Press Release
Global learning technology and software leader D2L are on a quest to bridge the edtech divide and deliver quality education technology across the Philippines. The rapid digital transformation that has taken place during lockdown has enabled schools and institutions nationwide to continue teaching, proving that edtech is the solution for future-proofing education. As such, the demand for quality edtech is greater than ever.
With the primary goal to revolutionise the edtech sector in the Philippines, D2L has partnered with local key players, including Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) — a leading ICT education programmes and technology services company — and Globe Telecom, one of the country’s leading telecom companies.
Since D2L’s soft launch in the region 6 years ago, Globe Telecom has helped sign on dozens of customers so far. Similarly, CAL has helped onboard several customers, one of which is The City Government of Taguig, for the Department of Education Division of Taguig and Pateros (TAPAT), which has responsibilities for over 37 public schools in Taguig City.
“In the Philippines, digital transformation within the education sector is long overdue. Here at D2L, we are equipped with the expertise and experience to help the nation accelerate towards a future-proof education system. D2L’s Brightspace platform makes online learning more accessible, adaptable and suitable for the needs of students. Seeing the current trend of the adoption of our solutions, we are confident to move the nation one step closer to building a strong education system, where education continuity is ensured, despite any unfavourable circumstances,” said Nick Hutton, Regional Director at D2L.
Leveraging technology for the future of education
Across all sectors of society, resiliency planning has been the main strategy in managing the repercussions of the pandemic. By the same token, one of the ways to establish a strong, future-proof education system lies in the nation’s adoption of education technology. However, it is important to note that this massive tech disruption within the education landscape is not a mere quick-fix for the current crisis, but it is one that is here to stay.
The Philippines, though a developing country, is already attuned to using digital technology for social communication – as of January 2021, there are over 89 million social media users in the nation, equivalent to 80.7% of the total population. As such, the Philippines is well-positioned to adopt edtech-enabled learning, with the right tools and support.
As Shelly Ealy, VP for Administration of San Pablo Colleges — one of D2L’s higher education customers in the Philippines with partner Globe Telecom — shared in a video interview with Globe, San Pablo Colleges had already been exploring technology-enabled solutions before the pandemic. The pandemic encouraged them further to embrace online learning.
This is where browser-based D2L’s Brightspace LMS comes into play. The digital platform leverages the rising mobile phone penetration in the Philippines and allows easy access to learning from any device, at any time, enabling teachers to deliver high-quality education for students.
The growing demand for accessible, high-quality, and efficient education has seen institutions nationwide starting to increase their adoption of edtech solutions. With eLearning platforms like D2L’s Brightspace LMS, teachers can utilise the available technologies needed for communication, interaction and assessments. All the data is also stored and trackable, ready to retrieve in or out of the school building, to optimise learning for all students.
The importance of building a strong higher education sector
If we look more closely at the education scene here, higher education is one sector that cannot be ignored. Higher education is at the top of the education pyramid of any country and is highly reflective of the nation’s state of the education system. With such a multiplier effect, the quality of education of the Philippines higher education institutions (HEIs) reflects on the nation’s education system as a whole.
Since the start of the pandemic, the financial, mental, and logistical problems of distance learning have contributed to the decline in class attendance and even student dropouts in the Philippines. The Brightspace platform’s analytical tools, and other cutting-edge capabilities differentiate it as an LMS that can help eliminate the challenges of distance learning, and offer a new path to make learning easy, flexible and smart. Brightspace offers a suite of eLearning tools under a single platform, from training resources to technical support, that can facilitate online campuses around the world.
For the Rosemont Hills Montessori College, a higher education customer of D2L’s Brightspace LMS with partner Globe Telecom, Brightspace LMS helped enhance student experience with education. The use of the LMS allowed them to continue having a consistent quality of education, and helped them have a stable class, as well as submit activities freely and at their own pace.
Current challenges faced by the Philippine education
Although there is growing interest in education technology adoption across the nation, the Philippines is still lagging in embracing remote education and adopting digital learning resources.
According to a study, one of the main challenges faced by Filipino students in transitioning to an online curriculum amidst the pandemic was the lack of infrastructure. This is where D2L’s Brightspace LMS can step in, with it’s all-in-one educational platform that does not require additional plug-ins. As long as they have access to the internet, log in details and the drive to succeed, students can access their course work and get to experience an enhanced version of their typical classroom education.
It comes with a wide range of rich features like self-paced learning, better parent engagement which is relevant to the basic education serving schools, and is supported by all mobile devices with no need for a separate mobile app. These features also streamline administrative work for the faculty: the College of Nursing at Cebu Doctor’s University has utilised the Brightspace LMS’ tools to be more systematic in organising files and records for their large student body, and have helped them with environmental sustainability and keeping digital records via paperless transactions.
You can find out more about how D2L’s Brightspace LMS and their partnership with Globe Telecom has been supporting the higher education system in the Philippines, in this series of video interviews.
This is a transformative period for the education system of the Philippines, and it is crucial for institutions and schools alike to adopt the best infrastructure that will optimise teaching and learning for classrooms of the future.
COVID-19 had revealed the inadequacies in the existing educational methodologies and pushed for large-scale transformations within the sector. In line with this trend, D2L will be releasing a whitepaper, “Remote learning and the future of post-pandemic education”. Backed by research conducted with over 800 students from Australia, India, the Philippines and Singapore, the whitepaper gives an insight into how their institutions utilised the technology available to them; what challenges they faced as they adopted or adapted to online learning; and, what trajectory online learning should take from here on out.
Aimed to provide clearer insight that will help educational institutions develop new systems of learning that are resilient, flexible, and student-first, the whitepaper is available for all. You can download it here.
ABOUT D2L
D2L is transforming the way the world learns – helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our more than 950 global employees are dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than where they found it. Learn more about D2L for schools, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com.
ABOUT D2L’S BRIGHTSPACE
D2L is transforming the way the world learns – helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person.
D2L Brightspace is an award winning, cloud-based learning platform built for people who care deeply about student success and equity in education. Brightspace is a robust solution being used by more than 1,000 customers in over 40 countries across schools, higher education, healthcare, government, associations and the corporate sector.
About Globe Telecom
Globe Telecom is a leading full-service telecommunications company in the Philippines and publicly listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange with the stock symbol GLO. The company serves the telecommunications and technology needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connectivity, internet and managed services. It has major interests in financial technology, digital marketing solutions, venture capital funding for startups, and virtual healthcare. In 2019, Globe became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, committing to implement universal sustainability principles. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singtel, acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region.
For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph
Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About CAL
Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) is one of the leading IT education and solution providers in the Philippines partnering experts and leading global institutions. CAL has trained over 300,000 students across private and public schools in its curriculum since 1996. Consistent with its mission in revolutionising IT education, CAL recently partnered with D2L to offer schools a proven and effective learning management system that will facilitate blended and distance learning.
Media Contact
SYNC PR on behalf of D2L Asia
Name Emilia Tang
Email [email protected]