COMPUTER LITERACY ANALYSIS ON GRADUATING STUDENTS IN THE

SELECTIVE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF PAMPLONA DISTRICT,

DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL, SY: 2012-2013

BASIS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF

COMPUTER TEACHING

STRATEGIES

______________________

A Thesis Proposal Presented to

Mr. Percival Tolomia

_____________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In Educ Strat 8

(Developmental Reading 1)

Bernard Dunque

John Christopher Divinagracia

Regina Gerson

Kim Cedric Pasko

 September 2012

CHAPTER I

Problem and its Scope

Introduction

With the innovations in technology, the youth today has developed the need tp follow the

trend of advancement in the society. The need to learn the basic and essential tools to be

competent in the new world. This need requires the knowledge of the most commonly used

device derived from technology, the computer. The computer is basically used by all individuals

today. It has many uses that is beneficial to all its users. It has a collection of applications or

softwares that are useful to all individuals. The most specific group of individuals that benefit a

lot from this tool of technology is the students. They use the computer for their school works,

projects, assignments and a lot more to fulfill their school requirements.

Nowadays, students are subjected to submit projects and assignments that requires the

use of computer applications. In Villaflores College, students ar requires to learn basic computer

softwares for their school requirements and research works in some particular subjects. It is

advantageous for high school graduating students to have the knowledge or the literacy in using

this basic applications and operations for their future use in pursuing their tertiary level and for

their future endeavors.

Due to this realization, the researchers seek to identify the level of literacy of the

graduating students in the selective secondary schools of Pamplona District, Division of Negros

Oriental on basic computer applications and operations. This study not only aims to identify the
level of computer literacy of the respondents, but also the effectiveness of the strategies used by

their computer subject teachers or their ICT instructors in teaching this particular subject.
10
Conceptual Framework of the Study

The following diagram shows the flow or the methods considered by the researchers in

conducting the study.

Specifically, the researchers wants to the identify the respondent’s profile in terms of

their age, gender, and the school they are presently studying. The researchers also wants to find

out the effectiveness of the strategies used by the ICT instructors and the level of literacy of the

respondents in basic computer applications and operations. To provide answers to this problems,

the researchers formulate a questionnaire to be given to the respondents of the study and

tabulates it after retrieval. The researchers will then attempt to interpret the data gathered and

formulate a conclusion that will be the basis for a recommendation as a possible solution to the

problem.
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Input
1. Profile of the respondents
1.1Age
1.2Gender
1.3School
2. Teaching Strategies
3. Computer Literacy

Process
1. Formulation of the questionnaire
2. Distribution of the questionnaire to the respondents
3. Retrieval of the questionnaire
4. Tabulation, presentation, interpretation, and analysis
of the data gathered

Output
Recommendation for the improvement of the
computer teaching strategies used by the ICT instructors.
 Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study
12
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to find out the computer literacy of the graduating students in the

selective secondary schools of Pamplona District, Division of Negros Oriental.

Specifically, this study attempts to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

1.3 School

2. Do graduating students consider computer literacy as an essential knowledge that they

may use in the future?

3. What are the strategies used by the computer subject teachers in teaching ICT?

4. What is the level of computer literacy in the selective secondary schools?

5. What is the significant relationship between the strategies used by the ICT instructors and

the level of literacy of the respondents?

Hypothesis

This was the hypothesis of the study:

There is no significant relationship between th strategies used in teaching the subject and

the level of computer literacy of the respondents.

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Significance of the Study

This study is beneficial to the following:

Teachers. Since the study tackles o computer literacy and the strategies used in teaching,

the teachers could be guided on what strategies should be used to assure the improvement of the

students knowledge in the said subject and as a guide also for other subjects that proper and

effective strategies should be used in teaching.

Students. This would be beneficial to the students to serve as reference for future

studies . this would also be beneficial to the student respondents, for them to identify the level of

literacy they have in basic computer applications and operations.

Researchers. As future educators, this study could be very helpful to them as an

example of the use of proper and effective strategies in teaching to improve and truly develop the

skills and knowledge of the students in any subject they handle.

