ICT Policies and Issues

• Globalization and ICT are fundamental, leading to a networked society with opportunities for collaboration
• Policies in ICT use are imperative to address inclusion, access, and marginalization.
• The Department of Information, Communication, and Technology (DICT) states: "The future has arrived. Now we have to ensure that we have a place in it."

ICT Policies and Issues

• Enhancing ICT use requires formulating and implementing guiding policies.
• The Oxford English Dictionary defines "policy" as "a course of action, adopted and pursued by a government, party, ruler, statesman."
• The operational definition of policy is a plan of action to guide decisions and achieve outcomes.
• ICT Policies help guide actions involving ICT by governments, organizations, and entities.
• ICT policies include principles and guidelines covering telecommunications, broadcasting, and the Internet.

New ICT Technologies

• Recent technological innovations have increased communication reach and speed.
• Information Technology includes the use of computers for data processing, requiring computer hardware, software, peripherals, and computer literacy.
• Telecommunication technologies include telephones and broadcasting via satellites.
• Networking technologies include the Internet, mobile phone technology, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), and satellite communications.
• Networking also includes mobile telephone, cable, DSL, satellite, and broadband connectivity.

DICT Roadmap

• The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) has a roadmap to guide agencies in ICT utilization and regulation.
• ICT roadmap aims to enhance ICT use, statements and guidelines.
• The ICT for Education (ICT4E) program supports education sector efforts in incorporating ICT use and infrastructure access.

Policy-Recommended ICT4E Programs

• ICT in Education Masterplan for all levels.
• Content and application development through the Open Content in Education Initiative (OCEI).
• PheDNET hosts educational materials and applications for Filipino students and teachers, accessible in public high schools.
• Established Community eLearning Centers (eSkwela) provides ICT-enhanced alternative education for out-of-school youth (OSY).
• eQuality Program improves IT education quality in tertiary education via partnerships with state universities and colleges (SUCs).
• Digital Media Arts Program builds digital media skills for government using Open Source technologies.
• ICT skills strategic plan develops an inter-agency approach to address ICT skills demand.
• All programs are guided by a roadmap embedding education-related policy statements for teaching and learning enhancement.

Issues on ICT and Internet Policy and Regulations

• Access and Civil Liberties are crucial issues, including freedom of expression, privacy, communication, and intellectual property rights.
• Basic access to the internet and other media.
• Infringement to Civil Liberties or Human Rights that relate to civil liberties or human rights have to be studied.
• Under international human rights conventions, free expression is guaranteed.

Freedom of Expression and Censorship

• Individual rights are given up to access electronic networks e.g. Microsoft contract that allows termination of access to MSN sites.
• Censorship restricts information transmission by blocking or filtering.
• Blocking prevents access to areas of the Internet and filtering sifts packets of data.
• Defamation actions may be used to silence critics, which deters freedom of expression.

Privacy and Security

• Privacy policies are an issue on commercial sites; clicking "I agree" can release private information.
• Privacy refers to personal privacy, protecting against interference with home and personal life.
• Privacy of communication protects against interference.
• Information privacy is related to processing data and ensuring its use is limited to its original purpose.

Surveillance and Data Retention

• Electronic communications leads to indirect surveillance, dataveillance.
• Dataveillance is the use of personal information to monitor a person's activities.
• Data retention is the storage and use of information from communication systems.
• "Counter surveillance" or "information security" is done to make surveillance difficult in computers and electronic communication.

E-pollutants from E-waste

• Large amounts of e-waste is generated by ICT, like computers, laptops, broadcasting equipment, phones, and peripherals.
• E-waste accumulates due to rapid turnover of equipment.
• Toxic material waste requires management.
• E-waste quantities are increasing in developed and developing countries.
• Industrial countries often ship e-waste to developing countries.
• Standardization and regulatory measures can increase equipment life cycles.
• Efficient extraction of toxic components and recycling must be required.
• Uncontrolled e-waste affects climate change, damages human lives, and overloads the earth.

Implications to Teaching and Learning

• Teachers and learners should understand policy guidelines and projects related to teaching and learning, as well as the issues.

For the Teachers and Teaching

• ICT relates to technology and teaching.
• Teachers must be guided on what to teach and how to teach it,.
• Teachers must be careful with rapid ICT development and use technology appropriately.
• Technology should support teachers, not replace them, and human teacher touch is vital.
• Teachers should be aware of rules and regulations governing technology use and individual privacy.

For the Learners and Learning

• Learners need guidance on using technology and knowing its positive and negative effects.
• Learners should understand and should be protected from technology's hazards.
• Learners can develop analytical and problem solving through working in their learning communities..
• Teachers and learners should be aware of e-waste issues, waste that should not directly be in the environment.

Risks in the Use of ICT and e-Networking

• Exposure to inappropriate content, extremism, and pornography are digital technology risks.
• Lifestyle websites like self-harm and suicide sites, and hate sites should avoided.
• Cyber-bullying, sexually explicit images or messages are a danger.
• Personal information and privacy are safety issues that must be protected.
• Health and well-being need considered, including time spent online, gaming, and more.
• Prolonged exposure to online technologies, particularly at an early age, is dangerous.
• Addiction to gambling and gaming has negative impact.
• Theft and fraud from activities such as phishing is a risk.
• Viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malware are dangerous.
• Social pressure to maintain online networks via texting and social networking sites.

Minor Misuse of ICT

• Copying information with plagiarism, downloading irrelevant materials, and subject login misconduct.
• Leaving a mobile phone turned on during class, unauthorized mobile device images.

E-safety

• E-safety covers internet, mobile phones, game consoles, and wireless technology.
• It highlights the need to educate about IT benefits, risks and use.
• E-safety helps safeguard children and young people in the digital world.
• E-safety emphasizes learning and understanding new technologies positively.
• E-safety educates children about risks and benefits to build confidence online.
• E-safety supports safer online behaviors for learners and adults.

Network Management: Safety in the Use of Network in Schools

• Clear protocol that makes sure no one should log on as other user.
• Require to always log off when finished.
• Maintain equipment to ensure health and safety.
• Provide students access to content and resources through guided e-learning.
• Set up a clear disaster recovery system in place for critical data with secure, remote backups.
• Secure wireless network to appropriate standards for educational use.
• Install all computer equipment according to standards and in a professional manner.
• Professional instillation meets health and safety standards.
• Review regularly that ICT system should always care for health and safety of people.

Password Policy

• Only authorized users will have individual passwords.
• Users are not permitted to disclose their passwords unless they got permission from the owner or from the management.
• The equipment that keeps the personal information shall be locked when unattended to prevent unauthorized access.
• Computers should be set to a time out if they become unused for a certain period of time.

Personal Mobile Phones and Mobile Devices

• All mobile phones shall be kept away in a box away from the children or learners and access is only allowed at breaktime or at the end of classes or when needed during the class period.

Cameras

• Taking pictures only from parents or caregivers and not from any other family member or friend while the child attends class.
• Any picture taken on cameras solely for the purpose.

Setting Up an Educational Technology Room

• Tiltable tables should be provided for adjustment, along with anti-glare screen filters and adjustable chairs .
• Foot support should be provided.
• Lighting should be suitable and the workstation is not cramped.
• Students must take frequent breaks while working at the computer.
• No trailing wires, electrical sockets should not be overloaded, and electrical equipment must be safety-tested annually.
• There should be adequate desk space, obstacles should be stored, and no food or drinks near machines.
• There should be heating, ventilation, fire extinguishers, and marked fire exits.