In a move to improve learning delivery in schools in the Philippines, Vice President and Secretary of the Department of Education, Sara Duterte, has emphasized the importance of integrating ICT into the education system in her Basic Education Report on January 30, 2023. Following this call to action, the Sarangani Division has stepped up the implementation of its innovation, LRonWHEeLS, which stands for Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for expanded e-Learning in Sarangani. In a recent consultative meeting and instructional supervision, the Curriculum Implementation Division identified that further strengthening of the ICT infrastructure and development of digital learning materials is necessary to enhance the program's implementation. As a response, the Sarangani Division has launched the SMART-ED Initiative, which aims to improve the quality of education in the region.   “There are many teachers in Sarangani who are employing 21st Century teaching methods. To complement that, we wil

The technology field is rapidly evolving and experts predict that advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things will profoundly impact society. To keep up with these changes, the education system must adapt and stay current. In line with this, a group of senior high school students from Sarangani Division in the Philippines has taken the initiative to make a difference. The research team consisting of Jan Laurence Guieb, Jhon Wincer Elbo, Vice Navarro, and Francine Aira Sanchez, has developed a project that aims to address a critical need in remote communities - access to clean water. The team has received full support from their adviser, Shiela Butil, PhD and will participate in a training program in Manila on March 13th. They will also receive a grant of Php 50,000 worth of materials to further develop their project, with the possibility of winning a prize of Php 200,000 pesos for the best team. The Sarangani Division is committed to providing

Learners at Tangali Integrated School in North Malungon district will soon experience digital learning as the Department of Education Region XII turned over 170 tablets that they could use in their classes. As part of DepEd's basic education learning continuity plan, DepEd XII procured tablets to be distributed to identified schools in the region, with a preference for schools in far-flung areas, whose learners are usually deprived of learning opportunities enjoyed by learners in more accessible schools. The tablets contain digitized self-learning modules and stories that are intended to support the development of the learners' reading skills and address the unavailability of books and other reading materials. The Schools Division of Sarangani has committed to enhancing the learners' use of said tablets by adding interactive learning materials such as automated quizzes and videos that are currently being developed. Assistant Regional Director Rebonfamil R. Baguio, Schools D

The provincial local government unit of Sarangani turned over 100 antennas to DepEd Sarangani in support of the implementation of LRonWHEeLS. Photo by Joel Andres Provincial Administrator Atty. Ryan Jay Ramos led the turnover of the antennas amounting to Php 150,000.00 during the flag-raising ceremony at the provincial capitol, Alabel, Sarangani Province. DepEd Sarangani was represented by Education Program Supervisor Judith B. Alba and Information Technology Officer Roy J. Detoyato, lead implementers of the project. LRonWHEeLS stands for Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani, an innovation of the Division of Sarangani during the pandemic when learners could not attend classes in school. It uses a local wireless network to connect learners’ gadgets to a learning management system. LRonWHEeLS is being implemented in over 50 schools in the Division of Sarangani and has been replicated in other provinces and cities in the country like Batangas, Baguio City, Z

The Benitez Hall inside the Teachers Camp Baguio City was filled with Cheers of delegates from the delegates from Sarangani Division as they bagged several recognitions at the DepEd EdTech Awards 2022, June 22. DepEd Sarangani took home the honor as the Most Outstanding Division Office for DepEd TV due to the support it provided in the production and dissemination of DepEd TV episodes in various teaching modalities. "We will use this recognition to continue to strive to provide high-quality education through technology to Sarangan students, especially those in last mile schools," said Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Donna S. Panes in receiving the award. The Sarangani division's contribution to DepEd TV was noted due to its innovation LRonWHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani, where DepEd TV episodes are used as learning tools, making them even more interactive with the help of H5P technology. LRonWHEeLS was also recognized

Making e-Learning Possible in Last Mile Schools in the Country The innovation that DepEd Sarangani developed during the pandemic will soon be replicated in schools around the country, thus, bringing e-learning within the reach of more learners nationwide. Coming from a place that actually lacks in the information technology department, LRonWHEeLS proves that scarcity, indeed, is the mother of invention, and having been developed during the pandemic when learning delivery was greatly challenged, it affirms that difficult times inspire people to make a difference. An alternative to printed modules When President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a national lockdown to take effect on March 15, 2022, everything changed. It compelled the Department of Education to lay down plans for distance learning. However, infrastructure for online learning in the majority of public schools, printed modular distance learning was the go-to modality. Thinking of ways to help teachers in the delivery of modules to t

Head of ICTS-EdTech Mark Anthony Sy challenged the current concept of a computer laboratory when he talked about the Digital Rise Program during the opening program of the Training and Upskilling of Teachers on “LR on WHEeLS” and Enhancement of Content in the LMS, yesterday. Showing a photo of a usual computer laboratory in a Philippine public school, he said, “Ganyan ang ating concept [ng computer laboratory], pero binasag ‘yan ng pandemya.” He added that computer laboratories in schools should be able to provide an opportunity for learners to learn using distance learning modalities. “With the help of our innovative ITO in Sarangani, it [was] all made possible,” he added. Sy was referring to the LR on WHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani, which was developed by the Division Information Technology Officer of DepEd Sarangani, Roy J. Detoyato. The LR on WHEeLS is a learning management system that provides learners with an online learning experie

