Article and Photos by: Edward Andrew A. Guese
IN THIS PHOTO: The faculty of Bagong Tanyag Elementary School with Mapúa MCL CSCE Director, Ms. Jocelyn T. Bellin, Dean Khristian G. Kikuchi, Prof. Adomar Ilao (Program Coordinator, B.S. Information Technology), and Prof. Jonalyn Ebron (Program Chair, B.S. Computer Science) from the College of Computer and Information Science, and Ms. Clarinda Quisao, President of Rotary Club BGC Central.
With the changing landscape of education, the method of delivering lessons in the classroom has likewise evolved. This has brough about the use of devices like the digital smart board, a large monitor that serves as a virtual blackboard not only used to present lessons but also view videos and photos that enhances the learning experience of students.
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL), through the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), and Rotary Club of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Central, collaborated in the project to provide a Digital Learning Platform for the latter’s host community from the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Taguig-Pateros namely: Bagong Tanyag Elementary School, Tipas National High School, and Palar Integrated School. The partnership is part of Rotary Club’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) and advocacy in improving the quality of instruction in the Philippines. The Digital Learning Platform project aims to support and provide technical assistance and guidance on the specifications of the digital boards donated by Rotary Club BGC Central for the teachers of the partner schools. Mapúa MCL’s College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS) and CSCE have collaborated to provide technical assistance through the development of a computer literacy training program to be implemented in August 2023. The partnership between CSCE and Rotary Club BGC Central corresponds to the department’s advocacy for lifelong learning.
CSCE Director Ms. Bellin, and CCIS Dean Kikuchi discussed on the possibility of conducting a literacy training program to maximize the use of the digital smart boards.
The representatives of CSCE, CCIS, and Rotary Club BGC Central visited Tipas National High School.
The initial stages of the project began in 2019; however, the series of lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the following years has stalled the project. Once limited face-to-face classes resumed in 2022, the teachers began using digital boards in their lectures, particularly the Mathematics, Science, and Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) subjects. Students of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) also used the devices.
CSCE, CCIS and Ms. Clarinda Quisao, President of Rotary BGC Central, visited the above-mentioned schools on July 12, 2023, to gather relevant feedback from the schools on their use of the digital boards. The whole-day visit enabled the Project Team to get personally acquainted with the school heads and teachers from each school who then shared their practices and ideas on the use of the digital boards. Their responses were mostly positive, stating that the donated equipment was a tremendous help to them and the students due to the equipment’s high functionality. The combination and use of visuals and sounds for an interactive and immersive experience added to the overall functionality of the equipment.
Dean Kikuchi and Prof. Ebron of CCIS tested out the installed digital smart board in the classroom of Palar Integrated School.
Rotary Club BGC Central’s Ms. Quisao gave her message of gratitude to the schools of DepEd Taguig-Pateros and Mapúa MCL for the partnership as part of their advocacy of improving the quality of instruction in the Philippines.
The representatives of CSCE, CCIS, and Rotary Club BGC Central with the faculty and staff of Palar Integrated School.
On the other hand, the teachers were concerned about the issues with connectivity and equipment-related anomalies. To address these, CSCE and CCIS will plan to implement steps to provide technical assistance, literacy training, and instructional design programs to maximize the usage of the digital boards as well as utilize the existing and new technology for class presentations.
With the new academic year fast approaching, every school must adapt new strategies to keep up with the changing times. The collaboration between Mapúa MCL CSCE and Rotary Club BGC Central hopes to suffice the needs of the teachers and their students to contribute to the improvement of the quality of education in the Philippines.