Mouse: P.I. For Hire — game review
Gadgets Magazine

Mixing video games and 1930s cartoons isn’t a brand new concept—just ask someone who played the frustratingly difficult Cuphead (and reviewed it for Gadgets back in 2017). The 1930s, while a time of difficulty around the world, produced some of the most iconic films in history (think The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind), so it only makes sense that video games explore this era more thoroughly. Enter Mouse: P.I. For Hire, a first-person shooter with the fun and quirky cartoon elements of the era. Can these totally not Mickey Mouse characters bring the magic to the first-person shooter genre?

You play as Jack Pepper, an anthropomorphic mouse who solves cases by finding clues and figuring out puzzles, as well as a nice dash of killing off bad guys with guns, melee weapons, and gadgets. The game takes place in a 1930s big city (New York) setting of Mouseburg. You even have some references to 1930s cartoons, such as a steamboat named Willie and a spinach power-up that makes your arms grow (Popeye). However, the game may be oversaturated with humor. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but mice and cheese jokes only go so far with audiences. Unless you really dig into the 1930s references, you might get confused by the contemporary slang. Still, Troy Baker, who voices Jack Pepper and has a wealth of video game and other voice-acting roles (Snow Villiers from Final Fantasy XIII, Samuel “Sam” Drake in the Death Stranding series, and Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite), does a great job, as does his supporting cast.

Now, onto the gameplay. Remember the numerous references to cheese? You can eat it normally, but melted cheese and powdered cheese are considered alcohol and drugs and part of “cheeselegging” (a clear reference to the practice of Prohibition-era bootlegging). You start with Jack’s hands and a pistol, but you can work your way up to shotguns, dynamites, James Guns (Tommy Guns), and strange weapons like the Devarnisher, which melts enemies and leaves them as a skeleton. This is probably my favorite weapon in the game. You can also do some classic platformer moves such as double jumps, dashing, hovering, and sliding. The graphics also stay true to their 1930s reference material. Enemies also bleed black ichor (or ink?) when killed.

One of the most frustrating things to deal with, however, is the enemies themselves. Unless you’re armed to the teeth, you’ll find yourself locked in a room constantly fighting bad guys, and this ramps up, especially if you’re playing on Supersleuth (hard) mode. While not brutally hard, those unfamiliar with first-person shooters or who can’t exploit cartoon physics may have a bit of a learning curve. You collect clues you can bring back to your office, where you can save after every mission.

You can collect a variety of items, including baseball cards, in a highly destructive environment, and open safes with Jack’s tail. One thing I hate about opening the safes is that some are ridiculously easy, while others are comically hard, with almost no middle ground. The baseball cards can be used to play a minigame, which is one of the better minigames I have seen in a game in years.

While I like Mouse: P.I. For Hire, it has some annoying flaws that could easily be patched up. While I prefer my shooters to have multiplayer (something Fumi Games should strongly consider), I actually found it okay to play through. The whole game is over in about 12 or so hours, but the baseball minigame can tack on a few more, and collecting everything is also a way to squeeze more replay value out of the game. While one of the better “boomer shooters” (a sub-genre of first-person shooter games that pays homage to Doom, Quake, and other classic shooters), it could be even better, and hopefully, Fumi Games brings Jack Pepper out for some more 1930s action.

Developer: Fumi Games
Publisher: PlaySide Studios
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2

Words by Jose Alvarez
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE Volume 26 Issue No. 10

Mouse: P.I. For Hire — game review
Gadgets Magazine

Relic: Logo Programming Language
Gadgets Magazine

The classroom can be a place to learn anything—math, English, science, reading, history, other languages—the list is practically endless. One popular narrative (until recently) was that people should learn to code to make a good living. While it has been successful for many people, the dynamic has rapidly changed as layoffs have reportedly increased due to the ramp-up of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years. However, it’s never a bad thing to learn. So, how did one learn to code? My research took me to the Logo programming language. Why was Logo so important to learning, and what made it essential for coding to this day?

Wally Feurzeig, Seymour Papert, and Cynthia Solomon created Logo in 1967 at Bolt, Beranek and Newman (BBN) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a general-purpose programming language known for its turtle graphics, and its movement and drawing commands produce line or vector graphics. The intellectual roots of Logo were in artificial intelligence (AI), mathematical logic, and developmental psychology, placing it at the intersection of technical and functional use and allowing anyone to pick it up and start learning.