Research Methodology

Research Desigh

This study made use of the descriptive type of research with the use of the questionnaire

as the main instrument for data collection.

Research Procedure
 The researchers gave letter request to the principals of the selected secondary schools of

Pamplona District to have permission to conduct a study. After the approval, the researchers
14
distribute questionnaire to the respondents. After retrieval of the said questionnaire, the data

gathered is tallied, tabulated, and analyzed.

Research Environment

Pamplona, once a part of Tanjay City is the setting of this study. There are seven

secondary schools in the Municipality of Pamplona, more or less three of this seven secondary

schools have computer learning facility or a computer laboratory.

These schools were selected on the basis of their accessibility to the researchers:

 Aplonario G. Arnaiz High School

 Sta. Agueda National High School

 Pamplona National High School.

Research Respondents

The research respondents are the graduating students in the three selected schools of

Pamplona District, Division of Negros Oriental as identified in the research environment.

Data Gathering Instrument

The researchers used the questionnaire as the main instrument in gathering the data for

the study.
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Statistical Treatment of the Data

The preparation of the data matrices was done using the following statistical tools:

1. Sloven’s Formula

In sampling the formula for getting the number of respondents, these formula was used:

n = N / 1 + Ne2

Where: n = is the sample size

N = is the population size

e = is the margin of error

2. Percentage

To convert the raw data into percentile score, frequency/percentage was used. The

formula is:

P = (f / N) x 100%

Where: P = percentage

f = frequency

N = number of items

100% = constant variable

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3. Weighted mean

To determine the level of computer literacy of the respondents, the weifhted mean was

used. The formula read as follows:

WX = ∑fw / N

Where: WX = is the symbol for the weighted mean

∑ = sum of

f = frequency

w = weight

N = total number of cases/respondents

4. Chi-Square

Chi-Square is used to determine the relationship between variables. The formula is:

X2 = ∑ [ (O – E)2 / E ]

Where: X2 = Chi-Square

∑ = summation

O = actual observed frequency

E = expected or ideal frequency

 17
Definition of Terms

Application. It is a program or software in the computer that perform a specific task for the

faster processing of a data or information, and it may also be used to entertain the computer

user.

Computer. It is the most useful and common device derived from the development of

technology. It is used to make tasks easier, faster, and more efficient.

Computer Laboratory. The facility in which computer learning is done. It is where ICT

instructors teach computer literacy

Computer Literacy. It is the term used to identify the knowledge of an individual on basic

operations in a computer program.

Cognitive Theory. It is a learning theory that explains human behavior by understanding the

way they think.

Demonstration. A teaching strategy where educators demonstrate to students how a thing is

done.

Hands On. A computer teaching term or strategy where the students obtain actual experience in

using the computer.

ICT. Information and Communications Technology. The abbreviation or term used to point out

computer learning or the computer subject.

ICT Instructor. An individual that teaches the basic application and operations in the computer.
 18
Lecture. A teaching strategy where the educators explain and discuss the lesson.

Literacy Assessment. A set of questions to determine the level of knowledge of an individual on

a particular topic or subject.

 2
Review of Related Literature

Computer literacy based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_literacy is defined as

the knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a range of

skills covering levels from elementary use to programming and advanced problem

solving. Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer

programs and other applications that are associated with computers. Another valuable component

of computer literacy is knowing how computers work and operate. Having basic computer skills

is a significant asset in the developed countries.

The precise definition of "computer literacy" can vary from group to group.

Generally, literate (in the realm of books) connotes one who can read any arbitrary book in their

native language[s], looking up new words as they are exposed to them. Likewise, an experienced

computer professional may consider the ability to self-teach (i.e. to learn arbitrary new programs

or tasks as they are encountered) to be central to computer literacy. In common discourse,

however, "computer literate" often connotes little more than the ability to use several very

specific applications (usually Microsoft Word, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Microsoft

Outlook) for certain very well-defined simple tasks, largely by rote. (This is analogous to a child

claiming that they "can read" because they have rote-memorized several small children's books.

