Module 2 - ICT

Policies and Issues:

Implications to
Teaching and
Learning

Module Outcomes
1. Discussed some ICT policies and explained their
implications to teaching and learning
2. Explained some issues that relate to ICT policies
3. Identified safety concerns on Internet including
digital safety rules
Introduction
Globalization is a reality and ICT has become a fundamental part of the process. A networked
society is one in which the entire planet is organized around telecommunicated networks of
computers. The powerful use of network has broken boundaries, provided opportunities for inclusion
and collaboration. However, there will also be a struggle for those who do not have access or those
who are excluded marginalized and powerless. Thus a need to establish policies in the use of ICT is
imperative.
As the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT) says “The future
has arrived. Now we have to ensure that we have a place in it.”

Lesson 1: Policies and Issues on Internet and Implications to Teaching and Learning
Lesson Outcomes
1. Named examples of ICT which are applicable to teaching and learning
2. Discussed some issues that relate to the ICT policy
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New technologies have become central to the lives of every individual in this planet. Whether
you are talking on the phone, sending an electronic mail, going to the bank, using the library,
watching news on television, going of the doctor, catching a flight, or seeing a movie, you are using
ICT. Almost everything we do in the modern world is influenced by the new technologies.
Would your life as a teacher be also influenced by the new technologies?
Should we leave our lives to be controlled by technology or should we control the utilization
of technology in our lives? How?

One way of enhancing and regulating the use of ICT is to formulate and implement policies
to guide appropriate decisions.

Definition of ICT Policy

The Oxford English Dictionary has defined “policy” as a course of action, adopted and
pursued by a government, party, ruler, statesman. It is any course of action adopted as expedient or
advantageous. Its operational definition of policy is a plan of action to guide decisions and achieve
outcomes.
Thus, ICT Policies are needed to put a roadmap or course of actions to be pursued and
adopted by various governments, organizations, entities involving ICT. These include principles and
guidelines in the use of ICT which cover three main areas: telecommunications (telephone),
broadcasting (radio and television) and Internet.

The New ICT Technologies

More recent technological innovations increased the reach and speed of communications
which can be grouped into three categories:
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 1. Information Technology – includes the use of computers, which has become indispensable in
modern societies to process data and save time and effort. What are needed will be computer
hardware and peripherals, software and for the user, computer literacy.
2. Telecommunication technologies – include telephones (with fax) and the broadcasting of radio
and television often through satellites. Telephone system, radio and TV broadcasting are
needed in this category.
3. Networking technologies – The best known of networking technologies is Internet, but has
extended to mobile phone technology, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) satellite
communications and other forms of communications are still in their infancy. In addition to
Internet, this category also includes mobile telephone, cable, DSL, satellite and other
broadband connectivity.

The DICT Roadmap

In our country, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has
formulated a roadmap to guide all agencies in the utilization, regulation and enhancement of ICT.
Each project has corresponding policy statements and guidelines.
The ICT for Education (ICT4E) is a program under the DICT that supports all the efforts of the education
sector in incorporating the use of ICT as well as in determining and gaining access to the infrastructure
(hardware, software, telecommunications facilities and others) which are necessary to use and deploy
learning technologies at all levels of education. Among the policy recommended programs that have
applications to education teaching-learning are:
ICT in Education Masterplan for all levels, including a National Roadmap for Faculty
1 Development in ICT in Education. A National Framework Plan for ICTs in Basic Education was
developed
Connect and application development through the Open Content in Education Initiative
(OCEI) which converts DepEd materials into interactive multimedia content, develop
2 applications used in schools, and conduct students and teachers competitions to promote the
development of education-related web content.
PheDNET, is a “walled” garden that hosts educational learning and teaching materials
and applications for use by Filipino students, their parents and teachers. All public high
3 schools will be part of this network with only DepEd-approved multimedia applications, materials
and mirrored internet sites accessible from school’s PCs.
Established Community eLearning Centers called eSkwela for out-of-school youth (OSY)
4 providing them with ICT-enhanced alternative education opportunities.
eQuality Program for tertiary education through partnerships with state universities and
5 colleges (SUCs) to improve quality of IT education and the use of ICT in education in education
in the country, particularly outside of Metro Manila.
Digital Media Arts Program which builds digital media skills for government using Open
Source technologies. Particular beneficiary agencies include the Philippine Information Agency
6 and the other government media organizations, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National
Commission for Culture and Arts and other government art agencies, State Universities and
Colleges and local government units.
ICT skills strategic plan which develops an interagency approach identifying strategic and
7 policy and program recommendations to address ICT skills demand-supply type.
All the seven programs were guided by the roadmap that embeds policy statements that relate
to education specifically in the enhancement of human development for teaching and learning.

Some Issues on ICT and Internet Policy and Regulations

Global Issues
Access and Civil liberties are two sets of issues in ICT Policy which are crucial to the modern
society. The other concern is civil liberties which refer to human rights and freedom. These include
freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the right to communicate and intellectual property rights.
Access to the Use of Internet and ICT. Access means the possibility for everyone to use the
internet and other media. In richer countries, basic access to internet is almost available to all with
faster broadband connections. There are still countries where access to internet is still a challenge.
Infringement to Civil Liberties or Human Rights. What are specific internet issues on internet
policy that have relationship to civil liberties or human rights let’s student the examples that follow.
Issue No. 1: Freedom of Expression and Censorship
Issue No. 2: Privacy and Security
Issue No. 3: Surveillance and Data Retention
Issue No. 4: E-pollutants from E-waste
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Implications to Teaching and learning
How do the policy guidelines, projects and issues relate to the teaching and
learning?

