In 21st century learning we are covered with gadgets and technologies that helps, provides and formulates informations and learnings. It is an instant and easy way to get want we need specially for our studies. But it demands literacy and skills for further benefits you can get out of it. I am belong to the Generation Y but honestly I'm not that good in terms of gadgets, it is new for me to use android phones, since being a kid up to my college I don't own one because of poverty. It is just after my college when I got my first mobile phone bought from my 2nd salary of my first job. Being a teacher that is also satuated with modern technology, my traditional style of teaching have been challenged to change its form by using Powerpoint presentations, my first school of my teaching career at AMA computer college uses tools such as installed projectors, tablets, e-book, robotics and online library and computer systemized grading reports. Because of the given situation I need to adapt and develop skills, learn more on how to use technology and new gadgets so that I can follow the trends and my students will learn from me even though they are all well oriented with this system.
Out of my everyday exposure to the media, hearing music and news at the radio, watching teledramas and sport telecast, facebook and youtube browsing and subscription, watching netflix films, anime and koreandramas with my iPad, now i can use it with my teaching carrer and produce materials out of it. I usually write for my academic content blogsite, post some commentary and educational memes with my Facebook pages, regular uploads of my videos with my Youtube channel with my little knowlege of editing skills.
Now because of the pandemic, we are obligated to use technology and media literacy in education, to perform in the learning process, being a teacher I need to be more equipped with the required knowledge and skills, and in our school we conducted training and seminar on how to use educational application and how to operate these different platforms such us google classroom and Gmeet, Zoom, Edmodo, cloud drive, google documents/forms, slido, Kahoot, renderforest and the likes. Under the statement of the CHED about the Flexible Learning in this pandemic, the higher institution resumed the operation of the class by the use of online classes, and modular modalities, the new normal sets a foundational mark of the new steps to future of educational system in the Philippines. My personal view is positive towards this new pace of the education, I can say" kaya naman pala natin", even the teachers in Generation X and Baby boomers (ages 41-54 and 55 - 73) are adapting to the new normal even though they are struggling and sometimes confuse on how to operate the gadgets and app tools, we need to continue in our learning and to open ourselves to the new system that the 21st century learning, teaching and research offers.
Based on the research in 2019 there's a million plus subscriptions in different internet websites every 60 seconds, what more in this time of pandemic where the people are under quarantine and cities are being lock-down, so the time we are spending to the internet and using technology were doubled. More total numbers of the mobile users, more numbers of the active social media users and computer addicts. Why not? we are naturally smart and adaptive to the significant changes in our life, even the kids and toddlers in our house are using gadgets, even my parents and grandparents are learning slowly by slowly to use it. With the opening of the classes of all public basic education on October 5, 2020 there will be a new modes of learning in the Philippines, students and teachers will meet virtualy, activities and home tasks will submitted via online, researches and Digital Media outputs are main requirements. It is a brand new set-up for most of us but in some points it is a good start for the Philippine system of education, we can view it as a period of training, a trial and error, and/or a big preparation for achieving globally standardized education. Were the media and information literacy are very significants here, student and teachers should develop critical thinking and life-long learning skills through engaging with media and other information providers. The eLearning creates opportunities for the learners even they are in the distant place from their schools, but because of this distance learning the supervision is limited. Less physical interaction, more on virtual communication, more on information and digital media, less on the physical books. Success of learning in the 21st century will depends on the ability of ones person to adapt and adjust to what the system offers. But because of unethical use of technology and digital media it creates addictions, cyber bullying, unhealthy lifestyles, plagiarism, pornography, and elicit Cyber crimes. This kind of disadvantages should be the limitations of the use if technology and media. And we should not tolerate this kind of staff because it will affect our nation progress. The user of the digital media should realized the importance of it in our life, should use it properly and intellectually with proper caution.