Logo was also used to help children think computationally, using Papert’s educational theory about constructionism, or the idea that people can learn best by creating things themselves, a way of learning by doing (think back to science class when you first heated a cup of water to create steam). While created in 1967, Logo did not take off until the 1970s-1980s. Children used Logo on Apple, IBM, and Commodore computers. The first recorded use of Logo at a year-round school was at Muzzey Jr. High in Lexington, Massachusetts, with fifth-graders using the virtual and physical turtles at the Bridge School in the 1970-71 school year.

How did Logo work? Logo used turtle geometry to mimic the movement of the actual turtle robot. For example, the command LEFT 90 meant to spin left by 90 degrees. Thanks to modern technology, this could quickly scale to form more complex shapes. What made Logo unique, though, was its focus on teaching students how to think, making programming accessible to younger individuals, using graphics for immediate feedback, and encouraging exploration of the unknown rather than the rote memorization common in schools and other coding languages. Most programming languages focused on business, engineering, or scientific computing, while Logo sought to reach other audiences who may have felt overwhelmed by the complexities of engineering or scientific computing.

Due to its encouragement of exploration and prioritization of critical thinking, Logo had no agreed-upon standard, and many implementations (as many as over 300 as of 2020) existed, such as the implementations of Logo for the aforementioned Apple, IBM, and Commodore: Apple Logo for the Apple II Plus and IIe, IBM Logo with Logo Computer Systems, Inc., and Commodore Logo. It also influenced the Smalltalk programming language and even provided the framework for Boxer, a simplified version of the language based on a literacy model designed for nontechnical users.

What is Logo’s legacy? Logo opened up programming to everyone, not just the smartest people, and encouraged thinking and innovation. It was also a programming language of some popular early PCs. While it is still used today, there are only a few active implementations. On top of its use as a programming language, it is also said to have changed education as a whole, with Papert’s constructionism also influencing project-based learning and educational design, but research as well. One implementation of Logo, NetLogo, has been used for many social behavior models, traffic simulations, ecosystem modeling, and economic experiments. While the classroom Logo is long gone, its influence remains, even almost 60 years later. 

Words by Jose Alvarez
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE Volume 26 Issue No. 10

Relic: Logo Programming Language
Gadgets Magazine

Synology PAS7700 enterprise NVMe storage platform now available in PH
Gadgets Magazine

Synology has announced the Philippine availability of the PAS7700, a new active-active all-flash NVMe storage system designed for organizations that require high-performance storage, continuous availability, and enterprise-grade data protection.

As businesses continue to embrace AI, analytics, and increasingly data-intensive applications, storage infrastructure is becoming a critical component of enterprise operations. Synology positions the PAS7700 as a platform built to support these evolving requirements while maintaining operational stability and service continuity.

Built for Enterprise Performance

The PAS7700 features dual active-active controllers and 48 NVMe SSD bays within a 4U chassis. The system can scale to as much as 1.65PB of raw storage capacity and supports both file and block storage workloads. Synology says the platform can deliver up to 2 million IOPS, latency below one millisecond, and sequential throughput of up to 30GB/s.

Designed for Continuous Availability

A key feature of the PAS7700 is its active-active architecture, allowing both controllers to operate simultaneously. The platform incorporates triple-parity RAID, mirrored write-cache protection, IP failover, automated failover mechanisms, and Continuous Availability Manager monitoring tools.

Enterprise Data Protection and Cyber Resilience

The system supports Self-Encrypting Drives, immutable snapshots, WORM folders, Snapshot Replication, and Hyper Backup. These capabilities help organizations strengthen backup and recovery strategies while reducing the risk of data tampering.

Optimizing Storage Efficiency

PAS7700 includes online and offline deduplication technologies and will support Synology Tiering for automated data placement. The platform runs on DSM Enterprise, Synology’s operating system developed for enterprise storage environments.

Synology PAS7700 enterprise NVMe storage platform now available in PH
Gadgets Magazine

Unlock stories of collaboration, purpose, and growth with PIXEL Goals
Gadgets Magazine

PIXEL continues to demonstrate how meaningful growth can happen when creators, communities, and supporters come together around a shared purpose. Through community-led campaigns, live events, merchandise initiatives, educational programs, and creator collaborations, the platform has evolved into a growing ecosystem where creativity, engagement, and impact go hand in hand.

Across music, live experiences, education, and fan-driven projects, creators have used PIXEL Goals to transform ideas into tangible outcomes while strengthening the communities that support them.

