TRENDS, NETWORKS AND CRITICAL THINKING OF THE

21ST CENTURY – Final Exam

Information and Communications Technology

ICT (Technopedia)

 Refers to all the technology used to handle telecommunications, broadcast media,

intelligent building management systems, audio visual processing and transmission
systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions.
 It covers wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, and other media for
communications technology is similar to information technology (IT), although the
former gives more emphasis on communication technologies while the latter is
limited to computers

FUNCTIONS OF ICT
 The functions of ICT differ depending on the environment, area, or field it is being utilized and on the
mandate given by the user.

 Technical function includes the provision of trainings, seminars, and workshops on how to use the
technology and providing the basic technological or technical needs of the user.

 Infrastructure function covers networks, devices, and other related equipment and setups such as for
withdrawing cash from an ATM.

 ICT functions to facilitate empowerment when it is mandated by an institution to be actively engaged in

realizing its mission, in enhancing productivity, in improving its communication system, and in
strengthening and broadening its linkage structures.

Uses of ICT in learning, management, and communication:

1. Learning – the school should consider learning about ICT as a subject and learning with ICT, which is
applying the entire range of ICT tools in support of learning.

- Learning with ICT covers key areas such as research, modelling and simulation, online courses and
revision units, communication, publishing, and collaboration.

2. Management – this refers to the Management Information System (MIS) which takes care of report
writing, home – school links, attendance, examination entries and target setting.

- MIS also includes storing electronically and making them available to teachers.

3. Communication – this is about projecting the right image of the school through its Website, which
provides the public an idea about the school.

Benefits of ICT

 ICT has benefitted human life in all dimensions. Alongside the benefits and advantages of ICT are
problems and disadvantage. Nevertheless, the benefits of ICT far outweigh the drawbacks. Similar with
functions, the benefits of ICT vary according to the area or field of study.

 Internet- learning becomes more enjoyable and teaching becomes more interactive compared to using
the old methods. Ex. ATM, Online-shopping, Zalora, Lazada, Amazon,eBay etc.

 ICT in education include the smart whiteboard for visual illustration, computers, laptops, tablets etc.

 Distance education (DE) – was pioneered by the University of London through its International
Programmes in1858 which offered distance learning degrees. It allows flexible place and time that suit
 the student’s availability. Student can apply for undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate programs. It can
help the student keep the right balance in work life, and study. In the Philippines, the leading
proponents of DE are the UP Open University and PUP.

 It facilitates the dissemination of news and information to a global audience with various tastes,
preferences, and beliefs.

 On the whole, the benefits of ICT have brought about increased improvement in the quality of lives to
the advancements of the last decades.

Identifying a System’s Weakest Link through Strategic and Intuitive Thinking

 Weakest link
 Refers to the part that is likely to fail, to cause a problem or to easily break. As it is the most
vulnerable part of a system, it is the easy point for attackers.
 It can be a part of a software system, an infrastructure, an application, or the people-
administrators, technical support, and users who easily succumb to social engineering.

Social Engineering

 “the science of getting people to comply with your wishes and concentrates on the
weakest link of the security chain”(D. Scheweitzer, 2003)
 The use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal
information that may be used for fraudulent purposes.

 It is the trusting nature of people which makes them one of the weakest links.

ICT as Facilitator of Social relation and Political Movements

 ICT has effects in social relations and political movements, too, by facilitating collective actions, among
peoples and groups who do not even know each other but are united by common interests and
concerns.

 ICT has emboldened the marginalized and “voiceless” groups to come out and be heard.

 SMO- social movement organizations

 CoIN- collaborative innovation network

- refers to a highly motivated group with a collective vision and is aided by the Web in attaining a
common goal through fast and work exchanges.

Disadvantages of ICT

 Complexity of the ICT architecture

 It prevents or minimizes person-to-person contact.
 The correct feeling and attitude cannot be fully appreciated.
 “Technology fever “ the tendency to keep updating ICT gadgets and being “up-to-
date”

Exploring Connections, Relationship, and Networks

 Connection- refers to something that joins two or more objects or individuals. It also shows a situation
wherein two or more objects or individuals have a similar cause, goal, or origin.

