Lesson 3: EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

Progressive countries in Asia Pacific Region have made their own strategies to adopt technology in education.  These countries can be considered as “high-tech” countries. In the Philippines especially in the school setting, strategies are not that effective because the older ones who are in our higher offices do not even know how to manipulate a simple computer application. I remember few years ago, old licensed teachers were forced to learn basic computer uses. Imagine, that was just few years ago when this was implemented. For now, I can really say that since our teachers and the Department of Education are still working things out, our strategy to embrace technology and align with education is not yet that effective. I know, the soonest, everyone will be as good as the old learners of Computers. A part of the tactic of Department of Education to make students learn more about technology is to fund computers to public schools at a ratio of 1 is to 1. This means 1 computer for 1 school. I know this helps even a little but are we that blind? There are so many students in a public school. I have studied in a government school in my high school years and I can tell you that in one class we were like 50 to 60. So, let us say schools will be given computers. What would they do? There are thousands of students who aimed to use that one and only computer. It is not enough. What we can do is to supply computers and this time it will be one computer for one student. This will be a very great help. They will learn how to operate the computer and most especially they will be able to easily digest what they have discussed. One of the best examples that Philippines is getting into a higher technology and Filipinos are agreeing to the new inclination of machinery is our way of using cellular phones. Philippines has been the #1 texting capital in Asia for the past few years. Our texting cultures have influenced us in so many ways as well as receiving information knowledge. Texting is good in a way that we do not have to go and do an extra mile just to relate a story or to transfer any facts to the other person. It is not good in a way that people tend to use short terms which they call “text typed words” and “jejemon” until such time that they get used to it and forget the correct spelling of the word. You see, technology is not bad at all it is the usage of the people that makes it unprincipled.