Creator Communities Driving Impact

One example is Charess’ Fan Dining, which brought together some of her most dedicated supporters for an intimate gathering that generated more than PHP50,000 in Goals support. The funds were later used to help rebuild a classroom, turning fan engagement into a meaningful community initiative.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ju rallied supporters around a community jersey campaign that raised PHP50,000 in Goals support, demonstrating how shared identity and participation can strengthen creator communities.

Music, Events, and Shared Experiences

This year’s UP Fair: Kalye Tunes celebrated local music and grassroots advocacy through performances from established and emerging names in hip hop. The event generated more than PHP400,000 in merchandise sales while helping showcase the power of community-driven creative events.

The Unmatched Roadshow likewise highlighted the value of collaboration through a series of events and tournaments that generated more than PHP300,000 while encouraging participation and engagement among community members.

Tear Events also successfully raised over PHP100,000 for a community event, highlighting how organizers can use PIXEL to create memorable experiences and bring people together around shared interests.

Supporting Learning and Growth

Beyond entertainment and live events, PIXEL is also being used to support education-focused initiatives. Vibe Coders PH continues to leverage the platform to support cohort enrollments and create learning opportunities for aspiring creators and developers.

The initiative demonstrates how creator communities can extend beyond content creation and entertainment by helping individuals develop new skills and pursue professional growth.

Across these initiatives, a common theme emerges: creators often achieve more when they collaborate with their communities. Through music, merchandise, education, live experiences, and fundraising campaigns, PIXEL Goals continues to provide tools that help creators mobilize support, strengthen engagement, and create lasting impact.

More information is available at https://pixelforcreators.com.

Unlock stories of collaboration, purpose, and growth with PIXEL Goals
Gadgets Magazine

Salmon Finance receives global client protection certification
Gadgets Magazine

Salmon Finance Inc. has earned the Silver-level Client Protection Certification under the Cerise+SPTF Client Protection Standards, a globally recognized framework that promotes responsible and client-focused financial services.

The certification was independently assessed by MicroFinanza Rating (MFR), an Italy-based rating agency accredited by the European Commission and recognized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a rating agency for microfinance institutions.

As Salmon continues to expand its lending services in the Philippines, the certification highlights the company’s commitment to delivering financial inclusion through transparent, fair, and responsible credit products.

What the Certification Means for Customers

To achieve the Silver certification, Salmon underwent an independent assessment covering pricing transparency, customer communication, complaint resolution processes, and collection practices.

According to the company, the certification reinforces its commitment to fair pricing, clear product information, secure transactions, anti-fraud safeguards, and respectful treatment of customers throughout the lending journey.

A Small Group of Certified Institutions

Based on Cerise+SPTF data, fewer than 100 financial institutions worldwide currently hold a Client Protection Certification. In the Philippines, Salmon Finance is among only six active financial institutions that have achieved this distinction.

The recognition places the company among a select group of organizations promoting higher standards of consumer protection within the financial services industry.

Recognition for Digital Financial Services

Cerise+SPTF also recognized Salmon Finance as one of the first adopters of the Digital Financial Services Standards worldwide. The framework addresses risks and responsibilities unique to digital finance, an area where the company continues to invest as it expands its technology-driven financial services platform.

“This certification reflects something deeper than compliance. It validates that client protection is embedded in how we operate at Salmon, not simply a requirement, but as a principle,” said Eunice Monsod, chief compliance officer of Salmon Group.

“For us, financial inclusion does not end with access alone. It means delivering services that create real, positive impact in the lives of Filipinos. This certification affirms that Salmon is helping lead the way toward extending meaningful inclusion.”

As Salmon scales its services in the Philippines, the company says it aims to demonstrate that growth and responsibility can go hand in hand, with customer trust remaining at the center of its operations.

Salmon Finance receives global client protection certification
Gadgets Magazine

Metrobank removes maintaining balance requirement for eSavings
Gadgets Magazine

Metrobank has removed the maintaining balance requirement for its eSavings account, making it easier for customers to start and maintain a savings habit without worrying about penalties when their balance falls below a minimum threshold.

The update comes as many Filipinos continue to navigate rising living costs and seek more flexible ways to manage their finances. According to Metrobank, one common barrier to saving is the concern that accounts may incur charges when balances fall below required levels.

By eliminating the maintaining balance requirement, the bank aims to give customers greater freedom to use their funds when needed while continuing to build their savings over time.

Designed for Everyday Banking

Metrobank said the updated eSavings account is designed to support day-to-day financial needs while encouraging long-term saving habits. First-time Metrobank deposit clients can open an eSavings account through the Metrobank App using just one valid ID.

