By: Jade B. Calleja, SEPS
In
a remarkable display of talent, vision, and dedication, the Eastern Visayas
Basic Education Research and Innovation Forum (EVBERIF) recently took center
stage at Madison Place Hotel in Tacloban City from September 30 to October 1,
2024. This prestigious event, hosted by the Policy, Planning, and Research
Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region VIII, gathered some of
the brightest minds in the field of education. With the theme “Advancing
Education through Research and Innovation: Empowering Eastern Visayas in the
Digital Age,” the forum showcased the best research papers and innovations
aimed at transforming basic education in the region.
The
stakes were high, with over 110 entries from the various Schools Division
Offices across Eastern Visayas, and only 48 made the cut for oral
presentations. This year’s forum was not just a celebration of educational
advancement, but also a testament to the tireless efforts of educators and
researchers who continue to push the boundaries of learning in this
fast-evolving digital age.
Celebrating
Excellence in Research and Innovation
In the
Research Category, Tacloban City earned high honors. In the area of Child
Protection, Human Resource Development, and Governance, the research study
titled "Motherhood and 'Studenthood': The Case of Senior High School
Student-Mothers" won 2nd Place. Conducted by Dr. Emmanuel P. Firmo, Manit
B. Dapadap, and Michael L. Fevidal from Tacloban National Agricultural School,
this research captured the unique experiences of student-mothers juggling
motherhood and education, a subject rarely explored but deeply relevant to
empowering young women. Their work sheds light on the challenges and resilience
of these student-mothers, offering valuable insights for future policy
interventions.
Equally
impressive, in the area of Teaching and Learning, the study "Instructional
Quality and Teachers’ Challenges: Decoding the Experiences of Teachers in
Conducting Virtual Education During COVID-19 Pandemic" by Galicano Jay N.
Fabi, Samantha Edwina P. Alfabete, and Regine Portia M. Glino from Leyte
National High School stood out as a crucial reflection on the shifts in
education during the pandemic. Their findings revealed the struggles teachers
faced during the shift to virtual classrooms and the long-term implications for
teaching quality.
In the
Innovation Category, Tacloban City once again proved its mettle. Emmarnie S.
Estoque’s Automated Online Lessons through Messenger (AtOM) from Leyte National
High School won 2nd Place. AtOM demonstrated how technology can be leveraged to
improve lesson delivery through a platform as accessible as Messenger,
revolutionizing how students and teachers interact. This innovation stands as a
beacon of modern teaching strategies, where technology breaks down barriers to
education.
Other
innovations from Tacloban also garnered recognition, including Aiselle Jasen Anadia-Macapugas from
Leyte National High School introduced the Project Task (Teacher Adviser
Systematic Kit), a brilliant work simplification tool designed to boost teacher
productivity. This innovation offers a practical approach to reducing the
administrative burden on teachers, allowing them to focus more on teaching and
less on paperwork.
Another notable innovation came from Rikka Reischelle S. Espedilla of Sto. Niño Senior High School, who introduced the Ease of Access Project: Digitization of School Files, revolutionizing the way schools manage their documents. By digitizing school files, her project paves the way for a more efficient and eco-friendly management of school records.
Empowering
Eastern Visayas in the Digital Age
The
success of EVBERIF 2024 is not just in the accolades or the awards; it lies in
the sense of pride and excitement that it has instilled in educators across the
region. The event showcased how research and innovation are not only reshaping
the landscape of basic education but also fostering a new era of digital
empowerment.
By
providing a platform for educators, researchers, and innovators to share their
insights and solutions, the forum has fueled a culture of research and
innovation in Eastern Visayas. More importantly, it has fostered collaboration
between DepEd officials and the academic community, encouraging evidence-based
policies that will strategically improve access, quality, and governance of
basic education in the region.
As
Eastern Visayas steps boldly into the digital age, the work highlighted in
EVBERIF 2024 stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when passion,
dedication, and innovation come together. The achievements of Tacloban City and
the entire Region VIII are more than just accolades—they are a promise that the
future of education in Eastern Visayas is bright, progressive, and
transformative.
Let
us celebrate the visionaries, the trailblazers, and the change-makers of
EVBERIF 2024. Through their research and innovations, Eastern Visayas is not
just keeping pace with the times—it is leading the way.
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