Digital Literacy in ALS is a Must

Jelly Ann R. Ronquillo

Alternative Learning System on its new curriculum is updated. Twenty-first-century Philippine society is replete with myriad rapidly changing information and communication technologies (ICTs). The ways people plan, develop, implement, and communicate ideas and knowledge have been transformed as computers, the internet, social media, and mobile devices have become increasingly pervasive. To adapt to these changes, Filipinos need to develop a whole new range of ICT-related skills to be effective citizens in an increasingly digital world. This Learning Strand addresses the needs of ALS learners to develop basic skills in ICT use and digital literacy. Accordingly, a new Learning Strand has been added to the ALS Curriculum focused on “Digital Literacy” for 21st-century Filipino citizens. This Learning Strand seeks to help equip ALS learners with critical knowledge, skills, and values to be able to live and work effectively as part of the digital universe.

School reports and documentations of activities are mostly done with computers which are oftentimes downloaded and uploaded to the internet via e-mail or messenger or more websites. A teacher of this period is required to have at least the basic skill in computer literacy. Newly hired teachers and those who graduated from year 2000 are already prepared to walk the new phase of the teaching profession since college where they had the subject Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) that trained them on computer literacy.

How then can the school catch-up the different reports that seemingly endless and even more difficult to accomplish and submit because of some teacher’s lack of skill in ICT? Although there are assigned ICT leaders per school the School leader may not cater to all the reports and documents passed onto them because they also have other assignments such as being a class adviser. It is then must for all teachers to learn using the computer young or old alike. Others who can’t use the computer must volunteer in attending seminars in ICT and must have the willingness to learn regardless of their age. Computer illiterate teachers whose justification is that they are old enough and are about to retire is not acceptable, though. They must recall the saying that in teaching, “Kalabaw Lang angTumantanda” Learning is always continuing and all capable of it regardless of age it’s just a matter of willingness.

Trainings in computer literacy per district must be organized and implemented to enhance teachers and have full knowledge regarding its operation which are very helpful not only for documents printing but also for instructional teaching performance of teachers. ALS department provide such kind of trainings which are most of the times free.

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The author is Teacher II-ALS Mobile Teacher at Floridablanca ES, Floridablanca East District