ICT critical in effective teaching: DepEd

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MANILA — Teachers are urged to devise various teaching methods that instill creativity and critical thinking among learners through Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

During the recent National DepEd ICT Summit, Briones emphasized the importance of integrating ICT in both teaching and governance for the delivery of quality, accessible, and relevant basic education for Filipino students.

Through ICT innovations, Briones said time will come when schoolchildren no longer have to carry books in their backpacks.

“Ngayon napakarami nang technologies, napakarami nang gadgets, which make us do so many things and achieve so many goals and projects all at the same time… Kayang-kaya na nating mag-multi-task (There are a lot of technologies today, there are so many gadgets, which make us do so many things and achieve so many goals and projects all at the same time…We surely can multi-task,” she said.

Briones also said that since DepEd is a “mammoth institution”, ICT can help the department in the fast-tracking of processes in the department with thousands of teaching and non-teaching personnel.

“We’re going to overhaul the information system of the entire department—the financial management system, accounting system, budget system, and all other processes,” she added.

Briones said that non-tech-savvy teachers and school personnel handling ICT concerns must undergo appropriate training.

“Malaking bagay ‘yung capacity building ng teachers and personnel. Kasi isipin ninyo, ‘yung secretary, hindi masyadong marunong sa ICT eh… So even I, myself, have to upgrade my skills and knowledge in ICT (Capacity building of teachers and personnel is a big thing. Think about it, the secretary isn’t even well-versed in ICT… So even I, myself, have to upgrade my skills and knowledge in ICT,” she said.

“We will surely go back to the dark ages if we ignore ICT… We have to remember that ICT is primarily a tool which helps us in making decisions, in understanding the world that we live in, and in finding solutions… At the end of the day, it is still us—the users of technology—who are responsible for making things happen,” she added.