Content Standard

The learners understand the meaning and dimensions of democracy.

Performance Standard
Using any form of oral presentation, the learner explains creatively the ill effects of undemocratic practices related
to factors such as gender biases, poverty, political marginalization, racial inequality, cultural domination, crisis of
representation and politics of recognition.

Most Essential Learning Competency

The learner is expected to:
Explain the weakest link in a system using strategic and intuitive thinking
Explain how information communication technology can facilitate social relationships and political
movements (occupy movements)
Propose a creative intervention to improve human life using ICT

Picture Analysis:
Direction: Study and analyze the pictures, then answer the questions below. You may not write your answer. (just
think about it)

https://tinyurl.com/2tasu5h9 https://tinyurl.com/u9e2bbrd

1. What can you say about the pictures? Describe the two pictures above.
2. In your own point of view, do human beings really need these technologies today?

LESSON 1
School doors around the world have been closed for several months to contain the spread of the COVID-19
pandemic. During this crisis, we have seen an incredible number of large-scale efforts to use technology in support
of remote learning. At the same time, this crisis has exposed the challenge in integrating technology in education,
including many inequalities starting with the lack of access to computers and the internet. Because of its far-
reaching impact, the COVID-19 pandemic has given us massive insights into how the role of technology can radically
shift to reach the learners and how to adapt new normal teaching strategies in these challenging times.
Digital technology in education enables us to find answers to existing societal problems especially in these
difficult times. On top of that, technology can help boost the learners’ capacity in terms of answering their modules.
The new advancements brought by the emergence of technology remain beneficial to human life in several
domains, whether it’s in medical, educational, or political aspect. As far as the medical field is concerned, this last
one remains a major factor in treating peoples’ lives and consequently saving their lives through combating viruses
and serious diseases. Not to mention enhancing communication and making business transactions more efficient.
Also, connected with foreign investors is now becoming easier with the aid of ICT. More tasks are now being
accomplished efficiently with less time and effort.
Technology has also increased productivity for almost all companies worldwide. If we look at it closely, new
innovations are emerging every day. Let’s have “Smart Cities” as our example, making optimal use of all the
technologies available for better and more comfortable life in the cities along with optimizing the use of limited
resources. On the other hand, the fast evolution of technology has certainly several disadvantages that are quite
alarming, especially when it comes to its rampant usage. Today, people no longer need to think or even analyze that
much because of the existence of several devices/gadgets like the calculator, computer, smart phones, tablets, etc.
People no longer need to memorize stuffs because the machines and devices can record things for their
convenience. The major decline of human capital remains an alarming topic to which attention should be seriously
directed.
Most technological discoveries focus more on saving time and money as well as human efforts, which implies
that more work is done by machines, and that equates to more unemployment. Therefore, the use of technology,
without a doubt, needs to be regulated and needs to fall under new laws. Among the means to regulate the
behaviour of people in general and companies in particular is to resort to consultancy which aims to dictate what is
right, when and how to apply technology in the most efficient and less costly way possible.
Disadvantages and risks of technology
The evolution of modern technology has disadvantages. One example is one’s excessive dependence on new
technologies. Man no longer needs to think. Even if the calculator is a good invention, man no longer makes mental
calculation and no longer harnesses his mathematical skills. The decline of human capital implies an increase in
unemployment. In some areas, devices can replace the human mind.

