Teaching Through Texting In Ilocos
By INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT
February 25, 2012, 6:40pm
MANILA, Philippines — Beginning this school year, learning mathematics, science, and English will become more fun and exciting for Grades 5 and 6 pupils of all public elementary schools in the coastal town of Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte as the Text2Teach alliance brings to the area an innovative way of teaching via mobile technology.
Globe Head for Corporate Social Responsibility Rob Nazal said Text2Teach is a collaboration among the private and public sectors composed of Globe Telecom, Ayala Foundation Inc., Nokia Corporation, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and local government units.
“It shows how mobile technology can be used in various ways, not only to call, text, and browse the Internet but also to enhance the educational experiences of the students,” Nazal said. “Through the Text2Teach alliance, we, in the private sector together with our public sector counterpart, are able to work hand-in-hand in harnessing this technology to bridge the gap between education and the ever-growing demand for a highly-competent labor force,” he added.
To strengthen the program, Globe also introduced the Globe BridgeCom SIM card as the new communications platform for Text2Teach schools.
Nazal said the Globe BridgeCom SIM cuts regular rates in half, thereby, giving users a chance to enjoy a very low P0.05 per second rate for Globe/TM-to-Globe/TM calls and P0.50 per text.
“It will primarily benefit those on the grassroots level who are financially challenged,” Nazal said.
Nazal said that Pagudpud is the first community launch of Text2Teach in 2012, and likely the last for the third phase of the project, and brings to 57 the total number of Text2Teach schools in Ilocos Norte. Text2Teach also has 28 schools in Ilocos Sur or a total of 85 schools in the two provinces.
“Using the power of mobile technology, almost 2,800 Grades 5 and 6 pupil in 11 public elementary schools in Pagudpud can now watch any of the 389 educational audio and video materials loaded in the N86 8MP phones donated by Nokia and equipped with the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) application,” he added.
The beneficiary schools in Pagudpud include Burayoc Elementary School (ES), Caunayan ES, Dampig ES, Gamaban ES, Luzong ES, Pagudpud Central ES, Pagudpud South Central ES, Pancian ES, Pasaleng ES, Saud ES, and Subec ES.
Nazal said the NED allows teachers to play the educational audios and videos on math, science, and English specifically designed for the project, providing a highly effective visual aid for teachers. It also creates an interactive, student-focused learning environment in the classroom which makes the students eager to go to school.
Globe, on the other hand, provides pre-paid SIM cards, free P150 monthly load allowance for one year to each beneficiary-school to be used for helpdesk concerns, and an additional P1,000 load if there are new or updated materials to be downloaded through the mobile phones using its network.
Students can watch the videos using 29-inch television sets purchased from Kolin Philippines International, Inc. The TV sets, Teachers’ Guides, as well as part of the teacher training costs, were covered by the counterpart funds, provided by the LGU led by Mayor Matilde Sales.
The prototype lesson plans in the guides were created by the DepEd master teachers themselves to meet local education guidelines and standards, and are fully integrated with the basic education curriculum.
This innovation is indeed fascinating. But in weighing things out, we must first consider its advantages and disadvantages as what I have noted below:
ReplyDeleteAdvantages:
1. Easy Access- As what learning was made much more easier, convenient and accessible due to improved technology, the project would certainly lure the students to learn in the easiest and easiness way as possible. Because the mode for learning have been delivered via Cellphones, students can easily interact & share their learnings, lesson topics, assignments, projects and other schoolworks.
2. Cheap- The assistance provided by Globe, Nokia and other sponsors, will make even the poorest learner to be "ON" with both Technology and Learning withou sacrificing High Cost Charges. Also, instead of purchasing a much expensive PC, a student could already do PC-Based tasks (e.g. Browsing The Internet/Lesson Topics)via his/her Cellphone!
3. Fun & Entertaining- Students will be indulged in Fun & Entertainment even while Learning! Since the Project involves a Phone pre-loaded with Lessons (Audio-Video) and interactive applications, learning would have never been much exciting this way. Also, the Attention and the Attention span will be longer, thus, students will learn more and more.
Disadvantages:
1. Technology-Dependent- Since students were stucked with technological tools, traditional forms/tools necessary to cope-up with certain learning aspects will be disregarded. Hence, a Holistic learning was not achieved since students were only viewed Technological tools, not with the Real Objects.
