Globe announces highly-successful pilot run of Digital Thumbprint Program

Tweet

The Globe Digital Thumbprint Program is a school-based educational program for high school students covering the understanding of online connectivity and the importance of responsible digital citizenship. 

High school students listen intently to a Globe volunteer during a Digital Thumbprint Program workshop recently implemented in Manila Science High School.

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom announces the highly-successful pilot run of the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), the award-winning brainchild of Optus and Singtel first deployed in Australia.

It was designed to increase high school 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 Globe Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) aims to promote the truth and benefits of a wonderful digital national for the Philippines through awareness and education of online security, etiquette, empowerment and positive digital citizenship for all.

“By empowering a generation of students with digital savvy and leadership skills, Globe is giving them a way to understand the individual impact of their decisions and actions as well as enhances their view of how technology can be used to create a #WonderfulPH,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

“The youth is greatly represented in the online community. Thus, to prepare them for the immense benefits that a digital nation brings, we want them to learn how to discern proper online behavior, be aware of technology’s impact on their social activities, and develop skills on how to use technology to help them achieve life goals,” he added

An assessment conducted by global consulting firm Karrikins Group of Australia showed that DTP had a very high impact among students of the two pilot schools ---- Dasmarinas East National High School in Dasmarinas, Cavite and Sico 1.0 National High School in San Juan, Batangas --- particularly on the topic of privacy and security settings on social media platforms.

“Key outcomes are increased knowledge, shift in the behavior of Filipino youth to improve their digital safety and security, and increased digital responsibility and etiquette. Leadership and empowerment outcomes also showed a positive attitudinal shift. With the success of its first period of delivery, Globe can be confident they can increase the reach and impact of the program at scale,” Karrikins said in its report.

The pilot reached over 2,280 students with more than half or 1,266 students and 36 teachers participating in the survey. Based on the results, 96.7% of the students expressed satisfaction and enjoyment from the DTP workshops; 94.4% of students found the workshops relevant; and 100% of teachers said that their students learned something important and that the workshops were grade-level appropriate. The program also received a Net Promoter Score of 91.7 from the teachers who said they would recommend it to other schools. 

The three DTP workshops use captivating, classroom-appropriate case studies and activities to stimulate and challenge. Digital Insight covers concepts on information security and online business models; Digital Impact focuses on the impact students have on themselves and others, including how to help friends who may be facing anti-social activity; and Digital Ambition helps equip students with strategies on how to use technology to aid rather than distract from their ambitions.

Karrikins was commissioned by Globe to conduct an evaluation of DTP effectiveness and impact to ensure that the program is able to deliver the highest quality education and behavioral change both online and offline.

To nominate a high school for the program, please email bridgecom@globe.com.ph.

Over 1M students enrolled in Senior HS

Tweet

At past 11am today (June 17), the Department of Education (DepEd) breached the 1 million mark reporting that 1,009,139 Grade 11 learners are now enrolled in Senior High Schools (SHS) nationwide. DepEd is expecting numbers to rise further since as of June 17, DepEd records show that over 1,600 schools are yet to submit and report their SHS enrollment data to DepEd. 

"Napatunayan ng Pilipino na handa tayo sa pagbabago. Nakatawid na tayo sa liwanag. Kaya naman pala ng Pinoy kung ating pagtutulungan," Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said.

Of the over 1M learners, around 691,000 SHS students are enrolled in public schools (DepEd-funded schools and public universities and colleges) and more than 317,000 are in private schools.

Photo : https://www.facebook.com/DepEd.Philippines/

DepEd's real time Learner Information System revealed that some 610,000 chose to take the Academic track; over 394,000 Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track; 2,728 are in Arts and Design track, and 1,537 in Sports track.

ARMM to bring Grade 10 completers to Senior High School

Tweet

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC 

The Department of Education (DepEd) has enjoined the education stakeholders in the Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to encourage Grade 10 completers to enroll in the Senior High School in June 2016, noting that there are only 19,658 early registrants out of the target 28,915 students.

“Look for those Grade 10 students who have not enrolled yet in SHS,” Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said.