General Benefits of ICT Usage in Teaching and Learning

One of the popular tools which is commonly adapted in the teaching of reading and writing is the use of
blogs. Blogging offers a real-world digital medium for communication. It is multi-dimensional in that it does not just
offer a ‘container’ for writing but has the possibility of multiple audiences and access points. In a research conducted
on the effectiveness of using the ‘online writing’ approach in teaching writing, Kelly & Safford (2009) drew upon
data from a research project undertaken by studying learners in 6 classrooms within 2 years during the 2006 World
Cup, to analyze how children used complex sentence structures in their writing on a football weblog. They explored
how the confluence of a temporary, popular, global event and an online forum for communication created a
moment of linguistic empowerment where pupils began to use high-level forms of language. This research shows
positive findings in terms of the students’ interest in presenting ideas and responding to their classmates’ ideas by
commenting on blogs. Online blogs allow students to get feedback from more than one person, and this type of peer
feedback may be more effective than traditional self-editing (Holder, 2006). It gives the implication towards the
positive interactivity for the teaching and learning of sentence grammar, by using blogs in the teaching of writing.
The use of technology certainly needs rules and new laws. For example, the use of internet also needs to be
regulated as much as possible. However, the invention of the atomic bomb is now becoming a country’s prerogative
and stopping its continuous production is becoming impossible. In fact, regulations are difficult to implement when
these technologies are introduced – such as regulations surrounding the impending arrival of autonomous vehicles.

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

#1: Distance learning will reinforce teaching and learning approaches that we know do not work well.
Countries are shifting to distance learning approaches, whether through distributing physical learning
materials for students or through using technology to facilitate online learning. And there are real risks because
many of these approaches can be very solitary and didactic when you’re just asking students to sit and quietly
watch videos, read documents online, or click through presentations—that’s really dull. The worst form of learning
is to sit passively and listen, and this may be the form that most students will receive during school closures. It
serves no one well, especially those who are the furthest behind.

#2: Educators will be unsupported in performing their jobs well.

Teachers had little or no notice about their schools closing and shifting to online learning—this can be
challenging for anybody. They’ve shared that they are overwhelmed with all sorts of materials and products, and
we are seeing educators begin to push back and request help filtering through all the resources to find those that
are quality. At the same time, teachers are just like the rest of us in that they are experiencing this strange new
world as mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They are trying to deal with their individual lives and
take care of their kids and find new ways to make sure that learning continues.

#3: The protection and safety of children will be harder to safeguard.

Schools have safeguard measures in place to ensure that predators toward children, such as pedophiles, can’t
access young people. Now, once you move to online learning in a home environment, you can’t safeguard against
this. People have to be mindful about the design of online learning so that bad individuals don’t get to children
outside of their home.
#4: This crisis will help us come together across boundaries.
We would be remiss if we take away a greater sense of empathy for each other—the idea that we can work
through anything together from this crisis. It’s an opportunity for the education sector to unite, forge connections
across countries and continents, and truly share what works in a global way. Prior to this crisis, we’ve been able to
do well, and we will miss a big opportunity if we don’t try to do that now.

Finally, as most technological discoveries aim to reduce human effort, it would imply that more work is done
by machines. This equates to less work for people: the human is becoming ever so obsolete by the day, as processes
become automated and jobs are made redundant. The negative impact of the influence of technology on children
should not be underestimated as well.

Online teaching during COVID-19 school closure

The COVID-19 pandemic situation has posed unprecedented challenges requiring teachers to adapt to
teaching online. Until March 2020, the typical teaching situation at school was characterized by students who
convened in classrooms according to their timetables and teachers who covered their subjects’ standard content,
frequently through formal lecturing. Students were required to listen to their teachers, work individually or in
groups, and predominantly reproduce knowledge in assessments (e.g., Lipowsky 2015). By contrast, ICT use was
limited (Fraillon et al. 2014, 2019; GEW (Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft) 2020). The school lockdown
confronted teachers, students, and parents with an entirely new situation (Huber and Helm 2020). Continued
teaching and learning was only possible through alternative means of schooling. Teachers had to change to online
teaching, requiring them to use various digital tools and resources to solve problems and implement new
approaches to teaching and learning (Eickelmann and Gerick 2020). Beyond instructional goals, teachers were also
required to maintain contact with their students to account for the social integration of their learning groups.

ICT Transformation Process in Educational Systems

Although the transition to online teaching was unexpected and rapid due to COVID-19, it took place amid a
wider ICT transformation process in educational systems (Selwyn 2012; McFarlane 2019). Digitalization in schools
has recently attained prominence. A key argument relates to closing the ‘gap’ between students’ conventional
learning and development at school and ‘the experiences and skills that our youth need to enter the information
economy’ (Kozma 2011, 106): the school curriculum should increasingly be interwoven with ICT, and students should
be given opportunities to use advanced technological tools and digital resources for creative and innovative problem
solving (Kozma 2011, 115).

