PASAY CITY, March 20, 2019 – Building on the success of its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summits, the Department of Education (DepEd) Cyber Expo culminated on March 14 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Spearheaded by the Office of Undersecretary for Administration (OUA) and the ICT Service (ICTS), the three-day DepEd Cyber Expo was anchored on the theme, “DRIVE 2019: The Digital Rise of Philippine Education.”

“The Cyber Expo serves as a platform for learners, teachers, and administrators to showcase their IT-enabled products, achievements, experiences, best practices, and innovations, and where new finds from all over the world are presented and discussed,” Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua shared.

21st century teaching and learning
The Expo gathered top-caliber practitioners and experts in the field of ICT and education to facilitate the various learning sessions that demonstrate the latest methods and approaches in education technology; aid learners’ exploration of technological solutions to community problems; link the Fourth Industrial Revolution to learners’ career paths; and explore technological innovations and strategies that will improve the teaching-learning process.

These include plenary sessions on engaging 21st century learners in the digital rise by Oracle Corp.; utilizing the fast-changing world of drones by DRRD Education and Technology Solutions Corp.; being Internet-awesome by Google for Education-Asia Pacific; winning in the connected generation by LinkdIn Corp.; cultivating a community of leaders towards digital excellence by Microsoft Corp.; innovating learning resources in digitized format by Vibal; championing digital innovations for education by World Vision; raising the bar for learning with technology by De La Salle Zobel and Woohoo Learning Lab; and connecting the disconnected schools by the OUA.

Other plenary sessions were on Technopreneurs: The new mindset for business innovations by Converge ICT Solutions Inc.; technology and what people do with it, also by Microsoft Corp.; Humanoid Robotics and Arts in Engineering by Sirena Technologies; the promise of Artificial Intelligence by Intel Corp.; cybersecurity awareness by CompTIA; the connected classroom with the Facebook Workplace by Facebook Inc.; AR and VR for Schools of the Future by Lumos Education Solutions; innovations to improve learning outcomes of 21st century children by Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc.; the sports of innovation by the Federation of International Robot Sport Association; the virtual learning assistant by Zzish Ltd.; and the modern classroom by Learning Possibilities.

Breakout sessions under three learning areas—Explore and Ignite, Excel and Collaborate, and Excite and Transform—were led by Line Learning and Development Solutions, Creative Nation Academy Corp., Data Science and Technology Corp., Puzzlebox 3D, SEAMEO Innotech, Microsoft Corp., Vibal Group, Bulacan State University; FELTA Multimedia Inc., Mechaniweb, Sto. Niño National High School, DRRD Education and Technology Solutions Corp., CASIO Projectors, Lenovo, Huion, NTT Data, Intel Corp., Acer, and Haier.

Public and private schools also shared their best practices and experiences on using ICT in the classroom including Antipolo City Senior High School, Veritas Parochial School, Pinagbuhatan High School, La Salle Green Hills, and Makati Science High School. Learners also gained hands-on experience from the exhibits which served as a digital playground where they explored the latest learning software and technological tools.

ICT, robotics champions
The Expo also presented the DepEd ICT Achievers’ Award to public school learners whose achievements in the field of ICT at the regional, national, or international level contributed to the digital rise; made significant impact to their communities; and presented solutions to local issues, problems, and concerns with the aid of technology.

The following were recognized during the Awards Night on March 12:

Taguig National High School – Gold Technical Merit awardee and gold medalist in disaster risk challenge at the 2018 International Robot Olympiad and Championship in China

Alaminos City National High School – Winner of Best Cinematography, Editing, Sound Design, and Trailer in the Regional AHD, North Luzon, Urduja, and Pagwanawanan Film Festivals

Baguio City National High School – 2017 DepEd Regional Science and Mathematics Festival Champion for Science Investigatory Project (Physical Science-Individual)

Cagayan National High School – National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF) Champion in Robotics and Intelligent Machines (team category) and Gokongwei Young Scientists awardee; Tuguegarao Consortium (TCON) National IT Conference for Robotics/Mechatronics Researches Champion

Angeles City Science High School – Australian Robotics Challenge 2017 bronze medalist for creative technology challenge, and gold medalist for student symposium

Cavite National High School – RoboRAVE Asia 2nd placer, and RoboRAVE Philippines champion for Engineering Report Challenge

Domingo Yu Chu National High School – DokyuBata 2017 national champion and best documentary winner

Camarines Sur National High School – International Science and Engineering Fair 2nd grand awardee in Robotics (Physical Science category)

Delegate Angel Salazar Jr. Memorial School – 2nd National Science and Engineering Fair grand champion for Robotics-Engineering category; 2018 Regional Science Olympics winner of Best in Paper and Best Utility for Robotics and Intelligent Machines category (elementary)

Ramon M. Durano Sr. Foundation-Science and Technology Education Center –The 5th World Innovative Technology (WIT) Challenge 1st placer for Sumobot and Innovative Symposium; 2nd placer for Technology Solutions; and 3rd placer for Obstacle Challenge and Innovative Technology

Leyte National High School – Commission on Population (POPCOM) 3rd Adolescent Health and Development Film Festival’s Best Film and Best Screenplay winner

Salug National High School – 16th National Science Quest’s Innovative Robot awardee

Lanao del Norte National Comprehensive High School – 2018 Regional Science and Technology Fair 1st place winner for Robotics and Intelligent Machines category

Davao City National High School – 2019 NSTF’s Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation awardee

Mamali National High School – 2018 National Robotics Competition winner for Sumobot

Jacinto P. Elpa National High School – World Invention Creativity Olympic (WICO) 2018 Best Presentation and Outstanding Creativity and Innovativeness awardee

ARMM Regional Science High School – AnakTV Sinebata Video Festival and Southeast Asia Video Festival for Children awardee

In closing, ICTS Director Abram Abanil extended his gratitude to all the 5,000 delegates, as well as the sponsors and stakeholders, for helping the organizers and contributing to the success of the DepEd Cyber Expo.

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