Last Updated on Monday, 24 January 2011 14:19 Friday, 01 October 2010 18:09
21st Century Education for All Filipinos, Anytime, Anywhere.
by Liezl Aileen Nuñez
The fast track pace of technological progress and its manifold and ubiquitous effects that change the way we live and do things cannot be overemphasized. In response to this constantly innovating digital age, integrating technology with our forefront institutions is in our utmost priority list.
21st Century Education. Tasked to lead the way in molding the Filipino children’s education and consequently shaping our nation’s future, the Department of Education envisions providing “21st Century Education for All Filipinos, Anytime, Anywhere” with its Information and Communication Technology for Education or ICT4E strategic plan. “This means an ICT-enabled education system that transforms our children into dynamic life-long learners and values-centered, responsible citizens” (Lapus 1). The aim of such an education is to equip Filipino students with the 21st century skills that are going to be required of them for their future success. But surely, 21st century skills go beyond ICT skills. However, affording Filipino learners with digital age literacy is very essential in developing inventive thinking, effective communication, creativity, collaboration, and high productivity—the skills they need to be thriving contributors in the 21st century global community (Ibid 2).
ICT4E. DepEd’s effort to transform our education system through the five-year ICT4E strategic plan is “anchored on and supports the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA)” (Ibid 1). To achieve its vision of giving 21st Century Education for All Filipinos, Anytime, Anywhere, ICT4E aims to fulfill four major goals.
Completely integrate ICT into the curriculum. ICT4E’s curriculum reform proceeds in two stages—Stage 1: Enhancing ICT use in the existing curriculum; and Stage 2: Full integration of ICT in the enriched curriculum (“Department of Education” 9). In support of this reform, the action plan also provisions for Multimedia Instructional Materials (MIM) Development as well as ICT-Enabled Assessment of schools.
Intensify relevant professional development programs. ICT’s integration into our educational system necessarily requires ICT competency and capability of our teachers and school staff. Part of ICT4E’s action plan is developing ICT Competency Standards for teachers, education managers, school administrators, and non-teaching personnel; as well as providing them with comprehensive training and capability building programs.
Establish the necessary ICT infrastructure and applications. ICT4E stipulates ICT Packages for schools supplying them with computers, laptops, interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, TVs, DVDs, projectors, internet access, etc. and curriculum and technical support. “…[This action plan also allows for] the deployment of new modes of delivery…[paving] the way for more collaborative and learner-centered pedagogy …[and thus fulfilling] the goal of providing anytime, anywhere 21st century education for all” (Ibid 28).
Develop processes and systems for governance and management. Finally, the ICT4E strategic plan outlines the procedures in the proper governance and management of ICT (Lapus 4). “…[This] framework will ensure that DepEd senior officials – in the central office and in the field – are involved in ICT decisions” (Ibid).
DepEd’s ICT4E strategic plan was drafted back in 2008. Since then, the department has been implementing its goals through various projects such as iSchools, eSkwela, Internet Connectivity for public schools, 2010 Secondary Education Curriculum, etc. And in order to make this project immensely successful, a strong collaboration and support is needed from all education stakeholders (Ibid 5).
As a powerful educational tool, ICT can facilitate the transformation of school education. But to make this happen it is vital to bring about the changes to the mind set and culture among teachers, administrators, parents and students; the way in which the curriculum is designed and delivered and how students are currently assessed (“Department of Education” iv).
Related Links:
DepEd’s ICT4E
ICT4E (Commentary) by Butch Hernandez
Works Cited:
“Department of Education Five-Year Information and Communication Technology for Education Strategic Plan (DepED ICT4E Strategic Plan).” deped.gov.ph. Republic of the Philippines Department of Education, n.d. Web. 01 July 2010.
Lapus, Jesli A. “Realizing Our ICT4E Vision.” deped.gov.ph. 3rd National ICTs in Basic Education Congress, 10 September 2008. Web. 01 July 2010.
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