Mea in Bacolod

21st Century Learning and Cyberwellness Training via Globe’s Global Filipino School Program

With today’s technologically advanced generation, it’s high time for our schools to be equipped with training and lessons that are of the 21st century. Traditional education, in my opinion, is still effective to some degree, but we have to crank it up a little higher to cover topics like social media etiquette, cyberbullying and everything under the cyberwellness umbrella. That’s why I was glad when I was invited to attend Globe‘s event for their Global Filipino School program (GFS program) in Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS).

Globe Telecom Citizen Divison Manager Miguel

What is the Global Filipino School Program?

The Global Filipino School program provides select 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 powered with superior internet connectivity. The Lab can be used to teach different subject matters whether inside or outside the classroom to encourage creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

The program also has a teacher training component to empower the teachers with skills to seamlessly use ICT tools in their subject expertise. In turn, the schools under the GFS Program serve as a teacher training hub for the Department of Education and are responsible for carrying out teacher training to neighboring schools.

For CCNSHS, the school we visited during our trip, it has 38 teachers and 1,004 students. Globe turned over:

• 20 tablets with mirroring capability for projectors and LCD screens
• 2 projector kits with projector screen
• 10 Globe Prepaid Supersticks
• 1 mobile cart which also serves as a charging station
• And, free 10mbps internet connection

 

CCNSHS is the 10th school in Cebu province which benefitted from the GFS program which now covers 142 schools all over the country. The program, 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 within the next four years. I can’t wait for this program to reach Visayas.

 

What is the impact of the Global Filipino School Program on students?

Arianwen Rollan, student of Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS), sharing how the program has improved their learning.

We had the chance to ask one of Cebu City National Science High School’s students to find out whether the program is actually making an impact or not. As expected, the students are responding well according to this young lady. She accounts that she is learning about how to use social media responsibly and how technology can improve lives. Her horizon and perspective broadened because of what she is learning.

I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She replied that she wanted to be a doctor but might just change her mind because of all the new possibilities that she was introduced to by the lessons she learned from the Global Filipino School program.

ICT Coordinator Training

Meanwhile, Globe held a Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) training for 44 ICT coordinators of Mandaue City School Division held at the Mandaue City Science High School. The coordinators, representing 42 public elementary and schools in Mandaue City, will in turn conduct DTP workshops for students in their respective schools. Through DTP, the students will learn about the responsible use of technology, be it through gadgets, website browsing, or social media platforms that will allow them to avoid social media mistakes and becoming victims of cyberbullying and cybercrimes.

Words from Globe’s Senior VP for Corporate Communications

“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 the teachers and students with the tools they need, we can help uplift the state of Philippine education one classroom at a time,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

“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 #MakeITSafe campaign, we are tapping DTP to help guide them in making safe and responsible choices in their online activities,” Crisanto adds.

Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) Training

DTP offers three exciting modules for students. Each module is designed 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.

The Digital Insight workshop provides activities to help students discern proper online behavior, Digital Impact tackles issues on technology’s impact on students’ social activities, while Digital Ambition equips them with skills on how to use technology to achieve life goals.

L-R: CCNHS teacher Rex Ebarle, Cebu City Division Assistant SDS Dr. Danillo Gudelosao, CCNHS Principal Evelyn Pielago, Globe Telecom Citizen Divison Manager Miguel Bermundo, Globe Telecom Broadband Marketing Head Barbie Dapul. DepEd Region VII Regional Director Dr. Juliet Jureta, and Globe Telecom Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisostomo

These are the kinds of programs that parents look forward to. We might be able to teach our children at home but lessons on cyberwellness and other topics about technology will be more effective in a school setting. Like I said, it is 2017 and it is about time that someone spearheads this kind of program for the next generation.