The account also includes four free monthly InstaPay transfers through rebates, helping customers manage everyday transactions such as sending money to family members, paying for services, and sharing expenses.

Building Savings at Your Own Pace

Removing the maintaining balance requirement recognizes that saving is not always a fixed monthly commitment. There may be periods when customers can set aside more funds and other times when daily expenses take priority.

The eSavings account is designed to provide the flexibility to save when possible while still allowing easy access to funds when needed.

Beyond Basic Savings

Customers looking to grow their funds further can also open a Metrobank Online Time Deposit account through the Metrobank App or Metrobank Online. The digital product offers another option for customers seeking to earn more from their savings.

“We are continuously developing our products to adapt to the customers’ needs. Removing the maintaining balance requirement gives them more flexibility to manage their money, especially at a time when everyday expenses continue to rise,” said Ramon Del Rosario, consumer banking sector head at Metrobank.

For now, Metrobank eSavings is available to first-time Metrobank deposit clients. More information is available at https://www.metrobank.com.ph/personal/accounts/savings/esavings-digital-account

Metrobank removes maintaining balance requirement for eSavings
Gadgets Magazine

How Epson projection technology helps museums tell better stories
Gadgets Magazine

As Heritage Month shines a spotlight on culture, history, and shared identity, museums, galleries, and cultural institutions are exploring new ways to connect audiences with the stories they preserve. While traditional exhibits remain important, visitors today increasingly expect content that is clear, engaging, and easy to understand, particularly in large or high-traffic environments.

Audiences now consume information differently. Rather than spending extended periods reading text panels, many visitors scan, observe, and engage at a glance. This shift has encouraged institutions to adopt visual technologies to present timelines, artworks, historical narratives, and educational content in more accessible ways.

According to Epson, projection technology is playing an increasingly important role in helping cultural organizations bring heritage content to life while making it easier to update and present information at scale.

Built for Scale and Visibility

Visibility remains a critical requirement for museums and large exhibition spaces. Historical photographs, archival materials, maps, and artworks can lose their impact when details become difficult to see from a distance or under challenging lighting conditions.

Epson points to solutions such as the EB-L30000UNL, which delivers up to 30,000 lumens of brightness. The projector is designed to help institutions display detailed content clearly across large walls and exhibition spaces, even in environments with ambient lighting and heavy visitor traffic.

Reliability is equally important for permanent installations and long-running exhibitions. Epson says its laser projection technology can provide up to 20,000 hours of operation without maintenance, helping institutions manage operating costs while ensuring displays remain available throughout an exhibit’s run.

Flexible for Different Cultural Spaces

Not all cultural venues have the same requirements. Some operate permanent exhibits, while others regularly rotate installations and educational programs.

Epson’s L-Series projectors are designed to accommodate a variety of environments. Offering up to 8,000 lumens of brightness with 4K enhancement, the projectors can be used in galleries, classrooms, and smaller exhibition spaces where image quality remains a priority.

Features such as short-throw projection allow large images to be displayed in compact spaces, while flexible installation options and wireless connectivity simplify content management and updates.

Designed for Long-Term Use

Beyond image quality and performance, many institutions are evaluating technologies based on long-term operational requirements. Epson says its laser-based projection systems help reduce maintenance demands while delivering consistent performance over extended periods.

The company has also introduced sustainability initiatives across its operations. Epson reports that its global sites now operate using 100% renewable electricity, while projector packaging incorporates more than 80% recycled cardboard. Additional efforts focus on reducing material consumption and improving resource efficiency.

“Through efficient, compact, and precise technologies and engineering that solves real-world issues, Epson has always focused on creating new value for the real world,” said Masako Kusama, president and director of Epson Philippines Corporation. “We continue to build on our legacy by creating solutions that make content clearer and more accessible, while supporting responsible use of resources.”

As cultural institutions continue to evolve, the technologies used to present stories are becoming just as important as the stories themselves. Epson believes clear and reliable projection can help make heritage more visible, accessible, and meaningful for future generations.

How Epson projection technology helps museums tell better stories
Gadgets Magazine

Canva Eskwela 2026 brings digital learning support to schools nationwide
Gadgets Magazine

As Filipino educators prepare for a new school year, Canva is expanding its efforts to help schools embrace digital and future-ready learning through Canva Eskwela 2026, a nationwide initiative that combines teacher training, student workshops, digital learning tools, and community support programs.

