By Shane Rachel del Rosario
Learners, including those in rural areas, are no longer limited by the four walls of a classroom. Instead, they engage in dynamic learning experiences that span virtual landscapes and interactive lessons.
Photo retrieved from REINN’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=386541617280581&set=pb.100077742360778.-2207520000&type=3
This is the vision behind Project Resilient Education Information Infrastructure for the New Normal or Project REINN, an innovation spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI).
Bridging gaps
Established in 2021 as a pandemic response, REIINN hopes to address the learning and Internet gaps in the Philippines through application frameworks, infrastructures, and technologies. It has two components such as LokaLTE and RuralCasting.
Photo retrieved from REINN’s Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/ProjectREIINN/photos/pb.100077742360778.-2207520000/178092341317862/?type=3
LokaLTE provides communities with access to voice and SMS communication services using 2G GSM cellular technology. This is done through developing and deploying small-scale community-operated LokaLTE towers in the Philippines.
The tower, the agency believes, marks its commitment to bridging the digital gap in the country, as it hopes to provide Internet connectivity and aid the continuity of learning in remote areas.
In 2022, the project commenced the construction of its first LokaLTE Base Station in Tanay Rizal. During the groundbreaking ceremony, then-DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña said that the project would establish internet and information access as the “new normal in unserved and underserved areas through technology-based interventions coupled with appropriate policies.”
Transmitting learnings
The pandemic has also introduced a “new normal” in education, specifically through remote learning. Project REIIN technical lead Phillip Martinez said during the groundbreaking activity of the LTE tower in 2022 that they view this initiative as a “trigger” for more groundbreakings in marginalized communities, “until such time that all students, regardless of where they are, have equitable access, reaping the same benefits of digital learning.”
This is also supplemented by RuralCasting, another component of the project which utilizes datacasting technology to supplement the educational experiences of students. Through the Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial (ISDB-T) feature or the Digital TV standard adopted in the country, educational materials could be delivered to students residing in remote locations.
With educational content ranging from Grades 1-12 modules to immersive virtual museum tours, REIINN is redefining access to learning. Its LokaLTE and RuralCasting components light up the most isolated communities with internet connectivity, creating new horizons for learners no matter where they are.
Empowering communities
Project REIINN not only enhances communities’ access to information and education but also their ability to make decisions for themselves and their development.
Photo retrieved from REINN’s Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=407621265172616&set=pb.100077742360778.-2207520000
In February 2024, the project welcomed its first rapidly deployable antenna tower in Atok, Benguet, specifically at the Naguey Elementary School. A rapidly deployable antenna tower is a type of structure designed for quick setup, allowing it to be easily retracted and relocated when necessary.
Photo retrieved from REINN’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=407653441836065&set=pb.100077742360778.-2207520000
The innovation further enhances the community’s ability to decide on their own network matters, as they can temporarily retract the antenna during times of calamities. A training series was held for the community locals and leaders on the erection and retraction of the tower, which was also supplemented by a practical exam.
‘Going beyond at the NSTF 2024’
REIINN is one of the Filipino innovations set to go beyond and connect with other trailblazing innovations at the National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF) in Thailand on August 16-25, 2024.
With about 200,000 visitors each year, the NSTF is the largest science and technology fair in Thailand. It aims to promote science and technology as well as display the latest innovations in various fields such as agriculture, education, and space.
Their participation is in line with DOST’s move to showcase Filipino innovations on the global stage, foster international collaborations, and further the commercialization of local technologies.
‘Staying connected’
Science has the potential to offer groundbreaking solutions that transcend geographical boundaries while empowering communities. REIINN stands as a testament to the DOST's steadfast commitment, not only to fostering innovation but also to actively involving and empowering communities in the decision-making processes that shape societal development.
**This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.**
