SALT's Project DigitALLization

As we moved learning from the classroom to the home, it was critical to digitize academic materials.

Our mission is to make education more affordable and accessible to all people. Printing costs are reduced when there are fewer paper products.

There are numerous book publishers, curriculums, and other resources available. Simply "digitizing" them will be extremely beneficial to teachers and students in an online environment.

A consolidated and universal curriculum will help through the challenges of moving to another ASEAN country for study or work.

One of the root causes of education affordability is the inability to purchase devices for online learning due to financial limitations. Internet connectivity is unquestionably a major impediment to learning. And many people especially in rural areas, don’t have access to a computer or the internet. And the saddest part— because of bad connection, sometimes they are not learning at all.[https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/covid1...]

It is no secret that the Philippines is suffering from a drop in enrolment. 
The rest of the world does, too. [https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/07/d... [https://www.rappler.com/nation...] [https://data.unicef.org/topic/...]

According to Unicef, 168 million children (excluding the families of these children and workers in education). [https://www.unicef.org/press-r...]

As someone who is also an artist and musician, not just a teacher, my day to day interactivity with the students opened my eyes to their need for socialization. They also need to be heard. They need to communicate and express themselves. In a constrained and secluded setting, technology provided a tremendous helpful bridge. It is, nevertheless, a significant impediment to the development of children's creativity. Their creative potential has been stifled by four-cornered glowing screens.

We are a non-stock non-profit organization with limited funds, so we are continually looking for methods to save expenses without sacrificing quality. We wish to keep their educational fees to a minimum so that parents can continue to send their children to our school. We find opportunities to continue serving in the community and beyond as a unit. We intentionally established our school in an underprivileged area. (here's our story why: [https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...]) With Project DigitALLization, this will greatly reduce educational costs. Allowing us to cater education to more students. Education is a right. And Quality education shouldn't just be to the privileged.

The challenge is, "How can edtech solutions improve learning outcomes for underserved learners in Southeast Asia while being affordable and accessible?" 

Ever since the Pandemic, which forced us to move to virtual means, we benefited mostly from Google. Google Workspace for Education (formerly Google Suite) revolutionized how we handle our operations especially the admin work. An LMS was too expensive for our school and too complicated, so we made our own in Virtual School through a free website-WIX.

This pushed us all to up-skill. Here are the classrooms created by out teachers: [https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...; https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...; https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...; https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...; https://thesaltca.wixsite.com/...]

We want to make it affordable by eliminating the cost of printing etc.We want to make it accessible by making it available with FREE DATA. We want to make it achievable by making the courses modular. We want to make it universal with a centralized online K-12 basic Curriculum. (even just PH for now, then ASEAN ...) We want to cultivate intelligent minds and compassionate hearts. We long to see the future where no child is left behind. When we can say, "We've done all that we can."

Abigail B. Lorenzana and Kaye B. Lorenzana

We don't necessarily have to create a new application or program. Almost everyone has FB messenger and other social media platforms. Instead of watching nonsense TikTok challenges and dances. What is they watch short 1-3 minute video lesson instead (could be the same platform)? And they follow that "course" and after completing the requirements etc., be recognized for it. Instead of creating an Instagram story, maybe they can make a lesson concept story? Maybe Facebook can have "study mode" features, not just "dark Mode" where the feed is full of educational resources. And maybe even "hyper focus mode" instead of deactivating receive only messages from certain people (family, teacher, classmate). We already have the metal rod, we just need to sharpen it to a sword.

Yes, When we were forced to operate remotely, we had many challenges. Internet Connectivity and Power Outages. Our team developed different plans for different situations. Example Only: Plan A (ideal): On cam for everyone. Plan B(low connectivity): Off cam but still live. Plan C(no connectivity): Utilize Facebook Messenger free data. Plan D(no electricity): prepare Power banks and car batteries and power inverters. Plan E: Guided through text messaging. Plan F: Complete Instructions given to every student household.

You learn by reading, conversations, watching, ...

Why re-invent the wheel? Google Workspace for Education, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Discord, Zalo, Wix, WordPress.

It would be AMAZING if all these have FREE DATA features.

By Consolidating and Digitalizing and Content and Activities, we make it more affordable and accessible. When it is more affordable and accessible, there are less 'humps' in the learning process. 

By systemizing the curriculum and method, we make it less stressful and time-consuming for both teachers and learners.

By simplifying interface, utilizing what we already have, it becomes less of a hassle for the operations, admin, and parents.

Everyone in education is in the same boat, we are all caught unprepared for Covid. By working together, we can make this opposition an opportunity to revolutionize Education.

Teachers' efficient preparations

Students' sufficient essential learning materials and progress

Parents' less complaining

School's lesser financial costs

We have started to redevelop, customize, and digitize our Math Curriculum and hoping to solely use it next school year.

At least 1 core subject every year, depends on our manpower, brainpower, and heart power.

Mostly for Filipinos to be strengthened in maths and sciences and critical thinking (business etc.). And hopefully English for Vietnam.

Access to talent: People who are well-educated, qualified, creative, good teachers, and passionate about this project.

Cultural and Product: Not everyone has the same curriculum, how do we consolidate it all in one system? Focus on one first.

Financing: Hungry stomachs can empty the minds. Digital tools and devices and Storage.

Technology: Speedy internet for speedy delivery

SALT-our school simply wants what's best for our children and the future.

The burden of other children missing out on similar education experiences. We had some students pulled out because of financial reasons, and there's nothing we can do. Our "books" and "curriculum' were too expensive.

Innovation head: Abigail Lorenzana

School President: Raquel (Kaye) B. Lorenzana

Social Media Head: Dell Sharey F. Polinar

Creative Teacher: Shirley C. Demata

Math Teacher: Daryll Dajac

We're a mixed group of hyper-creative and linear thinkers, with optimistic and realistic attitude, and undying love for the children. Kaye has an MBA and has a colorful Academic background. Daryll is a Maths Scholar, Teacher, and Curriculum developer-seriously devoted. Shirley, with a Bachelors in HRM is also a licensed Teacher who is highly dependable and organized. Both Kaye and Shirley are Cancer Survivors. Abigail, endowed with the ADHD superpower is restless about the potential of Education Technology amongst other things. And Shen, a Super Mom of 3 little girls, is devoted to help and develop systems that will make her daughters' future a bright one. With a little more funding, we can recruit similar hearts and minds. Open also for volunteers.

Abigail Lorenzana is known for her crazy ideas which sometimes work.

Kaye Lorenzana, is an embattled businesswoman, skillful in resuscitating dying companies, and an expert business coach and highly-demanded public speaker and trainer. She's Abi's Mom who helps ground Abi into reality, together with the help of others make a Crazy idea into a Cool plan. 

John414 Missions is an NGO who helps us subsidize school fees to make international and Hugh quality education affordable to the underprivileged.

It will definitely speed up our project, and maybe help with our challenges in finishing this project.

General