GLOBE Telecom turned over on Friday, June 30, Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS), as part of its Global Filipino School (GFS) program.
The program provides selected public schools with infrastructure support and ICT equipment such as the Globe Digital Learning Lab, a mobile cart of ICT gadgets composed of netbooks, tablets, and projectors with internet connectivity.
The GFS, which started in 2012, intends to transform at least one school in each of the 221 school divisions under the Department of Education into centers of ICT excellence in the next four years.
On Friday, the school, which has 38 teachers and 1,004 students, received 20 tablets with mirroring capability for projectors and LCD screens, two projector kits with projector screen, 10 Globe Prepaid Supersticks, one mobile cart that serves as charging station, and free 10 mbps internet connection.
The CCNSHS is the 10th school in Cebu that benefitted from the telecommunication’s GFS program, which covers 142 schools in the Philippines.
Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s senior vice president for corporate communication, said technology is important to 21st century learning, especially to public schools.
"Quality education goes hand-in-hand with ICT which allows learning to take place not only within the classroom but even beyond it. Mobile internet adoption and the availability of affordable data-capable gadgets make it easier now for both students and teachers to access a vast library of information previously out of their reach. We believe that by providing them with the tools they need, we can help uplift the state of Philippine education one classroom at a time," Crisanto said.
Arianwen Rollan, a Grade 11 student at CCNSHS, said the donated gadgets have a big impact on their learning.
"It is very helpful to us students now that information is within reach, it definitely impacts a lot on our learning especially in our Media Information Literacy subject," Rollan said.
Rollan was recently recognized by an international award-giving body for her research on the anti-tumor properties of malunggay seeds and was the only Filipino awarded during the 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Aside from providing technologies to schools, Globe is also conducting a Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) training in the country.
On Thursday, June 29, Globe held a DTP training for 44 ICT coordinators of Mandaue City School Division held at the Mandaue City Science High School.
The coordinators, who represented 42 public elementary and schools in Mandaue City, will in turn conduct DTP workshops for students in their respective schools.
The DTP aims to educate students about the responsible use of technology through gadgets, website browsing, or social media platforms that will allow them to avoid social media mistakes and becoming victims of cyberbullying and cybercrimes.
“Being a company which focuses on technology and digital lifestyle, Globe also wants to equip its customers with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves online. Through our #MakieITSafe campaign, we are tapping DTP to help guide them in making safe and responsible choices in their online activities,” Crisanto said.
The DTP offers three modules – Digital Insight workshop, Digital Impact, and Digital Ambition – to increase students’ knowledge of digital citizenship and cyber safety by taking a critical look at their online behavior and helping them develop insights into the influences of the online world and the choices they are making. (Sam Saberon/VoxPop Philippines)