 Relationship- refers to the state or condition of being connected; the way in which two or more
individuals or groups regard and behave toward one another; the manner by which two o more people,
associations, or countries deal with each.
 Is establishing relationships an important component of your life?

 What makes a good friendship? Quality matters in a

relationship.
 Is good relationship with people important to achieve success?
Sincerity, depth, and mutual
What matters when controversies and problems occur in a relationship?
understanding underlie a good
What do you think are the right virtues to sustain a relationship? relationship.

What do you think is the most important type of relationship?

Neural Network

Nervous system – it is the decision and communication center of the body.

 Two main functions: receiving and transmitting information from the internal or external
source to the brain; and relaying or sending back the information from the brain to
appropriate body part that will perform the appropriate action.

Central Nervous System (CNS)- Brain and the spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - nerves

 The Neural Network or the human brain is the human computer responsible for controlling the
automatic and higher functions of the body.

 It is composed of groups of neurons which are highly specialized cells and billions of connecting links
between their branches.

 It also contains the nerve tracts which are like cables that receive, store, and transmit messages to the
various parts of the body in a coordinated manner.

The Three Main Parts of the Brain

 Neural Network and Social Network

NN SN

Links Nerve cells people

Purpose To keep proper physical and To maintain kinship ties to show

mental functioning of the body common interests

To keep the body alive

Location Human head Community

Source of Message Brain Person

Receiver of message Specific part of the body Individual members

Transmission of message Neuron connections Verbal and nonverbal

Use of technology

Time frame of transmission Within seconds; fast speed Varying speed

and reception of message

Reaction or feedback of the Normally an action specific or Varied reactions

receiver appropriate to the body part

Boundary Human body Group, association, club

 Social Network – refers to an arrangement having a set of actors such as individuals or organizations
and a set of dyadic ties (relationship between two individuals)among these actors.

 It is a social structure composed of nodes, generally individuals or organizations, that are linked by
common ancestry such as kinship ties or by mutually shared interests such as neighborhood association,
friendship clubs, and writer’s guild.

 Social network deals with whom people know, who are attending events and gatherings together, and
who influences whom.

The Self and the Social Network

 Self- the representation of one’s identity which distinguishes him or her from other identities. It is one’s
character and nature, a complete individuality. It is perceived to be the subject of experience , the
source of consciousness, and is responsible for thinking and acting processes of an individual.

 “an individual’s ability to reflect on the way that he/she is perceived by other” – George Herbert Mead
(1934)

The Three mains parts which maintain the self’s function - Social Psychology and
Human Nature Book

1. Self-Knowledge (or self- concept) enables people to learn about themselves based on collected
information and beliefs about themselves. There are four ways by which people do this:
 1. the looking – glass self- where you learn about yourself through other people such as
when you hear what other people say about you;

2. introspection - which is gaining knowledge about yourself through your inner emotions
and thinking such as knowing what you feel although you cannot explain why;

3. social comparison which involves comparing yourself with other people who may be
better or worse than you;

4. Self –perception in which your belief about yourself is based on your behavior such as
when you think you are generous because you enjoy sharing what you have with
others.

Self – esteem – refers to how you evaluate yourself positively or negatively based on the reactions you receive
from other people; how you compare yourself with others; how you perceive your social roles (whether
high or low in importance); and how you recognize yourself which includes your name, family, and kin,
nationality, education, and other personal details.

Self – awareness – consists of looking inward, involving your emotions, beliefs, feelings and thoughts on the
one hand and knowing yourself through other people’s perception about you.

Self – deception – covers “mental tricks of a person’s mind that hide the truth and constitute false beliefs.”

The Three mains parts which maintain the self’s function- Social Psychology and Human Nature Book

2. Interpersonal self (or public self) is your social side which you present publicly as in school, the workplace,
in an organization, or a community.

3. Agent self (or executive function)is how you make preferences and use your control over situations and
actions. The agent self takes over in situations that need decision- making, self – control, taking charge
of situations, and active response.