The initiative comes at a time when educators continue to face growing workloads and challenges related to technology adoption. According to a 2026 Canva survey, presentation creation is the most time-consuming back-to-school task for teachers, cited by 35% of respondents. Classroom visual preparation follows at 30%, while lesson planning accounts for 21%.

At the same time, connectivity remains a major hurdle. Forty percent of teachers surveyed identified poor internet access as the biggest barrier to digital adoption, while others cited hesitation around using new technologies. Despite these challenges, digital learning continues to gain momentum. Canva found that 97% of teachers surveyed already use the platform, with more than half using it daily.

Smarter Classrooms, Smarter Learners

Through Canva Eskwela 2026, the company aims to help educators integrate technology more effectively into everyday classroom workflows. The program includes hands-on teacher training sessions, student workshops, and experiential learning activities designed to demonstrate how digital tools can support more engaging and efficient learning experiences.

Among the featured tools is Learn Grid, Canva’s all-in-one learning hub that provides curriculum-mapped resources and AI-generated activities. Canva is also highlighting Canva Offline, which allows users to continue working even without an internet connection.

Supporting Digital Skills Development

By streamlining lesson preparation and classroom activities, Canva hopes to reduce administrative burdens on teachers and allow them to focus more on developing critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and other essential 21st-century skills among students. These efforts support the Department of Education’s broader goal of strengthening future-ready competencies among Filipino learners.

Building Beyond the Classroom

Through the Canva Foundation, the company partnered with impact organization HOPE to help rebuild classrooms in schools affected by typhoons across the Philippines. The latest milestone is the handover of classrooms at Jose Zabarte Elementary School in Tuy, Batangas, with the broader initiative expected to benefit as many as 17,500 Filipino students.

Additional Canva Eskwela 2026 initiatives include device donations through Devices for Good, school supply distribution for 860 students through Learning Essentials, Career Spark Days, and Skills Webinars for students and educators.

“Filipino educators are among the most dedicated in the world, yet they face real barriers, from connectivity challenges to time constraints, that limit what’s possible in the classroom,” said Ysa Delfin-Malinao, education marketing lead at Canva Philippines.

Canva Eskwela 2026 brings digital learning support to schools nationwide
Gadgets Magazine

DHSUD, Pag-IBIG Fund turn over units under Expanded 4PH
Gadgets Magazine

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (Expanded 4PH) continued to deliver new homes to Filipino families as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Pag-IBIG Fund turned over house-and-lot units at Nuvista Homes Lipa to Pag-IBIG Fund housing loan borrowers who purchased homes in the residential project on Wednesday, June 3.

The turnover followed recent government visits and similar activities in Expanded 4PH projects in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Bacolod and other areas, reflecting the continued rollout of the administration’s housing program across the country.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling and Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta led the inspection and turnover activity, together with officials of P.A. Properties, the project developer. During the event, Pag-IBIG Fund housing loan borrowers formally received the keys to their new homes. Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said the turnover reflects the Marcos administration’s resolve to make homeownership more accessible to Filipino workers and their families.

“We are pleased to report that the Expanded 4PH Program continues to benefit more Filipinos by helping families gain access to safe, decent and affordable homes,” Aliling said. “Through stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, we are able to heed the directive of President Marcos to enable more Filipinos to move from aspiration to actual homeownership.”

Aliling said the continued rollout of the Expanded 4PH Program shows that the President’s housing directive is being translated into actual homes for more Filipinos.

“We will continue to accelerate housing delivery, strengthen partnerships and expand access to homeownership in more areas across the country,” Aliling said. “The direction set by President Marcos is clear: build faster, deliver better and make decent housing more attainable for Filipino families.”

Aliling, who recently marked his first year since his appointment as DHSUD secretary, said the government remains focused on sustaining the momentum of the national housing program through stronger coordination with key shelter agencies, other government agencies, financing institutions and private developers.

Nuvista Homes Lipa is developed by P.A. Properties and offers house-and-lot units under three models, Marya, Yasmin, and Solida, with prices ranging from PHP950,000 to PHP2.2 million. The residential project has a total of 1,160 ready for occupancy units with over 2,000 more units set for construction.

The project’s socialized housing component will be offered through the Solida house model, its most affordable unit option. With a selling price of about PHP950,000 and the benefit of the 3 percent subsidized interest rate under the Expanded 4PH Program, monthly amortization may be as low as PHP4,005 for qualified borrowers.

