Alitagtag Senior High School (SHS) and San Felipe Elementary School (ES) were among the beneficiaries of the partnership project between the DOST and BPI Foundation, Inc., which aimed to donate Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) to remote schools in the country.
The 2.1 million peso project benefits 30 schools in the country and aims to provide students and teachers in remote areas access to digital science and technology resources. A turnover ceremony of the STARBOOKS units for the two school beneficiaries in Batangas province was conducted at the Alitagtag SHS, Poblacion East, Alitagtag, Batangas, on April 11, 2024.
The STARBOOKS, developed by the Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources that can supplement classroom learning and enhance research capabilities. It allows access to information even in the absence of an internet connection.
An orientation training was also provided to the teachers and students of the two schools on how to maximize the use of STARBOOKS for their academic and research needs. This covered the features and contents of STARBOOKS and how they can be utilized to supplement learning materials in STEM education. The training aimed to equip the participants with the necessary skills to navigate and utilize the resources available on STARBOOKS.
A site admin training was also conducted to ensure efficient management and maintenance of the STARBOOKS system in the schools. This training focused on registering data, navigating countless articles, and exploring interactive math and science games. Teachers and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) coordinators were also briefed on the admin module, which consists of user assistance, submission of transmittal files, reviewing user feedback and comments, updating STARBOOKS contents, and kiosk management.
The turnover ceremony followed the training, where the STARBOOKS units were officially handed over to the school beneficiaries. Present during this ceremony were Dr. Richard P. Burgos, DOST-STII Director, Ms. Juvilyn S. Renivera, Associate Director of BPI Foundation Inc., Mr. Allan C. Taule, Chief of Information Resources and Analysis Division of DOST-STII, Ms. Renalee Leyesa, Science Research Specialist II and Mr. Cedric L. Rodriguez, Project Technical Assistant I of DOST-Batangas, Ms. Erlene M. Martinez, Principal of Alitagtag SHS, Ms. Shien Orlanda, ICT Coordinator of San Felipe ES, Ms. Jennifer Montenegro, Admin Officer of San Felipe ES, Ms. Alma M. Brin, YES-O Coordinator of San Felipe ES, and Ms. Veneranda Del Mundo, Admin Assistant of Alitagtag SHS.
Beneficiaries thanked DOST and BPI Foundation, Inc. for their support in providing training and resources for the development of science and technology programs in their respective schools. They promised to maximize the use of the units to further enhance their students’ learning experiences and interest in STEM fields.| – John Maico M. Hernandez
