The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 02 continues to expand its STARBOOKS program in the region, as a two-day installation and orientation event took place from October 17-18, 2024 at Sto. Tomas Technological International School in Sto. Tomas, Isabela.
STARBOOKS, short for Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station, is an innovative digital library offering students and teachers access to a vast collection of educational resources, including e-books, videos, and interactive modules.
Mr. Carl Reyes, the regional focal person for STARBOOKS, successfully installed 13 kiosks across three schools namely Santo Tomas National High School, Lanna National High School, and Santo Tomas Technological International School.
During the closing program, Mr. Reyes presented a detailed overview of STARBOOKS, highlighting its features and providing a step-by-step guide on how to access and navigate the kiosk. He also emphasized the importance of monitoring, managing customer profiles, and generating monthly transmittal files to track engagement.
Furthermore, Assistant regional director for Technical Operations discussed plans to encourage schools to actively use the kiosk, which she described as a “digital library in a box.” Notably, the materials for the K-12 curriculum are already integrated into these kiosks.
With the recent installation of 13 additional kiosks, DOST Region 02 now has a total of 96 deployed across the region this year.
As the program expands, it is expected to play important role in advancing educational outcomes and promoting widespread digital literacy. By enhancing digital access, DOST Region 02 is cultivating a culture of responsible learning among both educators and students.