DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here has distributed its digital science and technology library to 21 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and identified End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) barangays in the province. 

According to Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST, this Science and Technology Academic Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS) aims to upgrade the learning tools of the students in the areas.

“This is also to make basic education especially science and technology-related subjects more equitable by improving their learning environment through library technology upgrading,” said Abing.

The students and teachers had the chance to interact with the Philippine’s first science digital library, in this time when face-to-face classes are not permitted amid the pandemic.

“In my case since I am handling science subject, I print some topics found in the STARBOOKS and add it on modules for reference and for additional concepts. If time and situation permits, learners should be able to use the STARBOOKS for additional learning,” said Rene Boy Rodriguez, a teacher of Bayog High School, Canlaon City.

STARBOOKS provides students and teachers access to a wealth of science and technology information.

It enables users to have digital access to the scientific information physically available in the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), Science and Technology Information Network of the Philippines (SciNET), Philippine eLib project resources, freely-available online resources, and subscribed databases.

This also contains hundreds of thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats placed in specifically designed “pods” and set in a user-friendly interface.

As this technology is not internet dependent, it is highly appropriate for geographically-isolated schools, said Abing.

Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Oriental Division received 10 STARBOOKS servers, while DepEd Tanjay City Division, DepEd Bais City Division, and DepEd Guihulngan City Division received three STARBOOKS servers each.

The undertakings were funded through the Grant-in-Aid Project of DOST-7 through DOST Negros Oriental which aims to improve the learning environment of the geographically disadvantaged public secondary schools of DepEd through the deployment of STARBOOKS.

The following schools in DepEd Negros Oriental received STARBOOKS servers: Bayog High School in Canlaon City, Bagtic High School in Mabinay, Pacuan National High School in La Libertad, Silab High School in Amlan, Siapo High School in San Jose, Tubigon High School in Sibulan, Dobdob High School in Valencia, Jose Marie Locsin Memorial National High School in Zamboanguita, Mainit High School in Siaton, and Nagbinlod High School in Sta. Catalina.

The said schools in DepEd Tanjay City Division also received one unit of STARBOOKS server each, namely: Inawasan Community High School in Pamplona, Calicanan High School in Pamplona, and Sto. Niño High School in Tanjay City.

DepEd Bais City Division schools also received one unit of STARBOOKS server each, namely: Tagpo High School, Javier Laxina I Memorial National High School, and Bais City National High School.

DepEd Guihulngan City Division schools received STARBOOKS as well, namely: Guihulngan National High School-Sandayao, Guihulngan National High School-Trinidad, and Guihulngan National High School-Poblacion.

A total of 77 STARBOOKS have been installed in the province as of June this year. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)