Despite being released 15 years ago, the all-Filipino developed DOST Courseware, which was originally intended to uplift the science and mathematics education in the country, appears to be more relevant today since the implementation of Department of Education’s blended learning modality during the pandemic.
“We are delighted that our intended beneficiaries are downloading and installing the DOST Courseware especially during this time. We observed a significant increase in activity for the SEI MS Windows download website, which already registered 66,433 hits, while the mobile application from grades 1 to 8 now has 80,784 installations for the Android version and 1,961 for the Apple version as of October this year,” said Josephine Feliciano, Science Education Institute (SEI) project manager and science research specialist.
There are three platforms of the DOST Courseware – the MS Windows, Android, and Apple IOS.
For MS Windows, there are 413 lessons from grades 1 to 8 science and mathematics that may be downloaded from www.sei.dost.gov.ph. For mobile devices, there are 112 lessons available in Google Play, and 20 lessons in Apple Store.
The mobile applications are also available for download at the DepEd Commons portal.
The DOST Courseware streamlines and standardizes the lesson presentations in science and mathematics using cost-effective technology solutions.
It also helps develop competitive learners to enhance their learning using ICT, and provide teachers with supplemental tools and resources that can assist them in lesson planning and blended teaching.
Since its inception in 2004, the DOST Courseware became all the more relevant when the pandemic left the authorities, administrators, parents, and students with no choice but to allow learning to take place at home.
Feliciano said more lessons will be added in Android versions this December and new modules for grades 9 and 10 will be produced in 2021 with level-up interface and functionalities to adapt to the new delivery mode.
All versions of DOST Courseware, which was jointly developed by an all-Filipino team from SEI, Advanced Science and Technology Institute for digitization, DepEd, Philippine Normal University, and University of the Philippines-National Institute for Sciences and Mathematics Education, are for free.
The DOST Courseware will continue to be vital as a learning tool since it has proven useful as supplementary teaching and learning resource for teachers and learners, especially in subject areas that are quite challenging.
To learn more about the features, platforms, functionality, and accessibility of the DOST Courseware, catch their seminar on DOST Courseware in Science and Mathematics for E-Learning for grades 1 to 8 today, Nov. 29 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) 2020 virtual celebration and exhibit.
For more information and updates regarding the 2020 NSTW, visit the www.nstw.dost.gov.ph and its Facebook page or send message at [email protected] and [email protected]. – Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin
