TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHING PreLim Module 4
AND LEARNING 1
LESSON FOUR : ICT POLICIES AND ISSUES: IMPLICATIONS TO
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Globalization is a reality and ICT has become a fundamental part of the process. A network
society is one in which the entire planet is organized around telecommunicated networks of
computers. The powerful use of network has broken boundaries , provided opportunities for
inclusion and collaboration. However , there will be a struggle for those who do not have
access or those who are excluded, marginalized and powerless. Thus a need to establish
policies in the use of ICT is imperative.
ICT POLICY
“Policy” as a course of action , adopted and pursued by a government , party , ruler ,
statesman. It is any course of action adopted as expedient or advantageous . Its operational
definition of policy is a plan to guide and achieve outcomes.
The ICT Policies are needed to put a roadmap or course of action to be pursued and
adopted by various governments , organizations, entities involving ICT. These include
principles and guidelines in the use of ICT which cover three main areas:
telecommunications ( telephones) . broadcasting ( radio and television) and Internet.
The New ICT Technologies
More recent technological innovations increased the reach and speed of communication
which can be group into three categories:
1. Information Technology – include the use of computers , which has become
indispensable in modern societies to process data and save time and effort. Needed
in this category: Computer hardware and peripherals ,, software and for the user ,
computer literacy
2. Telecommunication Technologies – include telephones and the broadcasting of radio
and television often through satellites . Telephone system , radio and TV
broadcasting are needed in this category.
3. Networking Technologies- The best known of networking technologies us Internet ,
but has been extended to mobile phone technology, Voice Over Internet Protocol
(VOIP) satellite communication and other forms of communication are still in their
infancy. Addition to Internet includes mobile telephone , cable . DSL satellite and
other broadband connectivity.
The DICT Roadmap
The ICT for education ( ICT4E) is a program under the DICT that supports all the
efforts of the education sector in incorporating the use of ICT as well as in
determining and gaining access to the infrastructure ( hardware , software,
telecommunications , facilities and others) which are necessary to use and deploy
learning technologies at all levels of education. Among the policies recommended
programs that have applications to education teaching = learning are:
1. ICT in Education Master plan for all levels , including a National roadmap fo
Faculty Development in ICT in Education. A National Framework Plan for ICTs
in Basic Education was develop.
2. Content and application development through the open content in Education
Initiative ( OCEI ) which convert DepEd materials into interactive multi-media
content , develop applications used in schools , and conduct students and
teachers competitions to promote the development of education – related web
content.
3. PheDNET , is a “walled” garden that hosts educational learning and teaching
materials and applications for use by Filipino students , their parents and
teachers .
4. Established Community eLearning Centers called eSkwela for out-of-school
youth ( OSY) providing them with ICT – enhanced alternative education
opportunities.
5. eQuality Program fro tertiary education through partnership with state
universities and colleges ( SUCs) to improve quality of IT education and the use
of ICT in education in the country , particularly outside of Metro Manila.
6. Digital Media Arts Program which is builds digital media skills for government
using Open Source technologies .
7. ICT skills strategies plan which develops an inter-agency approach to identifying
strategic and policy and program recommendations to address ICT skills
demand – supply type.
Some Issues on ICT and Internet Policy Regulations
Global Issues
a. Access and Civil Liberties are two sets of issues in ICT Policy which are
crucial in the modern society. The other concern is civil liberties which refer
to human rights and freedom.
b. Access to the Use of Internet and ICT . Access means the possibility for
everyone to use the internet and other media .
c. Infringement to Civil Liberties or Human Rights.
Issue No. 1: Freedom of Expression and Censorship
Under international human rights conventions , all people are
guaranteed the rights fro free expression. The UN Universal Declaration of
Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to freedom of thought ,
conscience and religion , likewise the right to freedom of opinion and
expression. However , there are practices that violate provisions in the use of
internet. Some examples are:
1. Individual rights are given up in order to have access to electronic
networks . Microsoft Network’s ( MSN’s) contracts provide protection of
individuals like “upload , or otherwise make available files that contain
images , photographs or other materials protected by intellectual property
laws , including but not limiting to copyright or trademark laws , unless
you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary
consent to do the same”.
2. Censorship restricts the transmission of information by blocking it or
filtering the information.
3. Defamation actions may be used to silence critics .
Issue No.2 : Privacy and Security
1. For most privacy means “ personal privacy” the right of individuals not to
have their homes , private life or personal life interfered with others.
2. Privacy or communication refers to the protection from interference with
communication over the phone or internet.
3. Information privacy is related to the use of computers and
communications system which are able to hold and process information
about large numbers of people at a high speed.
Issue No.3: Surveillance and Data Retention
The use of electronic communications has enhanced the development of
indirect surveillance . In the indirect surveillance , there is no direct contact
between the agent and the subject of surveillance but evidence of activities
can be traced. The new and powerful from of indirect surveillance is
dataveillance . Dataveillance is the use of personal information to monitor a
person’s activities while data retention is the storage and use of information
from communication systems.
There is very little that can be done to prevent surveillance. What can be
done is to change the methods of working to make surveillance difficult. This
is called “counter surveillance” or “information security” if it refers to
computers and electronic communication.
Issue No.4: E-pollutants from E-waste
Large amount of e-waste is generated by ICT . These are in particular ,
terminal equipments used for computing , broadcasting , telephony and
peripherals.
The accumulated e-waste is due to rapid improvement of software.
IMPLICATIONS TO TEACHING AND LEARNING
How do the policy guidelines , projects and issues relate to the teaching and
learning?
For the Teachers and Teaching
1. Guide the teachers on what they should teach that relate to ICT ,a md
how to teach it.
2. Technology should never replace any human teacher.
3. There are rules and regulations that govern the use of technology.
4. All the issue and many more shall be part of the teaching content as each
teacher will be encouraged to use technology in teaching.
For the Learners and Learning
The learners of the 21st century are even more advanced that some of the
teachers . However , learners still need guidance on how to use , regulate
technology use.