Digital technology has revolutionized almost every aspect of people's lives in recent decades (Goodman, 2019).
Office work, shopping, music, movies, television, photography, travel, transport, and long-distance communications
are just some areas that have been transformed. It has become increasingly rare to find an electronic device or large
machine that doesn't incorporate digital technology in some way.

Lesson 2.
Impact of ICT in Various International Events
Arab Spring

This phenomenon in the Arab world was inadvertently sparked by Mohammad Bouazazi, a street vendor in
Tunisia who set himself on fire in 2010 to protest after a council inspector confiscated his vegetable stall. News about
this spread and others saw this as an opportunity to protest against the larger socioeconomic ills of the country.
Soon, the ensuing riots overthrew the dictatorship of the president.
The Arab Spring, as what it is now known, brought about destabilization and disturbed the order in some
Arab authoritarian countries particularly Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Several awakenings, protests, and
uprisings erupted in many Arab countries in the years that followed. Syria, for one, is now in a bloody civil war with
rebels trying to oust the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
One of the factors perceived to have contributed to such political upheaval was ICT. Through television,
Internet, smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media outlets, the world became aware of the
protests which eventually snowballed and gave people the courage to act against dictatorships. The causes of
protests varied: economic failure, rampant corruption, act against security forces, and demand for more liberal and
democratic way of governance. The unfolding events in Tunisia were watched by its neighboring countries and
seemed to have inspired them. The use of Facebook, SMS (text messaging), and Twitter enabled users to sustain
interest and eventually moved them to action. Facebook allowed people to express their political beliefs without
fear of apprehension by state authorities. Likeminded Facebook users established citizen networks with political
objectives.

In Libya, the reporting about the civil war and subsequent NATO and UN intervention was conducted using
social media technology in the absence of professional journalists who were banned in Libya. In Bahrain, the
situation was different. The government co-opted the media by asking for help in identifying some leading
protesters. It took the opportunity of political divisions which weakened the protesters. Thus, no change of regime
occurred in Bahrain.

A Pew Research Center article noted, “Social media indeed played a part in the Arab uprisings. Networks
formed online were crucial in organizing a core group of activists, specifically in Egypt. Civil society leaders in Arab
countries emphasized the role of ‘the internet, mobile phones, and social media in the protests. Additionally, digital
media has been used by Arabs to exercise freedom of speech and as a space for civic engagement.”

Since 2011, the goals of many Arab Spring protesters have been denied as autocratic governments regain
power and crack down on civil liberties. Nonetheless, the uprisings have shown the power of mass demonstrations
and peaceful protest, as well as the ability of social media to both fuel protest and communicate its goals to the
outside world. The tumult of the Arab Spring also showed autocratic governments—and the rest of the world—that
millions of people living in Islamic nations believe in free expression and democratic governance.
Occupy Wall Street
Twitter played a significant role in facilitating communications among the participants of Occupy Wall Street, an anti-
capitalism movement. Twitter became a forum where the participants shared information and interacted with one
another. At the local level, Occupy protesters used Twitter to communicate sensitive information about the protests
and police actions. They used Twitter to pave the way for interstate communication exchanges. Through Twitter, a
group for interstate communication exchanges. Through Twitter, a group capable of collective framing process which
provided the social movement with shared languages, purpose, and identity was formed. Other people around the
world copied the Occupy protest success and staged their own versions in what was later known as the Occupy
Movement.

Terrorism
Extremists and terrorist groups have also used ICT, especially websites, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, to
further illegal and destructive acts and recruit members and adherents. Jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the so-
called Islamic State (IS) are two notable terror groups that have used ICT.

The IS, in particular, seems to have members who are well-versed in using ICT in their operations. They produce
well-scripted and choreographed videos and recorded executions. They also have an online presence through
Instagram, and they publish an online monthly magazine. In addition, they utilize online messaging services, even
launching a hashtag campaign, among others. An article in Popular Science noted, “From its start, social media has
been integral to ISIS’s rise. It enables ISIS militants to raise its prestige among terror groups and overtake older
jihadist competitors like Al-Qaeda. It serves to coordinate troops and win battles. And it allows the group to
administer the territory under its control.”