The visit also highlighted how Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan programs now support a wider range of homebuyers. Officials inspected Idesia, another residential project of P.A. Properties in Lipa, which offers units priced from PHP3.5 million to PHP7 million and may be financed through Pag-IBIG Fund following the recent increase in the maximum housing loan amount from PHP6 million to PHP10 million per borrower.

Acosta emphasized that Pag-IBIG Fund continues to make homeownership financially realistic for more Filipino workers across income segments.

“The Expanded 4PH Program is making more quality housing options available to Filipino families. Pag-IBIG Fund complements this by making these homes more affordable through financing terms that keep monthly payments within reach,” Acosta said. “Through our affordable housing loan programs, we help make monthly amortizations lighter and more manageable, so that more members can move closer to owning a home of their own.”

She said Pag-IBIG Fund’s housing loan programs are designed to support both low-income families seeking socialized housing and middle-income workers looking for homes in the open market.

“Every peso saved from monthly housing payments matters to our members. It can help pay for food, education, utilities, health care and other daily needs of the family,” Acosta added. “By offering affordable rates, long repayment terms and monthly payments designed to be easier on the family budget, Pag-IBIG Fund gives more Filipino workers a real and practical path to owning a safe and decent home.”

She noted that Pag-IBIG Fund continues to provide the 3 percent subsidized rate for eligible socialized housing borrowers under the administration’s Expanded 4PH Program, even as it recently raised its maximum housing loan amount to PHP10 million to serve more Filipino workers seeking homes in the open market.

DHSUD, Pag-IBIG Fund turn over units under Expanded 4PH
Gadgets Magazine

Leveling Up: Gen Alpha and Education
Gadgets Magazine

Gen Alpha is entering classrooms at a time when technology is deeply integrated into everyday life. Unlike previous generations that gradually adapted to digital tools, Gen Alpha has grown up surrounded by smartphones, streaming platforms, touchscreens, and algorithm-driven content from an early age.

This reality is changing how children learn, communicate, and process information, forcing education systems to adapt in response.

A Different Learning Environment

Traditional classrooms were designed around long attention spans, structured lessons, and standardized teaching methods. However, Gen Alpha is growing up in environments shaped by interactivity, personalization, and instant access to information.

Many children now consume content through short-form videos, interactive games, and visually driven platforms. As a result, educators are increasingly exploring ways to make learning more engaging and adaptive.

This does not mean traditional learning methods are disappearing entirely. Instead, schools are beginning to combine conventional teaching with digital tools that better reflect how students already interact with information outside the classroom.

Gamification and Interactive Learning

One of the biggest shifts in education is the rise of gamification.

Educational platforms now use points, rewards, progress tracking, and interactive challenges to make learning feel more engaging. Lessons are being designed to encourage participation rather than passive memorization.

This approach reflects how Gen Alpha already experiences digital environments. Many students are familiar with systems built around progression, achievements, and instant feedback because of gaming and online platforms.

When applied effectively, these methods can improve engagement and make learning feel more dynamic.

Technology Inside the Classroom

Digital tools are becoming more common inside classrooms, from tablets and collaborative platforms to AI-assisted learning systems and online research tools.

Technology also allows teachers to personalize lessons more easily. Students can move through materials at different speeds, revisit topics independently, and access learning resources beyond the classroom.

At the same time, schools continue to face challenges involving screen time, digital distraction, and unequal access to technology. Not all students have the same level of connectivity or access to devices, creating gaps in digital learning experiences.

As technology becomes more integrated into education, balancing accessibility, engagement, and focus remains a major concern.

Teaching Beyond Information

Because information is now constantly available online, education is shifting beyond memorization alone.

Increasingly, schools are focusing on skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, collaboration, and problem-solving. Students are not just expected to absorb information, but also evaluate sources, recognize misinformation, and understand how digital systems influence what they see online.

In many ways, education is evolving from simply delivering knowledge into helping students navigate a highly connected and information-saturated world.

Preparing for a Different Future

The future Gen Alpha is preparing for may look very different from the one previous generations entered.

Automation, artificial intelligence, remote collaboration, and digital economies are already reshaping industries and careers. As a result, schools are being pushed to rethink how students are prepared for work, communication, and daily life.

This transition will not happen overnight, and traditional education systems will continue to evolve gradually. However, the direction is increasingly clear.

Education is no longer only about preparing students to remember information. It is about preparing them to adapt, learn continuously, and navigate a world shaped by rapidly changing technology.

Words by Gabriel Pe
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE Volume 26 Issue No. 10

Leveling Up: Gen Alpha and Education
Gadgets Magazine