Learning while having fun : the interactive Philippine geography map /
Jeffrey A. Quodala.
- 131 leaves : color illustrations
Public Management Development Program
Based on Executive Order (EO) No. 192, s. 1987 issued by then President Corazon C. Aquino, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) is the central depository and distribution facility for natural resources data in the form of maps, statistics, text, charts, etc. stored on paper, film or computer compatible media. NAMRIA conceptualizes and implements various projects and activities to make its mandate and accomplishments better known to the public. Since the creation of the agency taskforce for the establishment of the NAMRIA Museum of Surveying and Mapping (NMSM) on 2007 and its formal inauguration a year after, the agency opened its doors for the public through its tour of facilities. Since then the agency receives requests for the tour of its facilities from private companies, government offices, and schools. This tour is a guided one and features mini-lectures along with the visits to the agency's key facilities. Before the implementation of the Re-entry Project (ReP), there was no variation in the conduct of the tours for the different groups, nor for elementary and college students. This explains why in the span of three and a half years (January 2014 - June 2017) NAMRIA only received 80 visitors coming from elementary schools. Improving the tour of the facilities will, admittedly, address only a limited aspects of the agency's larger communication challenge in sustaining the established good relationship with its stakeholders and their needs. However, doing so presents a number of opportunities and advantages. These are (a) creating awareness on the background and core functions of NAMRIA by making its tour less technical, more lively, and interactive; (b) reaching out to elementary students and make them interested in geography and mapmaking; (c) developing an interactive geography map that will serve as an add-on feature for the exclusive tours for elementary students; and, (d) establishing a linkage/partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) by way of eventual provision of the interactive geography map to serve as a teaching aid for Grace IV Araling Panlipunan (AP) teachers. The ReP deliverables are (1) the Interactive Philippine Geography Map (InPhilGeoMap) System and Teaching Guide, (2) InPhilGeoMap System User's Training and Manual, (3) InPhilGeoMap System Acceptance Reports, (4) child-friendly Leaflets for the Tour of Facilities (TOF), (5) four batches of TOF, (6) Overall TOF Evaluation Report, and a (7) communication letter with DepEd National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Office (RO). The following activities were undertaken in order to produce the deliverables: (1) creation of ReP team and conduct of meetings; (2) selection of schools as pilot areas of the ReP; (3) coordination with DepEd NCR RO, including its school division offices and schools; (4) conduct of focus group discussions (FGD) with Grade IV AP teachers and TOFs for Grade IV students; (5) development of an interactive geography map, teaching guide, user's manual, and child-friendly leaflets; (6) conduct of training on the use of the interactive geography map; (7) installation of the interactive geography map at the computers of the schools/pilot areas of the ReP; (8) administration and result analysis of the tour evaluation form and survey questionnaire; and (9) securing support from DepED NCR RO regarding ReP and interactive geography map presentation to all its 16 schools division offices. The results of the ReP are the TOF for elementary school students are now more lively, fun, and interactive. In addition, the interactive geography map is now provided to the Grade IV teachers of the schools/pilot areas of the ReP and now can be used as one of the learning tools in teaching geography in their respective classes and a linkage/partnership between NAMRIA and DepEd is already established. The intended outcome is to increase the number of elementary school students' awareness on the background, core functions, services of NAMRIA and its benefit to them by making its tour of facilities more lively, fun, and interactive. NAMRIA can use the IEC campaigns (TOFs, promotions and marketing, etc.) in effectively ensuring that the ReP's general objective is met. The agency can utilize these activities as platforms in raising awareness on the importance of NAMRIA in national development. In addition, his will further guarantee that the agency's work and products and services will be more appreciated by a wider public, not just its usual stakeholders (e.g. engineers, technical experts, urban planners, etc.).
Cartography--Philippines. Geospatial data--Data processing. Geographic information systems--Philippines. National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.