As the world goes digital, education has gone beyond books, pen and paper, and even beyond the classroom. Both teachers and students now face the challenge of integrating technology in their lessons and making it an effective tool for learning anytime, anywhere.
The changing landscape has prompted Globe Telecom, a strong advocate of education and digital learning, to come out with PRISM, a professional development program designed to help Filipino educators from private high schools, particularly those teaching the new Media and Information Literacy (MIL) subject in Senior High School, to become proficient in technology-enabled instruction and content development.
One thousand private school teachers from all over the country are set to participate in a three-week digital literacy program sponsored by Globe, which includes a two-day immersive boot camp, blended project-based learning, and personalized coaching. There will be one boot camp each in Metro Manila, Naga City, Pampanga, Cebu City, and Cagayan de Oro City, running from January to June this year.
A key component of the blended learning component is the teachers’ access to Brightspace Integrated Learning Platform. The teachers will be enrolled online to undergo distance learning for three weeks where they will have access to the global Brightspace Community, multimedia resources to guide them through the learning process, and a seamless platform to collaborate with learning coaches and teachers in real time. While they may be far apart during this time, the technology is there to ensure that learning and close collaboration continuously happen.
“Students today are digital natives who grew up in the era of computers, mobile phones, and instant connectivity, making it necessary for teachers to be adept in the use of technology in order to guide the students properly in the use of digital information both inside and outside the classroom,” said Michelle Tapia, Advisor & Head of Globe’s Education Strategy & Innovation.
She added: “Globe seeks to empower every Filipino with world-class learning through technology. We close the gap by providing teachers the digital knowledge and skills that they need to help students succeed in the 21st century, starting with the digital literacy program.”
Derrick Heng, Senior Advisor, Globe myBusiness Group said that the company understands that “to invest in education is to invest in connectivity”. Thus, as with education, Globe continues its commitment to provide world-class internet across the Philippine archipelago. Last year, Globe has committed close to US$500 million for the expansion of its corporate data network. Parallel to this infrastructure build for enterprises is the company’s initiative to create an internet superhighway by deploying fiber in 20,000 barangays all over the country by 2020 to equip Filipinos for a more digitally connected future.
Likewise, PRISM provides the opportunity for teachers nationwide to prepare for such a future. Teachers undergoing the PRISM Digital Literacy Program are nominated by both Globe and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC). The PEAC National Secretariat processes the nominations submitted by schools nationwide while a Vetting Committee, composed of two (2) representatives from the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), a DepEd Regional Director, and the PEAC Executive Director, is set in place to closely vet the nominated teachers.
With the conclusion of the Metro Manila leg on February 4, 2017, a full-blown expo was held at the Globe University in Mandaluyong City to showcase the different digital literacy projects of the teachers.
PRISM complements the Global Filipino School (GFS) program of Globe which is targeted for public elementary and high schools. Since 2012, GFS has transformed select public schools into centers of ICT excellence and creates teacher training hubs that aim to increase understanding and effective usage of ICT in the classroom.