Cyberterrorism, a term coined by Barry Collin in 1997, means “unlawful threats of attack against computers,
networks, and the information stored therein to intimidate or coerce a government and its people in furtherance of
political or social objectives.” This premeditated and politically motivated violence is aimed at noncombatant targets
by clandestine agents. There are at least four elements which characterize cyberterrorism:

1. Politically motivated attacks leading to death or physical injury;

2. Cyber-attacks causing fear and/or bodily harm from cyber-attack techniques;
 3. Attacks against critical information infrastructures such as energy, transportation, and financial and
government operations, and;
4. Attacks primarily aimed at monetary profit.
However, attacks that focus on nonessential service are not considered cyberterrorism. Terrorist groups use
the Internet for hostile activities such as hacking, disseminating negative propaganda, and promoting high-risk
activities. They likewise use the Internet for intergroup communication. Terrorist groups manipulate cyber media to
release their propaganda statements. A study on hosting service providers such as Blogspot and Wordpress reveals
that the virtual world is damaged due to the promotion of terrorist activities. Videos of hostage-taking, attacks,
explosions, and bombing are even shown.
A study by Yulei Zhang et al. (2010) has come across 10,000 extremist websites which developed technology to
interpret the conversation and content of forums. The cyberspace is said to have allowed asymmetric or unbalanced
warfare between, on the one hand, the perpetuators such as extremists, terrorist groups, and cyber criminals having
the capability to inflict damage; and, on the other hand, the unsuspecting, naïve public. Terrorist groups can inflict
damage or create difficult conditions to nations. Several countries have established cybersecurity agencies to protect
their and other countries from cyberterrorism.

Keep In Mind
ICT has also been used to facilitate and inquire action against a regime, as what happened in the Arab Spring and
Occupy movements. It is also employed by terrorist groups to create fear and destruction to lives and countries.

While some Internet-based movements and e-movements failed for reasons such as lack of face-to-face
interaction and inability to establish and sustain interpersonal networks, others attained success. Jamie Friedland
and Kenneth Rogerson (2009) analyzed some of the successful Internet-based social movements and the Internet’s
role in their success. They see the Internet as having a passive nature which means that “users discover only what
they seek” and “normally find information that merely reinforces their interests or beliefs.” Nevertheless, the
Internet “streamlines the process of political mobilization” as it allows easier interconnections among likeminded
individuals. It facilitates faster and wider spread of messages though online sites.

The leadership structure of the traditional sociopolitical movements vary from that of e-movements. While
traditional movements possess a centralized, vertically hierarchical command structure, e-movements have a
horizontal and decentralized structure. Leaders have more liberty to act and may not necessarily be politically
engaged. Many leaders of e- movements are computer experts responsible for starting a full blown e-movement.
They are computer-savvy individuals who are empowered by ICT rather than political activists. These leaders are
likewise unconstrained by the limitations of traditional social movement organizations such as experiencing pressure
from members due to their unconventional leadership styles. On the contrary, e-movements allow the leaders to
practice their preferred styles, thus providing various ways and methods if achieving the goals of the movement. The
leader may also be the member who made the best proposal as the course of action to take. No central leadership
exists in an e-movement due to its horizontal structure. Without a traditionally rigid chain of command, members
and leaders alike of online groups of protesters connect, coordinate, and plan their actions together in a hazy
structure like that of modern terrorists cells (Weimann, 2006a in Friedland and Rogerson, 2009). What binds them is
a common political agenda rather than a central leadership; hence, their flexibility and ability for evasive physical
movement and shifting strategies.

The Internet also enables SMOs to either access or bypass mainstream media. Through low-cost, efficient, and
direct communication from the SMO, the general public and the media get to monitor its movements, which actually
seek wider media coverage. Most SMOs believe that media coverage is necessary in amplifying their concerns to the
public whose strong and sustained support can lead to the SMO’s strength and success. They also seek to establish a
well-designed and well-maintained website where they post their messages, counter negative media coverage,
correct misconceptions, and refute criticisms. The site lends a sort of legitimacy to the SMOs.

