Olongapo school bags 6 awards in int’l website making tilt

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has lauded the Olongapo City National High School (OCNHS) for winning six awards in an international website making contest spearheaded by a Singapore-based foundation.

Lapus commended Dr. Helen Aggabao, principal of the OCNHS, for leading her students in participating and winning in the Classroom and Excellence Awards given out by the Asia-Europe Foundation.

“This confirms that public schools can be competitive in the global arena, and that we are starting to reap the benefits of our efforts to integrate technology in teaching and learning,” he said.

All six entries from the OCNHS emerged winners in the online website making contest, with three entries recognized under the Classroom Awards and the rest under the Excellence Awards.

The awards, according to the Department of Education, were given to outstanding online learning platforms or virtual classrooms where lessons and activities can be discussed by participating member-countries.

Aggabao said the winning projects were implemented in each participating country and lessons and activities were discussed through the Internet.

The Asia-Europe Classroom Awards gives recognition to efforts that promote high school learning. It connects secondary schools from all over Asia and Europe and provides opportunities for collaborative learning and cultural exchange.

The projects are part of the Asia-Europe’s Classroom Network (AEC-NET), an educational component of the foundation.

The OCNHS’ website entries that won under the Classroom Awards were “Culture Kaleidoscope 2007,” “Mastering Media — The Sequel,” and “Young Diplomats.”

Meanwhile, the school’s “Asia and Europe Money,” “Local Traditions and Ceremonies — Forms of Theater” and “The World in a Book 2006” bagged Excellence Awards.

The six websites serve as virtual classrooms where students from participating countries interact and learn more about Asian and European cultures.

Among the participating countries that were also given awards were Greece, Malaysia, Ireland, Slovenia, and Vietnam.

The OCNHS has been an active member of the AEC-NET and has forged partnerships with various secondary schools in Asia and Europe.

The school currently has an ongoing virtual project with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Poland conceptualized by Aggabao.

This project promotes face-to-face exchanges and online projects among school participants. Aggabao said, “This project serves as the school’s major technological initiative that will put public schools in the virtual world map.”

Lapus said the DepEd will support any initiative that endows Filipino students with a global perspective.

“Information technology enables our students and teachers to keep apace with the latest trends in learning and interacting with other learners,” he said.

On Dec. 12-16, Aggabao will present the project she conceptualized for AEC-NET participating schools in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.