The pervasive availability of technology and devices has become an unavoidable part of how we live and work. Technology is already second nature to today’s youth, and many schools have begun to use personal devices as teaching tools.
The pandemic has permanently altered the educational landscape, demonstrating how technology can provide not only greater connectivity and accessibility but also a richer learning experience.
According to the agency’s presentation of its 2022 National Expenditure Programme (NEP) to the House of Representatives, the Department of Education (DepEd) has seen a significant increase in budget allocation for its Computerisation Programme (DCP) and five other programmes.
The DCP, which aims to provide ICT packages and IT infrastructure in public schools, was allocated P11.3 billion for the 2022 NEP, which is nearly double the amount allocated in last year’s General Appropriations Act allocation. As per the undersecretary for the finance sector, DepEd will receive P629.8 billion from its proposed P17.02 trillion budget for next year.
Meanwhile, DepEd recently launched its latest Online Journal to provide a platform for educational innovations and new insights in curriculum and education policies to be shared.
The online journal, which is the official online publication of DepEd’s Curriculum and Instruction Strand, is a quarterly publication that features peer-reviewed academic articles on issues and trends in K-12 curriculum and DepEd policies as discussed in technical reports and research projects conducted in regions, divisions, districts, and classrooms nationwide. The online journal features academic papers and articles related to the curriculum and instruction in the last three years developed by bureaus and field offices.
“This will help teachers learn from the experiences of their colleagues through the sharing of solutions, technical expertise, and lifting each other on the transition to building forward. The first issue of the digital or online journal hopes to be a strong beginning, I encourage everyone to celebrate these innovations, learn from our colleagues, and find the implications of this for our profession,” DepEd Undersecretary for curriculum and instruction said.
The online journal encourages the submission of classroom-based research, case studies, and full-fledged research using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Theoretical articles or studies, as well as papers presented to experts and education stakeholders for policy recommendations and technical reports, are examples of other submissions.
In addition, OpenGov Asia reported that a leadership school in Bulacan, Philippines, advanced innovation in teaching 21st-century skills by redesigning its curriculum and incorporating technology into core subjects. The addition of the Computer Curricular Programme prepared students in the Philippines as early as a grade school for digital literacy, ranging from basic coding to mobile app development.
The programme specialises in providing cutting-edge and comprehensive computer curriculum to teachers and students through detailed training – a benefit that will reap new opportunities for the upcoming virtual school year in the advanced, technological age. The co-curricular programme, which has been tailored to fit online distance learning, covers a wide range of software and applications from Grade 4 to Senior High School.
Both at home and in the classroom, technology enables students to practise new skills and review previously learnt information more frequently and effectively. Self-marking assessment allows students to work independently, wherever and whenever they want, while also providing teachers with the peace of mind that students are always receiving the correct information.
Ultimately, by digitising the learning process, both students and teachers can improve their abilities to participate in an active educational process. Online learning, intelligent schooling, student assessments, personalised learning experiences, and online exams are all examples of how digital transformation in education can be used.
