PSHS campuses get Google apps

MANILA, Philippines - All 13 campuses of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) system run by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have been provided with Google applications for education.

With this, the students will have an enhanced learning experience and a more enjoyable time in their classrooms.

The DOST and the PSHS system administration successfully collaborated with Google Philippines for the provision of the Google apps, a suite of free tools for faster and easier collaboration and communication, in PSHS campuses all over the country.

“This is a clear step to aid the learning experience of our students and to achieve PSHS’s goal of being in rank with top science schools in Southeast Asia,” said Allan Rod de Lara, deputy executive director and officer-in-charge of the DOST-PSHS.

The apps include Google Hangout, Gmail, Google Drive and Calendar which were all demonstrated live during the PSHS-hosted “Gone Google Program for K-12 schools.”

Using the apps provides mobility as users are able to collaborate from anywhere, inside or outside the campus, on any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.

The apps are also free, reducing expenses and eliminating buying time and maintenance of software and servers.

Using the apps also promotes teacher innovation as they constantly develop and share new ways of enhancing learning.

It was learned that Google Philippines donated 180 tablet devices to selected PSHS campuses, enabling students, teachers and administration personnel to interact with one another more conveniently, no matter where they are or what kind of mobile gadget they are using.

The app will also enable them to streamline their academic tasks.

“By allowing more schools to gain tools that will provide them with an efficient instruction of learning, we secure an education environment where knowledge is readily available to many,” said Samuel Cheung, regional manager of Google for Education.

Aside from the DOST-PSHS, other government educational institutions such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority have also migrated to Google apps for education.

Several private education institutions are also set to use the Google apps for education in their education management system.

Among them are Ateneo de Manila University-High School, Xavier University- High School, Paref Woodrose, Xavier School, Berkeley School, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, St. Joseph Catholic School, Sto. Niño Parochial School, Our Lady of Hope Parochial School and Holy Family Parochial School.