Globe provides free data access to DepEd’s online learning platform

Teachers and students interested in advancing their knowledge while under enhanced community quarantine may now visit the Department of Education’s (DepEd) new online learning platform, DepEd Commons, without incurring data charges on their Globe or TM-powered smartphones.

DepEd Commons contains online review materials and Open Educational Resources (OER) authored by public school teachers who are subject matter experts. Teachers can retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute the content by blending it with a learning management system to deliver a distance learning modality.

“In this time of crisis, it is important that we make it possible to overcome this challenge with solid partnerships with the private sector. We are thankful to Globe for supporting our initiative for the continuity of public education by providing us free data for DepEd Commons access amidst the COVID-19 situation,” said DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones.

Alain Del B. Pascua, DepEd Undersecretary for Administration, on the other hand said, “We are facing many challenges in ensuring the continuity of education especially in this extremely difficult situation that we are in.  In partnership with Globe, DepEd is steadily moving forward in bringing educational resources to the teachers and the learners wherever they may be."

By providing free access to DepEd Commons (https://commons.deped.gov.ph), Globe hopes to encourage educators and learners to take advantage of supplementary online instructional materials without worrying about data charges.

These resources were designed to serve as alternative forms in the teaching-learning process during class suspensions and other similar circumstances.  

“Under this situation where teachers and students have to stay at home like many of us, it is important for learning to continue.  Globe supports the education sector by providing access to this alternative learning platform free of charge,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

The website also integrates  the Globe eLibrary, an online platform which features age-appropriate and engaging e-books ranging from storybooks for children and young adults to textbooks on core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Filipino, Music, Arts, among others.  Globe eLibrary also has a collection of eLearning videos, some of which were developed by teachers themselves, which introduce important concepts in English, Math, and Science, incorporating sights and sounds that are familiar to the students.

However, while access to the site using the Globe/TM network will not entail any data charges, it does not cover the links outside the DepEd Commons domain.  Thus, all links clicked and visited will still incur standard data charges.