DepEd must therefore affirm the recommendation of DICT as it follows the
same direction and vision with the DepEd Digital Rise Program.
There is a proper medium for schools to use in disseminating assignments, test
materials, and even instructional tools for e-learning made of lesson delivery. Social
media is not the proper outlet to support the needs of learners. Likewise, the use
of Project-based Likes in social media is highly discouraged as it does not entail
deep sense of linkage in the mastery of lessons and skills.
Digital literacy is highly emphasized in DepEd’s Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) capacity-building program for teachers to lead them with the
positive and correct use of these technologies.
There are existing open-source Learning Management Systems (LMS) like
Edmodo, Schoology, Google Classroom, Nearpod, and Socrative that schools
can use to support the e-learning requirements of an institution. They perform
almost the same function with added educational features to support the delivery
of instruction inside or outside of the classroom.
Academic institutions should learn and invest in capacitating their teachers to
understand the use and advantages of these technologies and create a more child-
friendly environment that is not a high-risk for cyber threats.
ICT is inevitably surrounding us in this Information Age, but social media is not
the proper medium for schools to use especially in connection to the learning
delivery of lessons, Social media can be the brightest innovation in this era but
looking at the bigger picture where learners will be prone and affected should be
the priority.
While this issue seemingly affects only the connected schools, DepEd must also
prepare all other schools as it is now providing a pathway to connect the
disconnected schools in using Open Educational Resources (OER), distributing
contents from host computer to connected devices. With this development, learners
from far flung areas will have the opportunity to use the same technology used in
urban areas. Additionally, teachers are now being trained on developing e-learning
resources that are contextualized in accordance with Filipine culture making these
more relevant to learners.
DepEd must lead the correct pathway to support its ideals and aspirations in
delivering quality, relevant, accessible and liberating education for the benefit of
our 2Ist Century learners. It will provide the public schools system with the
best Learning Management System (LMS) that could host the instructional
support for curriculum and instruction requirements.
The collaboration of the Curriculum and Instruction Strand and the
Information and Communications Technology Service {ICTS) is needed to address
this issue, A DepEd Memorandum/Order on this matter is in order, and the
initiative must come from the Curriculum and Instruction Strand.