Text2Teach expands in Ilocos, Bicol regions

MANILA, Philippines – Tapping the power of text messaging to improve the teaching of math and science in public schools under the Globe Telecom-led Text2Teach project has been expanded to cover schools in the Bicol and Ilocos regions.

Globe and DepEd have made the program available to Grades 5 and 6 pupils of 24 public elementary schools in Naga City and Bacarra and Carasi in Ilocos Norte earlier this year.

With the inclusion of the three areas, the number of Text2Teach schools nationwide is now at 409, bringing the project closer to achieving its goal of reaching more than 550 schools nationwide this year.

Text2Teach is a collaboration between the private and public sectors spearheaded by Globe, the Ayala Foundation, Nokia, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), and various local government units.

Text2Teach brings educational content to public elementary schools all over the archipelago through videos downloaded via Short Messaging System (SMS). Since its launch in 2005, the Text2Teach program has proven effective in improving the performance of students, especially in Math and Science.

Under the program, each school gets a Text2Teach package containing a Nokia N86 8MP mobile phone, a Globe prepaid SIM card, and a 29-inch color TV. Globe also provides P150 monthly load allowance for one year to be used for helpdesk concerns and an additional P1,000 load if there are new or updated materials to be downloaded. Globe is the sole telecommunications service provider for the Text2Teach program.

Using the Globe 3G network technology, almost 400 interactive, multimedia educational videos in Science, Math, and English can be downloaded into the Nokia N86 mobile phone using the Nokia Education Delivery (NED) software. This provides a highly effective visual aid for teachers and also creates an interactive, student-focused learning environment in the classroom.

The downloaded audio and video materials are integrated into the lesson specifically designed for the Basic Education Curriculum catering to Grades 5 and 6 students. By linking the phone to the TV set, the video can be viewed by the whole class.

The Text2Teach program not only demonstrates how mobile technology can be used for education but also how the private and public sectors can work together in bridging the educational and digital divide around the world.