2. Lesser or Disappearance of the Teacher's Role as a Facillitator for Learning.
3. Mode of Learning is Unstable- Since Tecnoloical tools highly depends on Network, Electricity/Power and Constant Repairs, Continuous usage is not an assurance. If these relying factors will be barred or ceased to exist, the manipulation of this tools will also be stopped as well as the Learning Process. Hence, the students and the teachers will still be forced to be drawn back to the traditional way of learning.
Technology is a helping factor. But remember, it will never be a supplement for a Teacher & the Traditional way of Learning in general...
-Don Michael Villarma-
-Holy Cross of Davao College-
(BSED-2,Educ. 26, 6:15-7:15, MWF, CH202)
The TEXT2TEACH alliance is good but we must consider some factors that might affect especially to the learners. Not all learners can afford this one, especially to those who are in rural areas. The teachers cannot assure that they can easily assess if there is a progress in the learnings of the pupils. However, it is good because it is not time-consumable and less effort to exert but may lead to the learners to be dependent enough to these technologies.
ReplyDelete-Sherie Cris E. Ferrano
(BEED-2 EDUC26 SATURDAY 12-3PM)
As for me, using this kind of technology in teaching is a good thing for the learners not only for the teachers. And as what I am sharing in our class, that new technology is good especially if it is use for the development or enhancement of the skills and learnings of the learners and not to become idle or lazy. We must also remember that teachers are here to facilitate and guide the learners, nothing can substitute for them. The disadvantage of it is when there are no electric current and most especially is the relationship between the teacher and the learners which should be developed and enhanced, their camaraderie. Besides that, how would the learners know what they are learning? Do they understand it easily as that? As what I have experienced in the past, during my math subject/s, personally the teacher taught us about it and I have difficulty in understanding it, what's more now that we're using this kind of technology on teaching math and other subjects? Not all learners are good in understanding math, etc. One more thing, how would the teacher assess these learners if they will depend only with this text2teach technique of teaching? Can all learners from public schools afford to have cellphones or the public schools as well? How if the Globe company stopped providing them free sim cards/load monthly, that would be another burden to the parents and teachers. I wish I could have one of the teacher's guides/module that the DepEd has made in order for me to understand more about this project. The information is not complete it seems that it's lacking something. They just said that it is good and how the Globe company will help in implementing this project. I wish my understanding is right regarding the way I commented on it. Let's see what will be the outcome of this project of DepEd. I pray and wish that it would have a positive results. May this project was made for the greater honor and glory of God and not for man only..God bless us all....
ReplyDeleteSr. Estrellita Neri Ortiz, WCW
(BSED-CAT 2; SAT; 8 - 11AM)
(GH 207)
No a formal education must have a personal interaction between the learner and the instructor.Indeed, in educating, an instructor must see to it that the acquisition of knowledge's or ideas in different areas must met in an unwavering manner.In the case of "learning through texting" an instructor cannot have the total assurance that his learner have understood the lessons. Moreover, the discernment of interaction is poor, after all, education in such way will become more unattainable
ReplyDeleteMarivie Parcon BEED- Generalist
For optimum learning, let us observe the following principles in the use of instructional materials. As we all know that all instructional materials are aids to instruction. and let us always be aware that this tools do not replace the good teacher.Even though how good is that materials still it leads us to distraction'Text2teach can be titled "sub-strategies. It is not surprising to see those materials, devices and instruments accumulated in every teachers,because such teaching technologies has been already availble in many schools most especially in Ilocos.According to them, using technologies in teaching creates an interactive, student-focused learning invironment in the classroom which makes the students eager to go to school and users can have a chance to enjoy some benefits, yes very goodand interesting but on the other hand an effective learning and teaching vary in the teacher direction and students participation, effective use of media can enliven the students encourage participation and help grasp difficult concepts, but for highly interactive classroom process as what I have said that all instructional materials are aids to construction. They do not replace the teacher.
ReplyDeletesr.wilma gumat
BSED-Catechetics
8:00-11:00 Sat.
For me, its not formal way of educating people. We can always refer it on our professional subjects. There is no formal interaction between the students and the teacher. How can the teacher assess the learning of the student if texting is the only way of their interaction? Does the teacher really sure that his student is the one answering his questions? In short, this program is not that really reliable. The author of this program must distinguish its advantages and disadvantages before he will going to implement this kind of program.
ReplyDelete