abstract

Crossing the Digital Divide in Gainza National High School through the Community of Practice (CoP)

By: Jim B. Guarnes and Susan S. Collano

Gainza National High School

Gainza, Camarines Sur

Region V

This paper describes the impact of fostering external stakeholders’ participation in promoting and supporting efforts of the school in the optimum use of ICT. It draws strength upon the main advocacy of establishing partnership with a nearby university to complement and supplement the inadequacies of teachers in terms of functional knowledge and skills in introducing ICT-based learning activities particularly the use of internet among fourth year high school students.

It highlights the engagement of Physical Therapy students of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga City as BIG BUDDIES in the ICT program of the school through the E-Sci Wired for Learning project .

E-Sci Wired for Learning is an innovative project that is anchored on the flagship program of the school dubbed as Learning Management Program (LMP). It is a continuing project that aims to promote computer literacy among students thereby improving their study skills and academic performance as outlined in the School Improvement Plan (SIP). It then incorporates the positive effects of the intervention experienced in the previous year as recommended by SIP review and monitoring team.

The experience described in this paper focuses on the peer tutorial scheme as a mechanism used to actualize partnership and hands-on online learning. This is anchored on the concept of the Community of Practice as espoused by Peter and Trudy Johnson-Lenz and the principle of the learning organization as defined by Senge, 1990.

The previous year’s experience revealed that: First, the lack of technical knowledge of teachers in introducing ICT-based learning activities could be complemented by partnering with external stakeholders; second, students who are guided and aided on exploring the web could do well in enhancing their study skill and strengthen their understanding of Science concepts, processes and trends and development in Science studies; third, the lack of computers in the school and the absence of internet connection are not obstacles to exploring the information highway; finally, organizing students’ Communities of Practice between and among high school and college students is a useful and effective strategy in crossing the digital divide in the school.

This paper concludes with the recommendation of extending the Communities of Practice (CoPs) to other year level students to produce more encouraging results.

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Proponents:

JIM B. GUARNES

Science Teacher

USI Professor

09287358988

Email: jimguarnes@yahoo.com

SUSAN S. COLLANO

Principal

09168530986

Landline: (054) 4755465

Email: sanncollano@yahoo.com

Gainza National High School

Gainza, Camarines Sur

Region V