Internet-based learning impacts on community livelihood

MANILA, Philippines - Students of Tayud High School in Cebu are finding ways to bolster their barangay’s furniture business.

Together with their teachers, parents and barangay leaders, the students have created a community center that also serves as its internet hub.

“The original plan, which took shape in the school’s e-learning club, was to create a website promoting Tayud’s wood craft,” shares Myrna Soco, a teacher at Tayud HS. “But after some time, we saw that people needed a venue to display their products. Thus, we put up the community center.”

The shift to a dynamic mindset among the students and community in the use of the internet was bolstered when students started receiving the benefits of a teacher training program initiated by Globe Telecom under its integrated corporate social responsibility program, Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom).

To further help public school teachers keep up with the changing times, Globe launched the Global Filipino Teacher (GFT) program in September 2009. “GFT focuses on the proper use of ICT application for classroom activities,” explains Globe head for corporate social responsibility, Jeff Tarayao. “It is an extensive and holistic six-day teacher training enhancement program focusing on project-based learning using ICT.”

Held in partnership with Coalition for Better Education (CBE) and the Department of Education, GFT involves ICT Skills Assessment, Teacher Enhancement Program and an evaluation system for monitoring the classroom programs the teacher-participant implements.

GFT was a natural consequence to Globe BridgeCom’s Internet in Schools Program (ISP), of which Tayud HS was also a recipient. ISP provided internet connectivity to public high schools and to date, a total of 2,012 schools have been connected through the program.

Soco, a GFT graduate, believes that it has opened avenues of learning both for the students and teachers of Tayud HS. “It’s not about learning how to use the computer. It’s about harnessing technology, making classroom learning experiences better,” says Soco.

Luchie Flores, executive director of CBE. Flores explained that instilling accountability in a community meant involving parents and local leaders in their school’s development and bringing in partners from the business sector as well. 

According to Tarayao, GFT serves to improve efficiency in the educational process and bridges different sectors to work together. “GFT brings different sectors together under a common banner: to improve education in the Philippines,” shares Tarayao. “It promotes new approaches to working and learning: collaborative learning and problem solving activities which aim to actively engage the community.”

Tayud HS students and faculty now have renewed hope for their school and community. “Tayud HS used to be in the bottom, with a 17 percent passing rate in achievement tests,” explains Soco. “Our students’ parents couldn’t have cared less about the school’s standing. But now that we enjoy a 60 to 70 percent passing rate, we see parents taking a more active role in school.”

Through the support of their community, Tayud HS has garnered the distinction of becoming one of the district’s champions in bookkeeping, electronic poster making and other IT-related competitions.