ICT critical in effective teaching: DepEd

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor March 9, 2018, 10:09 am

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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.