RESHAPING THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE FOR ALL I-MONTANYOSA LEARNERS. THIS IS MPSDO’S EDTECH TRANSFORMATION … A STORY FROM GRIT TO GREATNESS!
In an aim to design and facilitate hybrid learning, fostering dynamic learning environments with learner-centered digital technology tools and resources, Mountain Province Schools Division Office launched project TransformED: Reaching New Heights of Education Innovation. The journey started in 2015, with the MPSDO deploying ICT resources and conducting ICT capability building activities to learners, teachers, and school leaders. Use of various powerful EdTech tools were introduced.
MPSDO, explored for more and partnered with Microsoft for the “Minecraft for Education” to encourage gamified learning, “Hack the Classroom” to brief teachers on the techniques of effective utilization of technology in teaching and learning, and “Skype-a-thon” to let teachers and learners experience the so called “learning beyond borders”.
Partnerships with Pinoy Robot, Data Science and Technology Corporation, other line agencies – TESDA, DOST, DICT, Local Government Units, were established for the TransformED sub-projects dubbed “Project Robotics: Embracing New Grounds of Teaching and Learning Methodologies” and “Project Into the World of Virtual and Augmented Reality: Learning Beyond Imagination”.
Teachers were also given skills training on maintenance of ICT resources, so they could be teacher “tech-nicians” of ICT hardware resources. (GPX - “teach-nicians”)
Major ICT activities were also initiated to serve as an avenue for learners, teaching, teaching-related, non-teaching personnel to have interface with management and other ICT experts and discussed about bridging technology and curriculum - ICT Forum in 2016, ICT Festival in 2017, TransformED 1.0 Convergence in 2019.
Project TransformED 1.0 was a bit challenged with the spread of Covid19 in 2020, and everyone was caught off guard. Things had been tough since then, but the vision remained gleaming and inspiring. Hence, TransformED 2.0 was launched in consideration of the pandemic. As an improved and refocused version, TransfromED 2.0 had its pilot steering in 4 schools - Dacudac National High School, Lubon National High School, Besao National High School, Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School. With the evident success of such project, that caught the attention of the regional and central offices of the Department, MPSDO was inspired to expand its implementation in 121 selected schools in the Province.
Implementers were motivated by the TransformED success of remote schools with zero internet connectivity and limited ICT resources, but despite these situations, were able to make steps towards hybrid learning. Tablet PCs and android tablets were procured, and teachers were given orientations and planning workshops on the key areas of digital pedagogy in the Mountain Province context. Considering the context, most implementing schools opted to use the offline Learning Management System, complemented by other offline Educational Resources or OERs, and other powerful EdTech Windows or Android applications. Most schools chose to use the OFFLINE TransformED and HYTEQ Learning Management System powered by MOODLE, while others with internet connectivity opted to use Google Classroom, the Learning Management System facility of Google Workspace. Other schools also explored the use of Canva, Plickers, Minecraft, Articulate, Appsgeyser, Lumi, Kotobee, Wondershare, Comic Creator, Puzzle Creator, Hot Potato, gamified PowerPoint incorporating triggers and codes, digital libraries such as Kiwix and Kolibri, and many more, with the main goal of integrating ICT in the teaching-learning process. Some schools offering the STEM Strand in their senior high school programs, also explored virtual reality, augmented reality, and robotics.
Succeeding trainings were conducted purposely to upskill or reskill the teachers on various EdTech tools. Such trainings were made possible by the strong support of the regional and central offices.
While MPSDO is bracing up to involve more schools in the project, implementing schools are also preparing to extend the project to serve more learners and teachers.
Dacudac National High School, for example, is on its way to expanding its TrasformED On-Premise LAN coverage to nearby communities from 100-meter to approximately 1-kilometer radius coverage, through Project HYTEQ’s Option 3 – the Extended LAN.
District and school-based upskilling roll-outs will push through for School Year 2022-2023. More OERs and other edtech applications are expected to be used to intensify implementation of hybrid learning.
The Curriculum and Implementation Division is also preparing for teachers’ trainings on digital learning resources development and hybrid learning pedagogical strategies.
These “small-steps-to-big-impact endeavors” of Mountain Province Schools Division Office will be CELEBRATED with the plan of the management to have the “TransformED 2.0 Unleashed” event this 2023 to serve as an INSPIRATION for more INNOVATIONS as MPSDO gears up for TransformED 3.0!
This is our story of educational transformation – our “grit to greatness” journey towards TransformED Schools Division of Mountain Province, to be part of the DIGITAL RISE in Philippine education!
TransfromED Mountain Province!
HyTEQ Cordillera!
Digital Rise Phlippines!