The Department of Education-Cordillera launched project Hybrid Learning using Technology with Equity and Quality (HyTEQ) in Kapangan, Benguet last week, which is an alternative to the printed modules.
Deped-Cordillera Director Estela Carino said project HyTEQ that was launched in Sagubo Elementary Schooland Kapangan National High School will be implemented in 72 pilot implementing schools in the region.
DepEd Information and Communications Technology Service Director Abram Abanil and Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin witnessed the demonstration of the project.
DepEd-Cordillera ICT head Jumar Yago-an said the schools have no network signal, which is why the computer network of both schools has been upgraded while access hotspots, including WiFi connectivity were established. The local area network (LAN) in nearby sitios was also extended through wireless technology.
The sitios covered by LAN are Bileng, Landing, Tibalbal, Mukgo, and Timoc. It will soon be expanded to sitios Puspusok and Sagubo Proper.
The project, which is aimed at providing schools with technologies needed for them to implement offline and online strategies in their distance learning, has five strategies which will depend on the need of the school.
Strategy one will cater to schools with learners and teachers with access to fastInternet connectivity with the DepEd learning management system (LMS) while the second strategy is the use of on-premise LMS, which can cater to schools with learners and teachers having no access to good Internet.
LMS is an application or system for administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses.
The third strategy is the use of on-premise LMS with extended LAN, which can cater to schools with learners and teachers no access to good and the school terrain is suitable for extended LAN.
The fourth stra-tegy caters to schools with high percentage of learners having access to stable Internet connection but with high percentage of those having no access to Internet. The use of on-premise LMS for learners without Internet combined with the use of DepEd LMS and other applications for synchronous learning will be implemented.
The fifth strategy caters to schools with high percentage of learners with no access to good Internet but with high percentage of having no access to Internet and the school terrain is suitable for extended LAN.
Yago-an said the third strategy is implemented in Sagubo ES and Kapangan NHS where the students can access the digitized learning modules through the various access points installed in the school and nearby sitios using learning tablets.
He said the learners can connect to the nearest hotspot in their sitio to download the LMS contents. After downloading, the learners can now go home and have their classes offline. Fifty gadgets can be connected to one hotspot area.
In submitting their works, the learners can connect again to the nearest hotspot then sync or upload the results of their activities.
Upon submission, the teachers can access the results of the activities, reports on the completion of learners, and the grades of learners.
Yago-an said the system will be improved to include synchronous learning through chat sessions, which can be experienced by the learners and teachers.
Cariño lauded the partnership and willingness of the schools and the local government unit from the barangay to the municipality in assisting the DepEd to install the system for the project.
She said the project will be given as a complete setup – from training, equipment and system – turned over to the implementing schools.
Fermin said the LGU has earlier set up a WiFi in the school premises through the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which is being funded by the local school board and the LGU to assist the learners and teachers in the area.
During the launching, the DepEd-Cordillera distributed 2,558 tablets to the 72 pilot schools. – Ofelia C. Empian