Real problems can arise when such a "computer literate" person encounters a new program for

the first time, and large degrees of "hand-holding" will likely be required.) Being "literate" and

"functional" are generally taken to mean the same thing.

 The level of computer literacy one must achieve to gain an advantage over others

depends both on the society one is in and one's place in the social hierarchy. Prior to the

development of the first computers in the 1930s, the word computer referred to a person who
3
could count, calculate, and compute. The year of 2010, a mere 50 years later from its first

personal/common business use, we see the term "computer literacy" change deeply in meaning.

We have on one hand the exponential speed that technology has grown and is growing and on

the other hand we have the practical use of the personal computer in our everyday life.

Computers are not just the boxes that took up large amounts of space with an even bigger

monitor. Now we have hand devices and cell phones to assist us, in most post-1995 model year

cars, at least 10 processors can be found controlling major components of our vehicles.

Taking most common points into consideration from former forms of literacy topics, the

subject requires a formal breakdown of the core components. To evaluate or maintain a

consistently gradual rise in practical application and social productivity from any technology we

have to understand how computers benefit humanity as a whole. Starting from the local sense.

The fear of some educators today is that computer training in schools will serve only to train

data-entry clerks of the next generation, low level workers of the knowledge economy. On the

other hand, some hope that enhanced computer literacy will enable a new generation of cultural

producers to make meanings and circulate those in the public sphere. The wildfire of cultural

production associated with sites such as YouTube seems to support this notion.

Different countries have different needs for computer literate people due to their society

standards and level of technology. The world's digital divide is now an uneven one with

knowledge nodes such as India disrupting old North/South dichotomies of knowledge and

power.
 Computer literacy is considered to be a very important skill to possess while in developed

countries. Employers want their workers to have basic computer skills because their company
4
becomes ever more dependent on computers. Many companies try to use computers to help run

their company faster and cheaper.

Computers are just as common as pen and paper for writing, especially among youth.

There seems to be an inversely proportional relationship between computer literacy and

compositional literacy among first world computer users. For many applications - especially

communicating - computers are preferred over pen, paper, and typewriters because of their

ability to duplicate and retain information and ease of editing.

As personal computers become common-place and they become more powerful, the concept of

computer literacy is moving beyond basic functionality to more powerful applications under the

heading of multimedia literacy.

It is frequently assumed that as computers and Internet access are common-place in the

first world, everyone in those countries must have equal and ready access to this technology and

to skills in how to effectively use it. There is, however, a significant digital divide in even the

most technologically advanced and enabled countries, with digital haves and have-nots.

The Digital Inclusion Forum, a consortium set up through joint participation from the Wireless

Internet Institute, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and Ohio’s One Community, is just one organization

developed to address this. Their organizational mission in this is to provide a “comprehensive

resource center to inform, educate and share best practices among state and local government

leaders, industry and institutional stakeholders on identifying and implementing sustainable

market solutions to bridge the digital divide in North America.”

 Where computers are widespread, they are also a part of education. Computers are used

in schools for many applications such as writing papers or searching the Internet for information.

5
Computer skills are also a subject being specifically taught in many schools, especially from

adolescence onward - when the ability to make abstractions forms.

One problematic element of many (though not all) "computer literacy" or computer

education programs is that they may resort too heavily on rote memorization. Students may be

taught, for example, how to perform several common functions (e.g.: Open a file, Save a file,

Quit the program) in very specific ways, using one specific version of one specific program.

When a graduate of such a program encounters a competing program, or even a different version

of the same program, they may be confused or even frightened by the differences from what they

learned. This is one reason why major computer and software firms such as Apple

Computer and Microsoft consider the educational market important: The often time-limited

computer education provided in schools most often lends itself to rote memorization, creating a

sort of vendor lock-in effect whereby graduates are afraid to switch to competing computer

systems.

Graduates of computer education programs based around rote memorization may be

heard asking things such as "just tell me where to click", and may need to rely upon paper notes

for some computing tasks. (Example: A note on the monitor reading "Hit 'enter' after power up.")