The Symbolic Interaction Theory

- explains how the sense of self emerges through people’s interactions with one another in the various
social networks they belong to.

Symbolic interaction – was coined by sociologist Herbert Blumer (1962). It promotes the perspective
that “people act toward things based on the meaning those things have for them, and these meanings
are derived from social interaction and modified through interpretation. It claims that people do not
merely react to each other’s actions; rather, they interpret or define one another’s actions.

The Symbolic Interaction Theory

It emphasizes the idea that the sense of self is constructed by these two methods:

1. The self as a product of social structures and their interaction – the social structure provides a set of
rules, standards, values, code of ethics, beliefs, roles, and other guidelines that the individual has to
observe and follow. Failure to observe these makes the person appear different and consequently be
treated as a Deviant (one who goes against the general rules and expected conduct of society). A deviant
who relapses to an undesirable behavior after being subjected to sanctions is called Recidivist.

2. The self as a product of face-to-face interaction with others – personal or face-to-face interaction
with others enables a person to apply the looking-glass self. Face-to-face interaction likewise gives a
person the opportunity to develop self-esteem by knowing what others think or know about him or her.

Shaping the Mind through Social Relationships

 A person is a social actor that possesses physical, spiritual, and mental faculties which are utilized in
dealing with the self, other people, and the surroundings. It is the mind that dictates and gives
 instructions to the physical spiritual faculties. A healthy mind is unconstrained by physical disabilities
and thus could relate well with society when the person chooses to.

 Socialization – the process of shaping and influencing the mind and behavior of a person by way of
orientation to the norms and values of society.

 Socialization shapes and guides the mind and behavior of a person according to his or her family’s and
society’s norms.

Students: Wearing Varying Hats in the Community

 Students are among those who can perform a variety of roles or wear different hats in the
community.
 In the FAMILY….
 Outside of the home…
 In politics…
 In education…
Hierarchy of Roles in the Community by Adam Kmiec (2013)

1. The HOST is someone who entertains the guests. Most of all, host is someone that everyone knows
and can trust.

Example: Mayor, School Principal, Brgy. Chairman, Administrator

2. The Facilitator is confused for the host as he or she wants everybody to enjoy the occasion. He or she
is focused on carrying out enjoyable and pleasant conversation with the guests, encouraging people to
meet and mingle with one another and introducing guests to each other.Example: Editor, broadcaster,
and newscaster

3. The Popular one is self-centered but has the ability to make people gravitate toward him or her and
to attract people’s attention. The most important person in the community.

Example: Top Community leaders, entertainers, big business people, show business talents, political
kingmakers

4. The Instigator makes community life more interesting by airing criticisms, writing negative comments,
and starting controversies. They serve as the devil’s advocate mostly for entertainment.

Example: opinion writers, critics, and columnists

5. The Voyeur lends support to the host through his or her mere physical presence. The voyeur has no
active participation in the event but his or her presence matters much.

Example: Community folks, followers, supporters, the public

 This means that an individual plays variegated roles and performs different functions as called by the
situation and his or her position.

Ranking the Roles

 The various roles are ranked in the order of prestige, value, and importance accorded by the
community.

 Prestige is the respect and admiration that an occupation or role holds in a community.

 The role or the position itself commands respect and admiration regardless of the occupant or
player.

 A role is most likely associated with a person’s status, occupation, profession, or career. You will
be identified if you belong to highest rank or Lower rank.
 This module is about social connections and relationships characterizing a social network. You are part of
a group or community where people are interrelated and interconnected. That actions and behaviors of
people are associated with meanings which the actors interpret in a wat that both of them can
understand.

 The mind is part of the person's self, is shaped and influenced by the relationships that person has with
other people. Your thinking is affected by ideas, beliefs, advices, and actions of your parents, teachers,
friends, and relatives. You gather all these external inputs, process them in your brain, and come up with
your action, response, or decision.

 All of you are wearing hats or roles associated with your position and involvement in different
communities. Performance tasks expected from your roles affect how you perceive yourself and how
other people perceive and treat you.

God Bless!