It has been a productive Saturday for the LR on WHEeLS team as they start the field testing of the new iteration of the project. Now installed in over 60 schools in the Province, the LR on WHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani continues to engage more learners by bringing it closer to the community. At Tokawal National High School, the school premises and the households around the Barangay Hall are already connected to the LR on WHEeLS network and the learners are already enjoying the benefits of online learning without having to pay for an internet connection. With a few more remote communities still beyond the reach of the LR on WHEeLS network, the school decided to come up with a new project that utilizes the school's motorized vehicle.   Aptly named "Chariot of Knowledge," the project comprising a server, a router, an access point antenna, and at least 15 tablets will be going around the community to provide an e-Learning experi

Powered by LR on WHEeLS, Sarangani's reading program is going digital! In addition to regular lessons based on the most essential learning competencies, reading materials and interactive activities will soon be included in the LR on WHEeLS learning management system.  "Not only does LR on WHEeLS provide an opportunity for remedial reading for our learners, it also allows our teachers to upgrade their skills and to innovate," John Jerson Constantino, Alternate Reading Coordinator said.  "The LR on WHEeLS platform is perfect for our situation nowadays. This is a welcome addition to our Read@Home tutorials. We now have a mechanism to distribute our quality-assured materials in an interactive way even in areas where there is no internet connection," he added.  After the orientation and workshop conducted on January 24 at Big Ben Restaurant, General Santos City, content developers will continue digitizing the reading materials, which will then be subjecte

Elementary Schools in Alabel 3 District are collaborating with 88.5 iCare FM Radio that is based at Alegria National High School for the broadcasting of their RBI lessons. Teachers like Rowena Biene of Upper Alabel Elementary School record their radio-based instruction lessons and upload the audio files to a shared Google Drive for iCare FM to air during their designated time slots. "Each school is assigned a subject area. Our school is assigned to develop RBI lessons in Science," Biene said. The partnership was initiated by District Supervisor Fredgie Pasco upon learning that the radio broadcast of iCare FM reaches most of the areas in Alabel 3 district. Andres Mataganas, school head of Alegria NHS, explained that the schools whose lessons are aired via iCare FM have committed to augment expenses on electricity in return. Mataganas also added that plans to increase the range of the broadcast coverage as well as the introduction of live streaming via Facebook are underway in

“No Internet, No Problem.” DepEd Sarangani’s innovation LR on WHEeLS fascinated Mark Anthony Sy, Head of Educational Technology Unit of DepEd Central Office when he visited two implementing schools in Glan, Sarangani Province. LR on WHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani is an innovation developed by DepEd Sarangani as an alternative to online learning delivery modality designed for areas where internet connectivity is a problem. Together with the DepEd TV team, the EdTech Unit head visited Prudencio Mariano Integrated School in Barangay Laguimit and Nicomedes Tolentino Elementary School in Barangay Small Margus on December 18, 2021. Sy is especially excited by LR on WHEeLS’s utilization of Open Education Resources and DepEd TV videos, which benefits learners even in remote locations. “Makikita po ninyo na kahit wala pong internet access ang lugar na ito ay nagagamit po ng maayos ang ating mga online tools pero in an offline environment; kaya napa

DepEd Sarangani bagged six out of 15 categories in the regional evaluation for the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Curriculum and Instruction. These schools are: Malungon Central Elementary School at Malapatan Central Elementary School for large and very large schools categories, respectively, in K-3 level; Maasim Central Elementary School for large category in Grades 4-6 level; Leopoldo Dacera Sr. Integrated School for small schools category in Junior High School; and Alabel National High School and James L. Chiongbian National Trade School for large and very large categories, respectively, in the Senior High School level.  Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Donna S. Panes said that schools sent by the Schools Division of Sarangani to the said awards are "implementers of Read at Home Program, contextualization of learning resources for distance learning and innovators of learning modalities." The SAFE-CI seeks to recognize schools and schools divisions that exh

Sitio Datal Basak may not always be visible in the eyes of the people in the flatlands, but it is never forgotten.   Cradled by the mountains of Maasim, Sarangani Province, and usually wrapped in thick mist, Sitio Datal Basak is home to a community of Blaans who rely on farming for their sustenance. Once sullied by the presence of a left-leaning organization, the establishment of the DepEd-run Datal Basak IP School and the road project, connected the once-isolated community to imminent progress.   Although it remains unenergized, the community relies on solar power to provide light at night. The solar power system donated to the school by its partners is an opportunity that the Schools Division of Sarangani took advantage of to realize one of its projects to help learners in last-mile schools. Beyond learning continuity At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education in Sarangani has always had as one of its priorities the continuation of learning in the far-flung co

In Upo National High School where access to the Internet is difficult, learners still get the chance to experience e-learning through DepEd Sarangani's LR on WHEeLS or Learning Resources on WiFi Hub for Expanded e-Learning in Sarangani. Upo NHS is the first in MAKIMA area to establish their own LR on WHEeLS setup. Based on the survey that they conducted, out of their 240 learners, 72 have gadgets. They enrolled those learners in the LR on WHEeLS learning management system. In addition, they are also developing a scheme to allow more learners to experience said technology using the tablets, which the school received through the DepEd Computerization Program. School Head Himelda N. Napila said that they will identify the learners who will benefit from the DCP tablets and arrange a schedule of utilization. Grade 9 learner Rolart Nahz A. Acosta is happy that their school has decided to implement LR on WHEeLS. "Dili na kinahanglan magbayad sa internet connection, dili na kailangan