ERK Tablets Towards Fun and Interactive Learning

Education systems are facing a serious challenge from the COVID-19 pandemic. The teaching community has now been compelled to consider fresh approaches and other methods for involving our pupils. To assure the continuity of the teaching-learning and evaluation processes, schools have changed to the online format, and some have embraced various learning delivery methods, including modular, online, blended learning, flipped learning, and others. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous difficulties for teachers trying to fulfill the requirements of their children in learning environment, there are also opportunities for collaboration, training, and communication.

The literacy ability of reading is one that all educational systems place a high value on. Many students, regardless of educational level, struggle to comprehend academic materials in English because they frequently employ inefficient reading techniques. The kids are aware that reading and reading identities are a part of who they are as readers. Children’s reading results can be significantly impacted by reading identities, which may also aid in the growth of fundamental reading abilities and the teaching of reading. To succeed in school and in life, a child must learn to read, write, and count. The Department of Education’s flagship program, “Every Child A Reader Program,” and Bawat Bata Bumabasa (3Bs), which aspires to make every Filipino child a reader and a writer at his or her grade level, are the foundations for the improvement of literacy.

Zeal of Progress in Reading was introduced by DepEd-RIX and supported by the Schools Division of Zamboanga del Sur in order to enhance and improve the reading performance of the struggling readers. This program was then adopted by all the divisions and schools in the areas. ERK Tablet was made available by the Zamboanga del Sur School Division. It has provided Hilex ERK Tablet used as tool as reference materials in implementing reading programs in digitization. Thus, as a support and initiative to address reading gaps distribution was led by the Schools Division Superintendent Majarani M. Jacinto, EdD, CESO V, EPS Belen A. Cuevas, EdD, Division Reading Coordinator and EPS Florencio R. Caballero, DTE, LRMDS Coordinator. Series of trainings were conducted on its utilization and integration in reading programs of the school.

Bulawan Elementary School in the Lapuyan District was one of the schools named as winners of the ERK Tablets. The cost of the eighty tablet units donated to the school, which total one million one hundred sixty thousand pesos (P 1,160,000.00), is fourteen thousand five hundred pesos (14,500.00)..These tablets have Helix English Reading Kit licensed videos pre-installed, supporting learners’ reading tasks while
allowing them to actively listen to video courses at their own pace. Additionally, these tablets are used in Project E-READ at the school, a reading initiative that includes interactive Android-based reading programs including Starfall.com, Reading ABCs, Basic Sight Words Apps, and other reading-related apps. During their lessons with the reading teacher provided by the local government unit of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, students enrolled in Project E-READ would have a 1:1 ratio. Struggling readers are
motivated to engage regularly in the reading class schedule with them thanks to the interactive user interface (UI) of programs installed in the tablet. Additionally, teachers who obtained tablets are thrilled with how much easier it is to teach reading remediation than in the past.