Starbooks: An Ode to Modern Learning

John Andre M. Alcala, HUMSS 11-Pacita Abad

LAGRO HIGH SCHOOL

It has been three years since the COVID – 19 pandemic started. What was thought to be just a
small problem from a city in China grew into something much bigger than what is expected. It seems as if
you are in a war, but with a twist. The other belligerent is invisible and unpredictable. This pandemic did
not only affect everyone in the health aspect but financially too. Personally speaking, my family was one
of those affected by the closure of businesses and the imposition of strict measures in hopes of preventing
the further spreading of the virus. It made our budget tight, which made me give up my passion for
buying books since we had to prioritize the more significant things.
What made the situation worse is when we shifted from the traditional mode of learning into the
online set-up, which at the time left us with no choice, since the then-Secretary of Education Leonor
Briones reiterated that learning should not be compromised, just because of a pandemic. It made me
happy at first since I will have more time to spend with my family, but on the other hand, it made me
realize that it also means I would not be able to access the school library, which I am very fond of ever
since I started studying here in Lagro High School. It enables me to empower my passion for learning,
and the quietness of the place gives me the tranquility and relaxation I need.
After two years of homeschooling, we received an announcement that the Department of
Education is looking on getting us back on our campuses. The joy and excitement that I felt at that
moment were indescribable. I said to myself that finally, I will be able to meet my friends and former
classmates as well once again. Then the day finally came. Although I am not with the same people
anymore, as I am now in my senior year, I still feel grateful.
We did the usual procedure that is done on the first day of classes. We introduced ourselves, got
to know each other, and made friends with everyone. What sparked my Starbooks journey is when I met
my Earth and Life Science Teacher, Mr. Alberto Cestona Jr. He introduced Starbooks to our class. To be
honest, I was quite skeptical at first. I am not that good at navigating such platforms, which at the time, I
think, seems to be so complex. But as Roy Benett says, “To learn something new, you need to try new
things and not be afraid to be wrong.”.
Starbooks is an online library containing thousands of digitized resources, which are specially
placed in pods designed to create an interface that is friendly for its users. It is the first of its kind in the
country, being released in 2011. My Starbooks journey has been amazing. I found it useful for my studies,
especially for our Earth and Life Science subject. What makes it more amazing is that the resource in the
digital library is aligned to the K-12 Curriculum, making it reliable to use when I need to look up the
lessons I need to understand further, or when I plan to do an advanced reading of the topics that are set to
be discussed.
As I unravel the things it can do further, I discovered that it also offers not only science-related
resources but also a wide variety of other resources to choose from. It was very useful for me during the
examinations period, wherein I utilized the available lesson files for Understanding Culture, Society, and
Politics as I review them. I was so thankful that I discovered it because, in return, I got an impressive
turnout with the said subject. I also used it in revisiting the topics we discussed in General Mathematics.
 I was also impressed with how easy it is to navigate the website. Creating an account is not hard
either. Just like the conventional libraries in our schools, the resources are organized in a manner that
allows easier exploration of digitized files. Confusion is not a problem too, as each resource is labeled
with its corresponding topics. These factors enabled me to do the things I said earlier.
Indeed, when technology is utilized properly and put into proper use, it can bring the impartation
of information and knowledge to a higher level. It fosters an all-new arena for classroom learning. But as
we transcend into greater heights, it does not mean we are to abandon the traditional ways that made us
who we are today. Instead, we should integrate the traditional with the modern. It is giving way to a much
more effective method of nurturing one self’s learning. Kudos to the creators of Starbooks. Their creation
has opened a gateway to a better and more remarkable learning experience.