ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is defined by C. Blurton as a set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store and manage information. While sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
In the Philippines today, the curriculum incorporates already the use of ICT in classroom management and instruction not only as part of technological improvement but also with the fact that ICT can enhance learning among various students which nowadays are technological in nature and most of the time depends on internet for researches, skill improvement and information sharing. ICT and sustainable development can be anchored together. ICT has a role to play towards sustainable development goal number 4 as indicated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as quality education, a vision captured by Qingdao Declaration (ICT in Education by UNESCO).
Hardware, software and netware are very important components of ICT. The shift from traditional way of teaching to incorporating digital usage has evolved overtime from edutainment TV series like Batibot, Sineskwela, Mathinik and Hiraya Manawari of 90’s which help students gain knowledge of particular topics to more collaborative and experiential learning using newly developed software and application that have been developed along with the release of new breed of technologies. In this way, learning becomes unstoppable as one can have access to it whether at school, while at café, while riding a car, while being out of town or out of the country or while at home. But to make ICT successfully integrated in formal education the partnership between public and private sector must be strengthened because the support of the government is necessary specifically in areas where ICT integration is least or not possible. Meanwhile, private sectors need to support the software and application developers that a country has to utilize such skills in producing softwares and applications that can maximize student involvement in enjoyable manner. Moreover, a definite curriculum plan must be established for the boundaries of ICT integration in formal education as students are also evolving along with technology. Since, millennials are intelligent and excited beings there can be a tendency of overuse or lack of good use in ICT in formal education. Moreover, teacher’s expertise in ICT usage must be achieved rather than having trial and error while using it inside the classroom. Though the idea of ICT integration can be expensive when referring to hardware and ratio of computer, tablet, LCD TV, projector, and smartboard to every student and teacher, the result of it is promising because without it there are information that couldn’t be grasped without direct experience in which to make it possible in a formal setting there should be involvement of ICT to increase knowledge, skill, direct experience and reasoning.
By: Ms. Ana Rosette S. Garcia | Jose Rizal Institute