Information and communications technology enables groups and movements, big and small alike, to prosper and
attain success in promoting their causes even without a centralized and hierarchical structure. The horizontal,
 decentralized, and flat structure facilitates the development of sociopolitical movements whose interconnections are
based on common sociopolitical concerns, interests, and goals.

What’s More
Assessment 1
Direction: Write a 100-word composition on how mobile phones and other gadgets shaped your relationship with
your classmates and peers in this pandemic time.
Rubrics:
Content/Relevance 20
Mechanics 15
Organization 15
Neatness 10
Total 60

Assessment 2.

Directions: Read each item carefully and use your notebook to write your answers. Write only the letter of the
correct answer.
____1. Highly dependent on online propagation and e-movements arising entirely online.
a. Social movement organization c. Collaborative Innovation Network
b. Classroom organization d. None of the above
____2. Refers to a highly motivated group with a collective vision and is aided by the Web in attaining a common
goal through fast information and work exchanges.
a. Social movement organization c. Collaborative Innovation Network
b. Classroom organization d. None of the above
____3. Who is the street vendor who sparked the Arab Spring?
a. Osama bin Laden c. Mohammad Ali
 b. Mohammad Bouazazi d. Unknown
____4. The Arab Spring protest started in ________________________.
a. Libya b. Egypt c. Yemen d. Tunisia
____5. This social media platform played a significant role in facilitating communications among the participants of
Occupy Wall Street.
a. Facebook b. Pinterest c. Twitter d. Instagram
____6. Unlawful threats of attack against computers, networks, and the information stored therein… to intimidate or
coerce a government and its people in furtherance of political or social objectives.1
a. Cyberterrorism b. Cyberspace c. Outer space d. Cyberattack
____7. Allowed asymmetric or unbalanced warfare.
a. Cyberterrorism b. Cyberspace c. Outer space d. Cyberattack
____8. Possess a centralized, vertically hierarchical command structure.
a. Traditional movements c. Full blown e-movement
b. E-movements d. Modern terrorist cells
____9. Possess a horizontal and decentralized structure.
a. Traditional movements c. E-movements
b. Full blown e-movement d. Modern terrorist cells
____10. The leaders of a movement are computer experts.
a. Traditional movements c. E-movements
b. Full blown e-movement d. Modern terrorist cells

Glossary

The following terms used in this module are defined as follows:

1. Information Communication Technology (ICT) - is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that
stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and
wireless signals) and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage and audio-
visual systems, that enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.
2. Electronic device - An electronic device has transistors or silicon chips which control and change the electric
current passing through the device.
3. Human capital - Human capital is an intangible asset or quality not listed on a company's balance sheet. It
can be classified as the economic value of a worker's experience and skills. This includes assets like
education, training, intelligence, skills, health, and other things employers value such as loyalty and
punctuality.
4. Blog - a blog was more of a personal diary that people shared online. In this online journal, you could talk
about your daily life or share about things that you were doing. Then, people saw an opportunity to
communicate information in a new way online.
5. Humanity - is the human race, which includes everyone on Earth. It’s also a word for the qualities that make
us human, such as the ability to love and have compassion, be creative, and not be a robot or alien.
6. Gadgets - an often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use but often thought of as a
novelty
7. Smart City - In general, a smart city is a city that uses technology to provide services and solve city problems.
A smart city does things like improve transportation and accessibility, improve social services, promote
sustainability, and give its citizens a voice.
8. Albert Einstein - was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the
two pillars of modern physics
9. Digital Technology - Digital technologies are electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generate,
store or process data. Well known examples include social media, online games, multimedia and mobile
phones.
10. Video conferencing - Video conferencing is a technology that allows users in different locations to
hold face-to-face meetings without having to move to a single location together. ... Uses for video conferencing
include holding routine meetings, negotiating business deals, and interviewing job candidates