K-12 Curriculum & Technology Integration

Learning Plans in the Context of the 21st Century

• The K to 12 Curriculum, with improvements from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), incorporates technology into teaching across different specialized subjects.

Strengthening Early Childhood Education (Universal Kindergarten)

• The Department of Education's Universal Kindergarten program aims to provide early childhood education to all Filipino children via technology tools.
• Focus is placed on integrating technology, like games, songs, and dances in the Mother Tongue to teach foundational concepts.
• Key actions involve equipping schools with tablets and interactive whiteboards and training teachers to use multimedia tools.
• The goal is to encourage creation of digital content in the Mother Tongue.
• Utilized are interactive games, digital storytelling apps, and songs/dances with educational content.

Making the Curriculum Relevant to Learners (Contextualization and Enhancement)

• Research indicates learners appreciate curriculum that relates to their lives and answers their questions regarding relevance.
• Sara Bernard emphasizes students' need to establish a personal connection with learning material.
• Teachers can use suspense, clues and surprises by using fun rhymes or rearranging classrooms to create interactive environments.
• Emotionally engaging students will help them grasp lesson objectives more effectively.
• By letting students choose assignments or create their own, this allows ownership and expression of strengths.
• Brainstorming with students about what they know and want to learn helps set educational objectives and identify effective starting points.
• By connecting lessons to everyday experiences and existing knowledge makes the content more relevant.
• Highlighting the importance of the content for students' future objectives helps students see the value in learning.
• Addressing "How does this relate to me?" helps students establish connections with teachers, creating a supportive atmosphere.

Building Proficiency (Mother-tongue Based Multilingual Education)

• It's recommended to leverage technological tools to promote a child's primary language as the medium of instruction.
• Develop digital and print materials in the Mother Tongue and incorporate local dialects into teaching to improve academic performance and cultural pride.
• Bilingual storybooks, classroom apps with games, and small group activities enhance proficiency in both subjects and language.
• Ensures learners maintain their ethnic identity, culture, heritage, and values and allows them to learn more effectively and acquire a second language faster.

Ensuring Integrated and Seamless Learning (Spiral Progression)

• Integration of Technological knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and content knowledge reinforce retention of subjects/skills.
• Revisting and expanding should be done as students advance through grade levels aligned with cognitive and developmental abilities.
• Integrating technology, structuring lessons to build on previous knowledge and continuously assessing student progress.
• This includes using math apps that help students progress to more complex operations and science returning to foundational concepts.

Gearing Up for the Future

• Harmonizing core and applied courses guarantees college readiness.
• There should be an emphasis on crafting Specialization Subjects tailored to the Academic, Sports, Arts and Design, and Technical Vocational Livelihood Tracks.
• Aligning core courses with industry standards and developing specialized courses within the K to 12 tracks prepares students for career paths.
• There should be more internships, apprenticeships, and other career readiness opportunities. Examples are careeer oriented workshops and online learning platforms.

Nurturing the Holistically Developed Filipino (College and Livelihood Readiness, 21st Century Skills)

• The K to 12 program aims to prepare every graduate for higher education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
• This involves incorporating 21st-century skills, using technology, and offering workshops on soft skills.
• Students can collaborate with group projects, and create digital portfolios, social media, and blogging activities enhance their skills.

ICT Pedagogy Integration in Elementary Learning Plans

• Teachers must incorporate educational technologies to address learning challenges which rooted in principles and philosophies.
• Technology should support individualized learning, encourage active participation, ensure equitable access, and foster communication. The use of technology should be driven by pedagogical strategies and facilitate assessment.
• Digital literacy, data privacy, and responsible use of technology should be emphasized.
• Adoption if educational technology should be scalable and sustainable.

Philosophies Underpinning Educational Technology

• Constructivism: Learners actively construct knowledge through experience.
• Behaviorism: Learning is shaped by reinforcement and practice.
• Cognitivism: Focuses on mental processes like memory and problem solving.
• Connectivism: Learning occurs through networks and digital interactions.
• Humanism: Prioritizes personal growth, self-motivation, and emotional well-being.
• Social Constructivism: Learning is a social process.
• Transformative Learning Theory: Technology should encourage critical thinking.

Department of Education (DepEd) Orders

• DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2023: Aims to equip schools with the approproate technologies.
• DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2016: Encourages teachers to integrate ICT. Integration of Information and Communication Technology goes beyond acquiring technical skills and focuses on arranging the classroom for seamless ICT incorporation.
• Bernard Bahati: integration that involves both pedagogical and technological aspects.
• Margaret Lloyd: integration is a fundamental aspect of curriculum reforms. Technology should integrate easily, and students should be able to use it independently and blend well into the classroom.
• Qiyun Wang and Huay Lit Woo: ICT is a field that has garnered attention from educators.
• John Pisapia: integrating technology involves utilizing learning technologies to introduce, reinforce, and expand upon skills. The above should be incorporated meaningfully, be driven by pedagogical principles, and made to be seamless.

ICT Pedagogical Principles

• Support active learning where students construct knowledge and empower students to take control.
• Facilitate teamwork, encourage inquiry, cater to diverse learning styles, and support continuous assessment.
• Examples are using online research tools, adaptive learning platforms, Google Docs, Kahoot!, virtual internships, and media literacy analysis.
• There should be a system, constructivist learning, practical application, digital literacy to promote responsibily and safety.

Approaches to Integrating Technology into the Curriculum

• Can encompass computer science courses, computer-assisted instruction, matching software with skill competencies, and keyboarding.
• For STEM-focused schools, Computer Science Courses provide essential coding and computational skills.
• The computer tools should provide a visual and interactive experience, adapt to users' skill level, and give feedback.

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

• Computer-Assisted Instruction helps young learners grasp concepts through visual and interactive experiences.
• Khan Academy Kids, Prodigy Math Game, and SplashLearn adaptive math practice core numeracy skills in a fun, engaging way.

Keyboarding & Word Processing

• Encourages math communication through written reflections and helping students explain their steps, improving both literacy and numeracy.
• Google Docs + Voice Typing students share how they solved a problem.
• Microsoft OneNote or Jamboard are great to use for interactive math journals where students reflect on their learning.

Coding & Computational Thinking

• Builds logical reasoning, sequencing, and pattern recognition
• Tools like Scratch Jr., Blockly Games and Code.org Math Lessons strengthen numeracy through hands-on computational thinking.

Information and Communication Technology

• Defined by Moursund (2005) as computer hardware, software, and telecommunications facilities.
• Described by Tinio (2009) as versatile technological tools and resources utilized for content creation, distribution, and information storage.
• Identified by UNESCO (2020) as tools and resources employed for creation, sharing, and exchange of information.
• Seen by Ratheeswari (2018) as exerting a profound influence on virtually every facet of human life.

Using ICT Integration Frameworks

• The frameworks can serve to integate ICT into learning or lesson plans.
• Conversational Framework of Laurillard (2002): should provide acquistion, discovery, dialogue practice and creation.
• This framework helps ensures a well rounded educational experience.
• Three Fundamental Elements of ICT Integration by Wang (2008): Involves pedagogy, social interaction, and technology.
• Social interactions can extend beyond the classroom, connecting teachers and learners across the globe via computer-mediated communication.

UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers

• Helps promote educational reform, sustainable economic development, and align with global initiatives.
• By building a Skilled Workforce, Promoting Knowledge and Resourcefulness, Ensuring Inclusivity, and Cultivating Cross-Cultural Understanding.
• Elementary teachers are able to reshape their lessons and are encouraged to make socially engaging classrooms.