LONG before the pandemic, educators have been encouraged to embrace technology in their teaching. The mantra is "this is the new norm in education." Chalk and board belong to a time not so long ago. This is surely exaggerated considering the need for the chalkboard for instruction but the attitude and orientation of the new generation of students prove the strong case of the argument. The academe introduced information communication and technology (ICT) as the standard of teaching and this pandemic removed all the doubt that ICT is indeed a thing to accept.
The use of technology is no longer an option, it has become a requirement. For the past three months, teachers in public schools have been directed to join webinars particularly in the utilization of ICT in the teaching under this new normal. DepEd has partnered with Vibal in delivering these webinars to capacitate teachers in using technology as a teaching method. Modular instruction will still be the primary tool for instruction but we know that this method is not enough to address the needs of the students. As directed, supplementary instruction materials such as instructional videos are to be developed.
Embracing technology in teaching means teachers utilize computer and its features in teaching. Various teaching online applications and features have been introduced and teachers are working double time today in understanding how this works. This poses a huge challenge to educators. Young teachers may be more tolerant. Using technology in education has been an integral part of the teaching curriculum in college education.
Entry-level teachers are also expected to be adept at utilizing technology in classroom instruction. Also, most beginning teachers are more willing to adapt to changes in the educational system than experienced ones. This is not because weathered teachers are stubborn or hard-headed. It may be because they have proven the efficacy of traditional teaching and it is not easy to transition to a method that is quite novel to them. Unlearning and relearning may not also be in the vocabulary among many of us in the academe.
Familiarization of technology for instruction requires a lot of time and energy because of its complex nature. I'm in my mid-30s and I admit that these ICT trainings and seminars still give me head-ache. Technological details are quite asking. I do not have the same level of interest in technologies because I think that the process of learning their usage takes too much time. Perhaps, it is my motivation to learn and my thirst for knowledge pushes me to do it. But I realized there is no other way but to adopt it in my line of work.
I was not used to using gadgets in my younger years because I could not afford one. Maybe this is the reason why I do not think too much of their significance. But the recent turn of events convinced me that I may have overlooked the swift change of time. As I have heard years ago, this is already the 21st century and this requires 21st-century skills. Technological skills have become a necessity.
Teachers, like students, will likely have a difficult time come the opening of the school year because of the change of the educational approach. DepEd banks on distance learning by using modules and supplementary online modalities in teaching. Rookie and experienced teachers need to tap their personal computers, laptops, and cellphones as teaching resources to ensure that the students learn enough. Modular instruction cannot satisfy the efficacy of the face to face learning and supplementary materials such as instructional videos need to be provided to students. Teachers share the fear of students for the lack of gadgets in learning.
Investing in these technological resources is a necessity for teachers today. The situation asks for it. Time calls for it and the nature of students today somehow demands it. Teachers have to own some of these devices to cope with the call of education. Without these resources, it will be difficult to address the loopholes of the distant learning method.
The use of ICT in teaching has never been this demanding and it will be prudent among teachers to invest in it.