Luistro made the pitch during the K to 12 Summit held recently at the Notre Dame of Jolo College where hundreds of education stakeholders—students from public and private schools, parents, teachers, and school division superintendents pledged their support for the full implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

“My trip here is actually a vote for Mindanao. Dahil sa palagay ko po, hindi uusad ang Pilipinas kung hindi natin kasabay susulong ang Mindanao lalo na sa larangan ng edukasyon,” Luistro pointed out.

He added that the government will aid Grade 10 completers who will pursue SHS in a non-DepEd school through the SHS Voucher Program.

Starting School Year 2016-2017, the SHS Voucher Program will subsidize the school fees of students who completed Grade 10 in public and private schools, if they enroll in a non-DepEd school licensed to offer SHS. The voucher is accepted in private high schools, State Universities and Colleges/Local Universities and Colleges, and Technical and Vocational Schools.

Luistro also noted the gap between the number of children who enroll and those who complete schooling in elementary and secondary education in the ARMM.

According to Luistro, out of 636,000 enrollees in 2014, about 35.28% or 224,000 completed their elementary education. In the same year, around 72,476 students or almost half of the 148,000 enrollees completed their secondary education.

“This is our mission: that the enrollment and completion rate in Sulu must be at the same level. This is because our overall target is that no Filipino learner must be left behind. That is what we must all achieve together,” Luistro said.

Luistro added that education is not only done through formal schooling, emphasizing that DepEd has other programs that provide alternative options to existing formal instruction, such as the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Managed by ALS learning facilitators, the ALS education is delivered outside the classroom, usually conducted at community learning centers, barangay multi-purpose hall, libraries, or at home.

“We need to strengthen our ALS program and provide more mobile teachers to reach out to more students and embrace them in our program,” Luistro explained.

Global City Innovative College Applies 21st Century Learning to Senior High School

Tweet

GLOBAL City Innovative College, an internationally recognized educational center, forming the next generation of innovative, professional leaders for the GLOBAL Community. GIC believes that education is not only a leveling tool for poverty, it is through education that the hopes of our next generation and the progress of our country lies.

Global City Innovative College (GIC) now applies 21st Century learning to Senior High School --- Six or seven years in elementary + four years in high school + four years in college.

That’s the equation that most of us are familiar with. But the Philippine government has modified the formula with the recent addition of two more years in high school. 

Beginning school year 2016, students will not be accepted into college unless they finish grades 11 and 12. And high school diplomas will only be issued to graduates of grade 12. 

The mandate on Grades 11 and 12 or what is collectively referred to as Senior High School has caused confusion and elicited a lot of complaints from parents and students. But is it really such a bad thing?

Engr. Mike Tan, Global City Innovative College (GIC) President,  rationalized during a meeting with a group of parent writers:

Engr. Mike Tan, Global City Innovative College (GIC) President

“Senior high school will allow our graduates to meet the global standard requirement of twelve years of basic education. It will let Filipinos be globally competitive. Those who want to work abroad will not have to take additional state examinations or certifications and will receive commensurate compensation.”

“It will still be like high school but with specialization. The curriculum will be geared towards the student’s interest. The specialization will be reflected in the student’s choice of tracks and strands. The tracks and strands offered at GIC prepares students better for specific college programs. So the students move up to the next level better equipped,” explained Dr. Gerry De La Zerna, GIC Chairman for Senior High School.

The track is similar to what we refer to as ‘course’ in college while strands are similar to what is called ‘major’ in college. 

Dr. Gerry De La Zerna, GIC Chairman for Senior High School.

Established in 2002, GIC offers Bachelor of Science courses on Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, Tourism Management, Medical Technology, Accountancy and Accounting Technology. And now they are introducing their Senior High School program. 

“GIC wants to play a role in the country’s new education framework and do our share in bridging the gap between the high school and the tertiary levels. We also see this as an opportunity to cascade our approach to education to more students,” related Mike. 

“We employ 21st century learning. We offer a kind of education that addresses the needs of students to thrive in the future. We teach timeless skills that will serve as a strong foundation regardless of what the future holds. This is done through holistic and innovative education,” he continued. 

Students who enrol in GIC will have a unique 3D experience – discover, develop and direction.