There are great implications of this lesson to both the teachers who are teaching
and the learners who are learning. A few of those are as follows:

For the Teachers and Teaching

1. Guide the teachers on what they should teach that relate to CIT, and how to teach
it. Since ICT development comes so rapid and fast, teachers might be
overwhelmed by its rapid speed. Temperance in its use is a caution that should
be looked at.
2. Technology should never replace any human teacher. The tools are support
instructional materials for the teachers which are available for use. The teacher
should learn how to appropriately use them. The human touch of the teacher is
still a vital component in teaching. Teachers should always be reminded that
there are always limitations in the use of the different gadget and tools.
3. There are rules and regulations that govern the use of technology. Caution should
be observed to protect individual privacy. As teachers, you must be aware that
the use of technology may jeopardize your privacy and security.
4. All the issues and many more
shall be part of the teaching
content as each teacher will
be encouraged to use
technology in teaching.

For the Learners and Learning

The learners of the 21st Century
are even more advanced than some of
the teachers. However, learners still
need guidance on how to use, regulate
technology use. As there are positive
and negative effects of technology use,
learners should know the difference.
Learners should not only know the
benefits of technology use, but they
should also know how they can be
protected from the hazards that
technology brings to their lives.
Learners should take advantage
of the potential of learning support they can derive such as the development of higher order
thinking skills, the development of learning communities through collaboration, the
enhancement of skills to manage the vast resources as 21st century learners and many
more.
Both the teachers and learners should be mindful of the e-waste that are being
thrown away to the land and to the atmosphere. Thus, safety in the use of technology shall
be presented in the next lesson.

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Activity 1: Online Forum

“What I know, you may not know. But what you know,
I may not know either. So let us share what both know
and experience”

Subject Matter: ICT and Internet Policy and Regulations

Panel Speakers: Four speakers (One speaker for each topic)
A. Freedom of Expression and Censorship (__________________)
B. Privacy Security (___________________)
C. Surveillance and Data Retention (___________________)
D. E-pollutants from e-waste (___________________)

Procedure:
1. An introduction of this activity and the topic will be given by the
moderator. The moderator will introduce the participants and the
facilitators of the forum.
2. Each speaker, after choosing a number (pre-selected), delivers a report on
the topic chosen for 3 to 5 minutes. A time keeper is assigned to take
watch of the time per speaker.
3. After all the 4 speakers have spoken, the moderator may ask each speaker
a common question which any one of the four speakers will start
answering.
4. After their speakers have answered, the audience on the online can ask or
clarify their topics. Two persons are assigned to receive questions through
text messages or messenger. These questions will be given an opportunity
to be answered by any member of the panel.
5. The four speakers will give their concluding statements. (2 to 3 sentences
only)
6. The moderator will wrap up the forum and ends it.
7. The forum may last for 40 minutes.
8. The forum will be recorded. It is important for the speakers, moderator,
facilitators and the audience to speak clearly before the camera.

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Activity 2: Safety Issues on the Use of ICT including e-safety rules
1. Below are common examples of incidents involving risks and safety issues in
the use of ICT:
• Exposure to inappropriate content, including online pornography,
extremism (exposure to violence associated with racist language);
• Lifestyle websites like self-harms and suicide sites, and hate sites;
• Cyber-bullying in all forms, receiving sexually explicit images or
messages;
• Privacy issues including disclosure of personal information;
• Health and wellbeing (amount of time spent online, internet gaming and
many more);
• Prolonged exposure to online technologies, particularly at an early age;
• Addiction to gambling and gaming;
• Theft and fraud from activities such as phishing;
• Vulnerability to Viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malware; and
• Social pressure to maintain online networks via texting and social
networking sites.
2. There are many other minor issues in schools which are not included in the
list. Select one issue from the list or other minor issues not mentioned which
you can relate to or having personal experience with. Research on articles,
news and blogs about it. Enrich your knowledge about this issue by taking
down notes of incidents or sample cases, list of policies or laws violated,
statistics (frequency) and sources.
3. Look for a movie that depicts the issue chosen. Review the movie plot and
analyze the real events and the movie depiction of the issue. You may use the
following questions to guide you in analyzing the depiction of the issue in the
chosen movie:
a. What was the ICT/technology risk depicted in the movie?
b. Who were the violators and victims?
c. What kind of damage was done to the victims?
d. What laws (or school policies) were violated by the perpetrators in the
movie?
e. Was there a resolution to the problem in the movie? How was the issue
resolved?
4. You may discuss your thoughts with your classmates or tech leaders to get
another point of view regarding the issue.

5. ONLINE REFLECTIVE STATEMENT entry: How will you protect yourself

from the use of ICT/technology?

From the movie, capture a scene (not more than 60 seconds) using an app or
the VLC record button. Upload it on your group’s Google Site and label it
with the following:
Safety Issue: ________
Movie clip: _________(title)
“Your answer to item number 5.”

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