In a country like the Philippines where education is struggled to be a universal right, a constant increase in dropped out rate since 2007 is a distressing fact.
Lack of personal interest is one of the primary reasons why students quit schooling. Boredom with the traditional way of teaching-learning process greatly contributes with this kind of attitude towards pursuing education. To hook today’s learners to stay at school, activities should be more varied, more innovative and more interactive.
Today’s generation is called computer generation since they are born in time where almost everything can be easily accessed through a touch of the fingertip in an electronic keyboard. So, opening up a book on page something and copying lectures on the board definitely are no longer their kind of game. This is when ICT becomes ideal.
ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology, an effective tool not just in changing the usual teaching-learning process in diverse subject areas but also in boosting learner’s interest. Studies that have been conducted revealed a significant positive impact on students’ performance in school using ICT. In fact, 86% of teachers state that learners are more motivated when computers and the internet are being used in class.
The use of multimedia like television and videos combining text, sound and moving images provide challenging experiences that engage students in learning process. More so, networked computers with internet connectivity highly increase student’s motivation as interactivity of other ICTs give them the opportunity to connect with real people and to participate in the real world. Furthermore, the use of ICT encourages independent and active learning and activates student’s responsibility for their own learning.
On the part of the teachers, planning and preparation of lessons become easier. Teaching has become less toilsome as student’s generally are more “on task” and express more positive feelings when they use computers than when they are given other tasks to do and computer use during lessons motivate students to continue using learning even outside school hours.
And in our country where manpower is one huge resource, here and abroad, one most common benefits of using ICTs in classrooms has been to better prepare the current generation for a workplace where computers, internet and other related technologies are becoming more widespread. Thus, the ability to use ICTs effectively and efficiently represents a competitive edge in an increasingly globalizing job market.
So, going on with the flow of what this generation appreciates brings more advantages in improving performances. So if they want it this way, ICT will make our day.
By: EDGARDO JESUS S. BASA II | Head Teacher III | Orani NHS-main | Orani, Bataan
