PC Recycling

Fortifying the School's Computer Laboratory

With the passage of time, ICT equipment will gradually become obsolete. This is a reality that will affect thousands of computer units currently housed in the laboratories of the public school system.

The iSchools Project of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology took a step towards addressing this trend by successfully concluding its PC Maintenance, Recycling, and eWaste management training-workshops. Thirty-two State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) nationwide implemented this training-workshop in their localities. The following aspects underlie the program:

Objectives of the PC Recycling Project

The objectives of the PCR are to build the technical skills of teachers that will strengthen their ability to maintain their own computer laboratories.

Skill-building of teacher-participants are geared towards enabling them to -

• Identify parts of computer system that may be needing service or replacement
• Trouble shoot basic computer problem
• Proper disposal of electronic wastes
• Apply creative recycling and reuse of non-serviceable parts into creating instructional material
• Draft an eWaste management plan for the school
• Participate in the online electronic depot whereby schools can exchange information as to the availability of parts that can be leased/sold to schools needing them

Under the program, the public high schools that were beneficiaries of different computerization projects were given the chance to participate in this iSchools initiative.

In fact, 1,392 teachers and school personnel representing 360 public high schools have already participated in the 10-day training program. As a result, an additional 512 computers resulted in a 67% revival rate of defective PC units used as laboratory materials. Through this initiative, electronic waste is minimized and value for money of computer equipment is maximized.

“Many High Schools have computer laboratories, but due to old age and continuous use, these computers are bound to breakdown and malfunction,” claims iSchools Project Manager Toni Torres.

“We have to do something so they can continue using their computers as tools for teaching and learning. This training is our answer to the wear and tear of computers,” she added.

The training is designed in phases. The first phase teaches the basics of computer systems, basic electronics, and troubleshooting. The next phase focuses on the actual troubleshooting, repair and maintenance, software installation, and a little of networking. The last four days are focused on eWaste management and proper disposal of electronic waste. It also includes a session on creative recycling, in which unusable parts are made into educational materials (mostly CPU parts) while the rest are converted through creative use.

Passion Finding Expression

School launches IT-for-Education Event in Quezon

Fresh from attending the iSchools Project’s Camp Blog last November 2009, teacher Reynald Cacho was determined to produce a similar ICT-for-education activity in his hometown of Lopez, Quezon Province. His is a mission driven by the desire “to share iSchools experiences and inputs and to set a school-level ICT-in-education training,” reveals Cacho.

Thus, after months of preparing the field, Cacho, together with his fellow Camp Blog alumni, launched their iteration of Camp Blog – eBlogit, which stands for “Evolve to Better Learning Order Guided with Information Technology”. The intensive 10-day course was held at the Lopez National Comprehensive High School (LNCHS) from April 12 to 23.

A Germ of an Idea Bears Fruit
Taking root from Camp Blog, eBlogit focuses on making the potential of ICT for teaching and learning bear more fruit. The modules include:

• Basic IT literacy including hands-on PC maintenance and troubleshooting
• Gmail and advanced Google applications
• Online research and writing
• Blogging using the Ning networking platform

Initially, the seed of an idea was grounded on as a small activity confined within their school community.Eventually, a total of 34 students and teachers from LNCHS participated in the event. Student participants were mostly in their 2nd and 3rd years while the teacher participants taught classes in English, Math, Chemistry, Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), Filipino, and Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH).

The buzz surrounding eBlogit's efflorescence was so great that even the DepEd Division of Quezon took notice. Dr. Noy Ogayon, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, was similarly excited about the activity’s potential. So much so, that he invited participants from neighboring schools to attend the event. Eventually, Ogayon intends to replicate the activity Division-wide.
At the heart of Cacho’s drive to make eBlogit happen was his “passion for teaching and learning mediated by technology.” Thankfully, his passion sowed seeds that made eBlogit germinate, burgeon, and yield gains reaped by its participants.

iSchools Support
Eager to see for themselves how the activity progressed, the iSchools Project Management Office (PMO) sent its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to the school to map the groundwork. Seeing it first-hand, M&E Officer L.A. Abalos shares how she liked the participants’ “eagerness and perseverance to learn new things.” In fact, she was amazed with everyone’s attitude, gushing, “as in bibo talaga lahat!”

“This is exactly the progression we are hoping recipient schools take,” quips iSchools Project Manager Toni Torres, “people are duplicating what they learned in Camp Blog.”

Torres is quick to express support for eBlogit, adding that the iSchools PMO “is always more than willing to assist in the design preparation and even in teaching some of the modules.” Looking forward, Torres is hopeful about the future endeavors the iSchools Project will be undertaking.

“Maybe our succeeding Camp Blog runs can inspire a new batch of teachers and students to heed the challenge of bridging the digital divide.”