Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: GE STS-1ST SEM-2021-2022

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Bayombong Campus

DEGREE PROGRAM CAS/BAS COURSE NO. GE STS

BSAB/BSFish
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY

YEAR LEVEL 1&2 TIME FRAME 6 HOURS WK NO. 3 IM NO. 2.2

I. CHAPTER 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS & STS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

II. LESSON TITLE: INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

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, which is the foundation of indigenous science.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, the students are expected to:

1. discuss the concept of indigenous science and
2. discuss its contributions in the development of science and technology in the Philippines;

V. LESSON CONTENT

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.

● 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 system;
● classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;
● producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and
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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: GE STS-1ST SEM-2021-2022

● 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.

• Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing, classifying, measuring,
problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.

• Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following: o The land is a source
of life. It is a precious gift from the creator. o The Earth is revered as "Mother Earth." It is the origin of their
identity as people.
o All living and nonliving things are interconnected and interdependent with each other. o Human beings
are stewards or trustee of the land and other natural resources. They have a responsibility to preserve
it.
o Nature is a friend to human beings-it needs respect and proper care.

• 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.

NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220) Page 2 of 3

 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: GE STS-1ST SEM-2021-2022

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.

To understand better indigenous science, watch this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbM0Cn2Fdkc

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity # 1: Indigenous Science

1. What is your understanding of indigenous science?

2. Do you think indigenous science should be considered science?

3. Give at least two indigenous science/knowledge which are still practice in your tribe or community.
Describe briefly how do you apply them.

4. How does indigenous science influence the development of science and technology in the Philippines?

REFERENCES

Bautista, D.H.S, et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society. MaxCor Publishing House Inc.
Quezon City

Serafica, Janice Patria et.al. (2017) Science, Technology and Society. Rex Printing Company Inc.
Quezon City

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