Globe myBusiness

Many schools greatly benefit from technology. With students all over the country now becoming more accustomed to using the Internet, mobile communication, and various electronic devices, many educators feel it is only right to make full use of the advantages technology offers, without falling behind its constantly changing developments.

One such example is Veritas Catholic School. As of the past six years, with the help of Globe MyBusiness, the school has made big changes in its structure and facilities to accommodate the growing need for digital technology among its students, as well as to allow blended learning within its walls.

“The primary reason why we wanted an integrated platform was to get students off social media,” says high school principal Ms. Mellissa Espiritu, adding that it was a losing battle at the time because teachers used to post modules and assignments on sites like Facebook.

In a few years, they had already installed campus wifi, let older students use Acer Chromebooks in lieu of hard-copy textbooks, supplied younger students with iPads to access handouts and lectures, and utilized Google Classroom.  But to keep students away from social media, they had to do something bigger – thus, they installed Brightspace.

Brightspace was regarded by the Ovum Decision Matrix, a study that “compares the leading solutions in major enterprise and industry-specific technology categories and greatly reduces the time and risk involved in product and service procurement,” as the number one Online Learning Platform for Higher Education in 2015-2016. It allows teachers to monitor students’ progress, administrators to make instant announcements to everyone in the Veritas community, students to find their lectures and submit their homework in one accessible site, and even parents to check on their children’s development and study habits.

“[The different technologies we had were] bits and pieces scattered all over.  We wanted an integrated platform that will contain everything,” Ms. Mellissa recalls.

With Brightspace, Veritas has a platform with all the functions teachers need from social media sites, without the added distractions for students. At the same time, it has now built a more open and connected community for students, teachers, parents and staff.

As Ms. Mellissa says, “Learning is managed, supervised and monitored; at the same time it has so many features that help teachers and students play around with the environment.”

“With Brightspace, everybody’s involved,” adds Digital Learning Program Coordinator, Sir Noel Pabalan, who facilitates and takes charge of the overall project.

Most importantly, Brightspace has even enhanced learning. Ms. Mellissa shares that through the platform they have been introducing the concept of the flipped classroom, wherein students can read lectures or view resource materials at home before discussing them in class. This way, the students become accountable for their own learning.

“In terms of efficiency of teaching in the classroom, you can see that the teachers are faster and can better cover their lessons,” Sir Noel adds. “They’re no longer delayed, because the time for setting up when you arrive in the classroom is shortened.”

As added perks, it also saves paper, is more favorable to the tech-savvy students, removes the need for heavy books and bags, and even lets teachers run classes despite suspensions.

Nowadays, Brightspace has become an integral part of Veritas’ day-to-day actions. They look forward to making full use of all its functions in the upcoming years, including its Smarter Education Solution, which allows educators to not only monitor but also predict their students’ performance, and thus figure out what needs further improvement in their curriculum.

Veritas enjoys the benefits of one of the best digital learning platforms in the world, and continue educating and developing the students in this fast-paced digital world.

Interested to know more about Brightspace and learn how technology can improve education? Email us at education@globe.com.ph