Microsoft and Department of Education launch pilot of Minecraft: Education Edition on mobile for 23 million Filipino students

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In partnership with the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), Microsoft recently launched a pilot of the mobile version of Minecraft: Education Edition exclusively in the Philippines, providing 23 million Filipino students early access to an expanded learning experience in school, at home, or in any remote learning environment.

Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform designed to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive and secure digital environment. Educators worldwide use the platform to engage students across various levels and curriculums to bring abstract concepts to life, making learning interactive and fun. Public and private schools across the Philippines have been integrating Minecraft: Education Edition as part of teaching instruction to increase academic engagement and stimulate students' interest in learning, especially during the pandemic as classes have largely been held virtually for nearly two years. With 84 million smartphone users in the Philippines, Microsoft aims to provide access to game-based learning to more students nationwide.

“With the right tools and program interventions, game-based learning approaches can improve a child's memory capacity, computer, and simulation fluency, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and build other skills such as map reading or practical thinking," said Joanna Velez Rodriguez, Public Sector Director of Microsoft Philippines. “Because of the availability of Minecraft: Education Edition, more teachers and students can access the application whether using Windows, Mac, iPad, Chromebook, or even your android mobile devices. At Microsoft, we remain committed to supporting DepEd in preparing our teachers and students for future skills by making technology accessible to everyone. Our partnership has always been anchored on enabling quality and accessible education by supporting the digital transformation of the DepEd and the learning journeys of students and teachers in the Philippines.”

Designed for students of all learning styles and all grade levels, Minecraft: Education Edition provides more than 300 Minecraft worlds to explore and over 600 standards-aligned lessons to engage learners across the curriculum from history, languages, social and emotional learning, equity and inclusion, and STEM-focused areas such as chemistry, coding, and much more. With the tools available on the platform, teachers can easily curate lesson plans for specific learning outcomes. Through these project-based lessons, students develop critical 21st-century skills which they can apply in their future workplaces. Minecraft: Education Edition for mobile devices ensures the platform is more accessible than ever to teachers and students.

“On behalf of the DepEd, I want to express my gratitude to the people behind this endeavor making the Philippines the first country where Minecraft: Education Edition for mobile is being launched for pilot testing,” said Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua of the DepEd. “To our 900,000 thousand teachers and 23 million learners, use this opportunity to enhance teaching and learning using technology with Minecraft: Education Edition. Let us encourage more teachers and learners to actively use this tool for game-based learning to improve teaching and the learning processes in today’s technologically advanced world. I would like to thank Microsoft Philippines for your continued partnership and shared commitment with the DepEd in providing the technological needs and support and ultimately a better tomorrow for our teachers and learners.”

DepEd is working closely with Microsoft and its Global Training Partners for the broader use of Minecraft: Education Edition in the country’s education system.

With Felta Multimedia, DepEd has recently implemented a pilot test to enable virtual field trips for students using Minecraft: Education Edition to foster learning in Philippine history. DepEd is also providing a series of free online tutorials on Minecraft: Education Edition, together with Line Learning and Development Solutions, through its ETulay sessions on social media and continues to capacitate and empower more teachers and learners with the support of DepEd’s “Minecraft Champions” and “Minecraft Certified Educators”.

The pilot release of the application is exclusive in the Philippines and is now available for download through the Google Play Store. Students and teachers can access the platform by signing in using their Microsoft 365 school accounts.

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About Microsoft  
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.  

 

For more information, please contact:  
Microsoft Philippines  
Joshua Aquino  
PR & Communications Manager 

Converge on commitment to UP Maroons: “We’ve only just begun”

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The connection is strong between the University of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. as they inked a multi-season deal ahead of the 84th season of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The Fighting Maroons are among the top bets expected to go all the way in UAAP Season 84.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Mr. Dennis Anthony Uy expressed confidence in the Diliman squad, saying, “Given the caliber and talent of these young guys under Coach Goldwin [Monteverde], I expect no less than a Final Four finish.”

“Converge believes the Fighting Maroons are a strong and talented team that embodies UP’s tradition of honor and excellence on and off the court – values that we also strive for at Converge. This is why we decided to continue our partnership with the team for UAAP Seasons 84 and 85. This partnership goes beyond the court,” Mr. Uy added.

UPMBT team manager Atty. Agaton Uvero expressed appreciation for the assistance and support that Converge ICT Solutions has provided not just to the team but also to the UP community.

“We are truly grateful to Converge for their faith in us and for all the support they’ve given to the team and the UP community throughout these challenging times. This is only the beginning of a strong connection between the Fighting Maroons and Converge. Together we will do great things,” Atty. Uvero said.

Converge started supporting the UPMBT in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Besides support for the basketball team, the telecommunication service provider supplied free internet connection to UP’s varsity student-athletes and other UP students who transitioned to remote learning because of the pandemic.

“Providing fiber connectivity for students and teachers is an advocacy that is close to my heart. It is a privilege for us to help create the classroom environment that will help students to excel in their studies. We will continue to contribute in this advocacy,” Mr. Uy concluded.

SM joins Earth Hour 2022; Lights switch-off, Virtual Run part of activity line-up

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As part of the company's sustainability efforts, SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, is once again joining the world in observing Earth Hour, with this year’s theme "Shape Our Future," focusing on how we can work together in halting and reversing climate change and nature loss by 2030.

Earth Hour is an annual campaign launched in 2007 by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that encourages the turning off of non-essential lights as part of energy conservation efforts for the planet. Since its first observance in the Philippines in 2008, SM has been joining the campaign every year, being one of the first in the private sector to support it.

This year, SM will continue to promote the campaign by being one of the official partners of WWF for the Earth Hour Virtual Run, to be held from March 26 to April 22. Aside from this, all SM malls will be joining the light switch-off on March 26 from 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

"SM is proud to have been supporting Earth Hour throughout the last 14 years. Every year, we partake in this very important movement because we want to inspire people to action and tell them that no matter how small their contribution is, it will go a long way if we work together," said Engr. Liza Silerio, SM’s Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Head of Sustainability.

“Through Earth Hour, we want to engage over a billion people worldwide and engage decision-makers whether in business, institutions, and governments, to move the agenda of nature up the priority list in the global sphere and in the national agenda. We want people to lend their voices as we're shaping our future,


and hopefully, we'll be changing the ending for the positive – for both people and the planet,” said Atty. Angela Ibay, Climate and Energy Program Head of WWF-Philippines

Aside from joining the campaign every year, SM has been active in environmental protection in many ways. For instance, all SM malls are equipped with energy and water conservation facilities. The company also regularly joins tree planting activities, and has waste management initiatives such as Trash-to-Cash, e-waste and used acid lead batteries collection programs, and the plastic waste collection program with the Plastic Credit Exchange.

SM has also been investing more in renewable energy. Eight malls in the country and three in China are now equipped with solar panels, with more to follow in the coming months. SM also pledged to increase its use of renewable energy to 50 percent of its overall energy usage by year-end.

 
SM City Tuguegarao Downtown Solar Rooftop

SM's other sustainability initiatives include the annual Green Film Festival, promoting environmental awareness among students and the youth through films; the AweSMSeas project, promoting awareness on the negative impact of plastic waste on seas and oceans; and the International Coastal Cleanup joined by thousands of volunteers every year, to name a few.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, supporting initiatives that focus on communities and the environment. In addition to its programs on the environment, SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on women and breastfeeding mothers, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, children and youth, and the Bike-Friendly SM Program.

Visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares to learn more.