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

A month before the targeted return of 100% in-person classes this school year, learners at Lun Padidu Central Elementary School may have to extend its blended learning delivery modality after a fire razed nine classrooms to the ground and severely burned two others just before midnight of October 6. The affected classrooms were used to be occupied by 461 grade one and grade two learners. RUINS. A fire incident at Lun Padidu Central Elementary School razed nine classrooms to the ground and severely damaged two others on the night of October 6, 2022, displacing 461 learners. Expecting that the construction of new classroom buildings would take time, the Schools Division Office of Sarangani announced that funding will be made available to build 12 temporary learning spaces. “I have already informed our finance personnel to set aside funds for the temporary learning spaces for the learners of Lun Padidu Central Elementary School, while waiting for new classrooms from the Central Office,”

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

“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

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