NOWADAYS, we can say that our young students are fast learners and are very adept when it comes to utilizing various digital mechanisms that are made available to them. They belong to the generation who, at a very young age are already very proficient in using laptops, cellphones, tablets, and other gadgets. Instead of looking at this in a negative way, educators must take advantage of this context and use technology to engage our learners and ultimately help them achieve the learning outcomes which are expected of them.
Last June 5, a webinar entitled Futures Thinking 101 was conducted to ignite and create interest in foresight and democratize futures thinking. One of the speakers said that the future is already happening. In the context of the Department of Education, what was envisioned years ago indeed is now happening. Education officials have imagined that sooner or later, the teaching and learning process will be done using laptops and computers, and done remotely and outside the classroom.
With this vision in mind, DepEd has prioritized the introduction and utilization of technology in improving learning outcomes through various programs and projects. Under the Public Schools of the Future Framework, the Digital Rise Program enabled the public education system to adapt to the dynamic and fast-changing world of technology and suit the needs of our 21st-century learners. The vision to have ICT-equipped classrooms and make the teaching and learning process more engaging and enjoyable for our learners through the use of videos, interactive applications, game-based learning, virtual field trips, and a whole lot more has been slowly realized. The possibilities are certainly endless when we talk about the digital world.
When the world faced the health crisis brought by Covid-19, the educational system needed to shift from the traditional face-to-face set-up to distance learning. This major transition necessitated the utilization of available technologies, platforms, apps, and other digital modalities that will help in the delivery of education amidst the pandemic. DepEd has also partnered with various organizations to ensure that digital learning is instituted as part of the educational reforms that are now being advocated in the entire Department. It is worthwhile to know that leading technological companies such as Microsoft and Google are DepEd's active partners in advocating the use of technology in education in bringing these digital solutions not only to our teachers and students but also to the entire DepEd organization.
I would like to quote George Couros who is an Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Consultant. Author of "The Innovator's Mindset." He said: “Technology will not replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.”