Radio, ‘older’ tech remain relevant in ICT for education

Unless universal broadband Internet access becomes available to all Filipinos, traditional technologies such as radio will remain a relevant tool in the delivery of education in remote areas in the country. This was the finding of a foundation helping local communities harness information and communications technology for education and learning.

Ten years after it was established, the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (Fit-ED) has also learned that providing Internet connectivity to schools is not always the appropriate option when it comes to implementing ICT for education programs, said Victoria Tinio, executive director of Fit-ED, in an interview.

Fit-ED has been running a project dubbed "Education for All Thru Radio (EFAR)" which has proven to be an effective way of delivering science training to primary school teachers, as well as to communities in remote areas where there is no electricity.

Fit-ED launched this project August 2007 with the Department of Education and Coca-Cola Co. through broadcast networks in the country, added Liezl Formilleza-Dunuan, senior program manager at Fit-ED.

A 16-part science literacy program was developed by the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development for the project. So far, the project has reached 400 schools in 11 school divisions across the country, thanks to the power of radio.

"We really don't want to neglect the older technologies that are still available," said Tinio, as she explained that Fit-ED's philosophy revolves around the idea that any successful ICT for education programs start with an "appropriate choice."

In the case of using technology to deliver training to teachers, radio was the unbeatable choice in offering science training to teachers in remote areas in the country.

"Unless we see universal broadband access in the Philippines, or even universal power, we'll continue to use radio and other traditional technologies," Tinio said.

Tinio stressed that ICT for education programs should focus more on the "educational goals" and not just technology. Technology, she pointed out, is one of many ways to deliver educational goals. In the case of the EFAR, radio proved to be the most cost-effective means.

For years, efforts in ICT for education have been focused on providing connectivity to schools, said Tinio. While this is also necessary, Fit-ED has stopped doing this in 2002 to deal with other projects that aim to deliver more impact on improving learning and education in the country, Tinio said.

"We need to be very clear why we want to bring technology into a learning environment. Educational goals don't change. Technology is just one resource to reach this goal," she said. By Erwin Oliva - INQUIRER.net