PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT

We, the ICT Coordinators and the prime movers of ICT of Agusan del Sur, take this pledge to
commit ourselves, with utmost sincerity, to:

 Support the Department of Education to attain its objective to raise ICT literacy of
learners, teachers, and school heads so that there will be no educators left behind
 Integrate and use ICT to enhance content that will mold our students into 21st century
thinkers
 Create a learner-centered classroom where students are given the chance to express
themselves digitally and creatively using ICT tools
 Serve as models in the innovation among other teachers in the division
 Facilitate, coach and guide students and teachers through ICT integration in the
teaching-learning process to better prepare them for the professional world
 Collaborate, innovate and connect to the digital world so that our students foster
creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
 Advocate for the use of new technologies, new discoveries to engage students and
excite learners to create new learning opportunities

Hindrances may come to arise during the implementation but we keep our passion burning and
further pledge to share our expertise and inspire our colleagues to believe in ourselves to be
able to make a difference. So help us God.
Thank you very much.

My respect to our Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Minerva T. Albis, our dynamic Division
ICT Coordinator, Sir Nino Ree Jayme, Co-participants, good afternoon.

It's a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to represent the ICT Coordinators
in the response to the challenge.

Research studies indeed have brought forward the fact that the use of ICT as well as other
teaching strategies have enabled students to move to higher-order thinking (Jonassen & Carr,
2000). The integration of technology in schools has brought about changes to teachers' roles in
the classroom from a lecturer into a facilitator of learning. Hence, in order to be a 21 st Century
educator, training is a must for all educators so that we acquire sufficient expertise for effective
teaching. As a pedagogical tool, ICT can provide a new framework so as to improve the quality
of teaching.

As technology continue to impact on teaching and learning, expectations on teachers to exploit

and manipulate technology in the classroom also rise. Let me quote from “Educating for the
Future” by BSA in June 2004, “Integrating technology into education in a meaningful way is key
to making learning relevant to the generation of young learners for whom technology is an
important part of their daily lives.” Thus, it is the high time for us to be also at the trend to suit to
the needs of 21st century learners. Let us embrace the challenge to help each other to integrate
the new standards in education that will mold our students into 21st century thinkers to prepare
them for the digital age. As educators of today, we have to challenge ourselves not to be left
behind by the technology. Let ourselves learn new technologies in order to be at pace with our
students who are digital natives. We should not be afraid to go global, to go digital, to keep
learning for the welfare of our students. Because teachers of today should embrace change,
redefine education, and be fluent in technological tools, and be aware of global concerns.

I believe that the challenge of integration is not that difficult for us though some of us belong to
the Generation X. We are fully equipped of the knowledge and skills using the technology.
Some of us are graduates of “Intel Teach to the Future”, “Potensyal”, “No Teacher Left Behind”,
and many others.

Inspite of our willingness to implement this cause, the problem that we may encounter in the
field is the support from our superiors who are hesitant, if not afraid of this change. We are
confident to do our best if and only if:

 We are given ample support by the school heads not only in the infrastructure, but also
in the implementation
 The school heads and the supervisors do not pull us back to do the traditional means of
producing reports and other teacher-related paperworks.

I had a lot of personal struggles dealing with this kind of mentality who would pull you back to
the traditional method since this is what our Generation X superiors are used to.

As a 21st Century educator, we do not only challenge ourselves. We also challenge our
students to find solutions, find their voices, and change the world.

Despite the advancement of technology, despite the fact that the children can have
independent learning using the different forms of technology, still “computers cannot replace
teachers. But teachers who cannot use computers may be replaced by those who can.
Because, according to Craig Barrett, Intel CEO, Computers aren’t magic, teachers are.”