“We believe that these 2 years are critical yet confusing to a young student’s life stage. GIC’s 3D approach will help them discover their innate talents and gifts. Our unique enrichment programs for grades 11 and 12 aim to develop these talents and gifts by honing them with the needed skills needed for the 21st century. Finally, GIC will help them determine and focus on the direction to take for the important life choices they will make for their career or further education. This innovative approach will be rooted in the 21st century education framework and fully compliant with the requirements of the Department of Education,” Mike guaranteed. 

GIC offers Academic and Tech Voc tracks. Under the Academic track they have three strands: Accountancy Business and Management (ABM), Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS). 

Under the Tech Voc track, they have two strands: 

The first is Home Economics which includes pastry and bakery production; food and beverages; and tour guiding and tourism promotions. 

The second is Information and Communications Technology (ICT) where they have animation, computer programming and medical transcription. Slots per strand are limited. 

To help the students decide on which track/strand to take GIC conducts a career assessment prior to enrolment.

“We discuss the results with the parents and emphasize to them that students who pursue their interests are more likely to succeed. If students take up what they want, truancy in college is reduced,” Gerry disclosed. 

Education the GIC way sounds really fun! Students will be thrilled that they will not be given assignments to bring home. “We want our students to do the assignments in school. We want them to be well-rounded and enjoy their social life and family life,” shared Gerry. 

And there will be only four days of school.

“The fifth day will be spent as immersion in their industry of choice. For example, if the topic is about interviews, we will let them spend the fifth day of the week going on interviews. We want them to get the experience so that when they return to the classroom, they will understand the discussion better. If it’s all lecture then everything remains abstract. They will not comprehend until they go through it. And the experience will make them remember better,” justified Gerry.

“Senior high school is more about skills but not just technical skills, we must not forget the soft skills such as attitude and personality. They have to learn more skills that will match with what the industry wants like critical thinking, decision making, and presentation skills. These are the things we will teach you in GIC through our curriculum enhancement,” emphasized Gerry.

A required subject, the Life course is an example of an enhancement. 

“This is where we guide them to discover themselves and embrace their uniqueness, we teach them to explore their community and relate with others properly. It is also in the Life course where we prepare them for the professional world and life realities,” said Mr. Jayson Bergania, GIC Director for Innovative Holistic Development Education.

Last but not the least, the teachers at GIC are industry practitioners who can provide real life examples and impart their experience from the field.

After graduating from Senior High School in GIC, students can explore three options. 

1- They can move up to college for higher studies and pursue the specialization track taken in senior high school.

2- No entrance exam if they enrol in GIC! 

3- Or they can get a job armed with a TESDA certification (when applicable) of the chosen specialization in senior high school.

However, with this, their chances of moving up will be limited to middle management positions at the most. Because companies usually require a college degree for promotion to higher levels. The third option involves starting their own business.

“At the end of the day, the objective is to have GIC’s high school graduates be both industry-ready and college-ready,” concluded Mike.

Know more about Global City Innovative College and its Senior High School program through www.global.edu.ph or by calling (02) 882-4242 and (02) 666-8881 to 82. 

GIC is located at PET Plans Tower Annex, 444 EDSA, Makati City 1211 (near Estrella Street and Rockwell). 

Get updates at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalCityInnovativeCollege/

Twitter: GCICph

Instagram: GCICph

YouTube: GCICph

DepEd extends early registration for Senior High School

Tweet

The Department of Education (DepEd) has extended the early registration period for Senior High School (SHS) from October 19 to November 13, 2015 to ensure that incoming SHS students are enrolled in SHS come June 2016. 

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that the extension will give all incoming SHS students ample time to decide on their choice of SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest and matches job opportunities that await them,” he added.

The four major tracks in the SHS Program are Academic, Technical-Vocational Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design.

During this period, all Grade 10 students in all public and private high schools are encouraged to submit their choice of school and SHS track to their respective class advisers. The class advisers of Grade 10 in public schools are then tasked to register their students for SHS and submit learners’ preferences through the SHS registration module in the Learner Information System (LIS) of DepEd.

The SHS early registration is also open to high school graduates prior to the full implementation of the K to 12 Program, passers of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Examination for Junior High School level. They may register in any of the schools offering SHS. 

For the list of Senior High Schools, visit http://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/shs.