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A Success Story: Integrating ICT into Classroom Teaching
August 7, 2008, Makati City
By PE/Secretary Lois Villanueva, RC Makati Jose P. Rizal
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Not much different from many other secondary schools in the Philippines, teachers at the Quezon City High School (QCHS) are overloaded and overworked. Imagine handling, on the average, 50 to 60 students per class yet still required to learn new development topics as imposed for infusion into their subjects. Thus, learning another skill, such as using computers for teaching, was farthest from their minds, much less appealing to them.
But today, 20 teachers who complained of work overload and were fearful of new technologies, but, nevertheless, went through a series of training in Information and Computer Technology (ICT), albeit reluctantly, have finally reached their destination. They now prepare interactive computer-based lessons in science, biology, mathematics and English for classroom teaching.
This is, indeed, a great feat for a school, which started with 10 outdated computers donated by the Department of Education, which were gathering dust in its computer laboratory. The laboratory was almost never visited and the school having a few teachers trained by DepEd in basic computers who never gained the confidence to use their acquired knowledge. |
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Support to Revolutionize Teaching and Learning
It was when the alumni association of QCHS, led by Batch 65, initiated in 2004 the establishment of an ICT-based education at their alma mater. They were later joined by the QCHS International Alumni Association (QCHSIAA). The Rotary Club of Makati Jose P. Rizal supported the project in 2006, while Dell Computers came in shortly thereafter.
The QCHSIAA immediately convinced the Principal, then, Dr. Josefina Perlado, to revive the use of the school’s idle computer laboratory and take advantage of ICT’s benefits in improving teaching and learning and, perhaps, save the school from a deteriorating academic performance. Emphasizing on the fact that the Philippines is quickly transforming into a knowledge-based society where ICT greatly influences the way people live, work, learn and socialize, a functional computer-based education will greatly help QCHS students to be better prepared to compete in such an environment.
The initiative envisioned that the use of computers will modernize QCHS’s academic programs and be better equipped to produce high quality teachers and technology-savvy graduates that are able to respond to the challenges of an ICT-centric environment. By then, the education provided by their alma mater will have been effective and relevant.
Thus, the “Integrated Use of ICT in Education Project” was born. Initially funded by the QCHSIAA and Batch 65, it was augmented by the Rotary Club of Makati’s “Partnership in Service Program Matching Fund” through the Rotary Club of Makati Jose P. Rizal (RCMJPR). The project falls under the mandate of RCMJPR under its literacy component dealing with the use of technology in education. |
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Preparing Teachers and Student for the ICT Challenge
The project is two-pronged: one is to prepare young people in acquiring creative minds and the ability to learn essential technical skills, the other is to enable teachers actively take effective roles in a technology-based learning environment. ICT-based education is meant to replace traditional rote learning methods with student-centered, project-based teaching that promotes higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. Teachers will then act as facilitators and guide students using computers, rather than directing and spoon feeding.
To achieve these goals, the Project undertook the following strategic activities over a two-year period:
- Continuing teacher training program in:
- the use of computer applications, such as MS Excel, MS Access, Internet Explorer, MS Publisher and other productivity tools
- the implementation of ICT-based teaching and learning
- basic computer hardware and software troubleshooting
- Development of interactive computer-based lessons and learning activities in science, mathematics, language and other subjects based on higher-order thinking skills
- Effective application of the developed computer-based lessons in actual teaching
- Continuous upgrading of the computer laboratory’s facilities to ensure the project’s sustainability
- Setting up of the school’s database
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Building the school’s digital information resource center (digital library) to support the ICT-based education program
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Change in Knowledge and Skills
After their training, the teachers are now knowledgeable, skilled and more confident in the following areas:
- Integrating ICT in education
- Policies and approaches of the National ICT master plan of the Department of Education and the required ICT teacher competencies
- Strategies of using ICT in teaching science, math and language that promote higher order thinking skills and support the four learning theories
- Guidelines and techniques for developing ICT-based lesson plans
- Navigating the Internet, using e-mail, searching for information, creating blogs, participating in discussion forums and generally communicating online
- Using the Internet for education, accessing web-based lessons and teaching materials and evaluating useful resources available on the Internet
- Use of software productivity tools in preparing class materials, presentations, teaching aids, newsletter publication, and in storing student grades and monitoring of performances
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Change in Mindset
Where teachers thought using computers will just add work burden, they now find them significantly enhancing their lessons and stimulating more student interest and participation. Not only were knowledge and practices improved, teachers’ attitude changed from fear and non-confidence to one of high motivation and self-assurance.
The marked change in their mindset was further enhanced by a study tour in Singapore where they spent four days observing and learning how Singapore integrates ICT into their secondary education system. They have visited the National Institute of Education, three secondary schools and a model of the “School of the Future” and witnessed how technology can, in fact, lighten work load and make teaching become a more creative, stimulating and engaging experience.
Their eagerness to move forward from basic ICT skills to more advanced applications, such as podcasting and blogs, and to transition to student-centered ICT-based teaching methods, became more pronounced. From PowerPoint and Word, they now desire to use more sophisticated teaching tools.
To showcase these ICT-based lessons and get feedback from DepEd officials, Rotary officers and other teachers, several teaching demonstrations were organized at the QCHS. The teachers have developed some 23 ICT-based lessons as a result of a competition to appraise their ability to apply what they learned. Four teachers in English, Math and Science won for their most creative and interactive lessons. For their prize, they were sent on the study tour in Singapore in September 2006.
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Preparing the Students
While the teachers were being trained, junior and senior high school students were also attending computer classes with a special supplementary study on website development. A one-week training was given to some 40 students on website design and programming. This paved the way for them to join the competition on the development of the school’s website and promote the practical application of their acquired knowledge. The competition also enabled the establishment of the school website which now serves as an online venue for communication exchange for both teachers and students. |
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Setting up the Enabling Environment
The old computer laboratory has since been upgraded and became a fully functional multimedia center with Internet connection. In addition to upgrading the 12 old but still functional computers, the project added eight new systems, The new desktop computers each came equipped with Pentium IV 3.2 GHz processor, 512 MB SDRAM, 80 GB hard disk, CD/DVD drive, 15” CRT color monitor, uninterrupted power supply, as well as computer table and chair. In 2004, the project bought a high-end server, a color printer, a scanner and an LCD Projector. With these new facilities in place, to include a television and a library of software in CD ROMs and DVDs, the Computer Laboratory can now be appropriately called a Multimedia Room. |
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High Impact Project
The concerned service partners are happy to realize that they have invested their funds in a truly high impact project with high returns – change in mindsets, attitudes and practices.
The Project is ready to sustain the program, at least, for another two years to achieve its main goal of seeing the widespread use of ICT in the classrooms, and in coming up with the 20 Core Master ICT Trainers who will then be responsible for multiplying their skills to the rest of the teacher population, ultimately benefiting some 5,000 QCHS students. |
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