgy,
which were derived from traditional knowledge and practices.
Pawilen (2006) developed a simple framework for understanding indigenous
science. Accordingly, indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge that
uses science process skills and guided by community values and culture.
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE

uses guided by compose of

Science Process Skills Community Culture Traditional


and Values Knowledge

Figure 6. The Concept of Indigenous Science

1. Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing,


classifying, measuring, problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.

2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:

 The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator,

 The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth.” It is the origin of their identity as people.

 All living and nonliving things are interconnected and interdependent with each
other.

 Human beings are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources.
They have a responsibility to preserve it.

 Nature is a friend to human beings—it needs respect and proper care.

3. Indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by


people and communities such as ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming
methods, and folk astronomy.
Indigenous science is important in the development of science and technology
in the Philippines. Like the ancient civilizations, indigenous, Science gave birth to the
development of science and technology as a field and as a discipline. Indigenous
science helped the people in understanding the natural environment and in coping with
everyday life. UNESCO’, Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge
(1999) recognized indigenous science as a historical and valuable contribution to
science and technology.

You might also like