Many such users may need tremendous amounts of "hand-holding" even after years or decades

of daily computer use. (This can be especially frustrating for experienced computer users, who

are accustomed to figuring out computers largely on their own.) The primary factor preventing

such functionally computer illiterate users from self-educating may simply be fear (of losing data

through doing the "wrong thing") or lack of motivation; in any case, more technically oriented
friends and relatives often find themselves pressed into service as "free tech support" for such

users.
6
In addition to classes, there are many How-to books that cover various aspects of

computer training, such as the popular 'For Dummies' series. There are also many websites that

devote themselves to this task, such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet. Such tutorials

often aim at gradually boosting readers' confidence, while teaching them how to troubleshoot

computers, fix security issues, set up networks, and use software.

On the other hand, an article on http://careerplanning.about.com/od/importantskills/a

/comp_literacy.htm written by Dawn Rosenberg McKay talks about the importance of computer

literacy. Her article pointed out “why is computer literacy necessary?”.

In most places of business, a computer is standard. In the bank they use computers to

look up your account information. They use computers in the auto repair shop to assess your car.

You can't find books in the library by looking in a card catalog — you must use a computerized

database. Doctors' offices utilize computers to store patient information. The point is this — no

matter where you find employment, there is a good chance a computer will be a basic tool you

will have to use. It is in your best interests to start off computer literate. It will help you get a job

and it will help you advance in your career. Computer literacy does not mean you need to know

how use every single piece of software you may encounter. It does not mean you need to know

how to write programs or network computers. You just need to know some basics — how to save

and open a file, how to use a word processing program, and how to send and receive email — for

starters. It means having some sort of level of comfort around computers rather than a look of

fear and a feeling of foreboding.

 7
Review on Related Studies

It is said that computer literacy is an essential aspect to the developmental of the country,

it must provide development of the members of the community. According to the study of

Endam (2003), public high schools have a ‘high impact” in terms of directing the students to

demonstrate sound ethical character which can contribute a following – (1) more schools fora

may be organized in order to train the students to discuss and ventilate issues that are multi-

dimensional in nature; and (2) students should be trained to observe and discuss important issues

that may be taken either from the television or radio broadcasts.

As to the preparedness of the teachers in teaching the particular subject, De Asis (1982)

pointed out the extent of preparedness of the public secondary schools on his study. She found

that the teacher respondents did not have ample orientation in teaching the subjects ands

recommended that seminars have to be conducted in order to improve the communication and

instructional skills of the teachers. This is in relationship to the effectiveness on teaching to

achieve literacy not only in computer but also in all other subjects.

For more positive results in the development of the students, good character must also be

displayed by the teachers. Rabor (1992) found out in his study that teachers displayed desirable

character traits which promote good learning environment for the learners. He recommended that

fairness and objectivity should be observed in the treatment of students.

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Bibliography

A. Online Sources

McKay, Dawn Rosenberg “Computer Literacy: An Important Skill”

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/importantskills/a/comp_literacy.htm

Wikipedia.org ‘Computer Literacy”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_literacy

Kumar, Sunil “The need for computer literacy skills among the teens”

http://www.chat-place.org/articles/article27179.html

B. Unpublished Materials

Endam, Nory C. “The Impact of the Public High Schools of Ayungon, Negros Oriental

In Human Resource Development, School year 2001-2002”. Villaflores College, 2003

De Asis, Marilyn A. “A study on the Extent of Preparedness of the Public Secondary Schools of

Pamplona, Divison of Negros Oriental to implement Pilipino as a Medium of instruction in

related Subject Areas during the School year 1980-1981”. Villaflores college, 1982
 Rabor, Thelma S. “Character Traits of Secondary School teachers assigned at the Central

Visayas Polytechnic College, Guihulngan Campus, Negros Oriental as perceived by their

Students during the School year 1990-1991”. Villaflores College, 1992

8
Theoretical Framework of the Study

This study anchored on the Cognitive Learning Theory that attempts to explain human

behavior by understanding the thought processes. The assumption is that humans are logical

beings that make the choices that make the most sense to them. Information processing is a

commonly used description of the mental process, comparing the human mind to a computer.

Many computer users have trouble learning and remembering information presented on a

computer screen. Based on cognitive learning theory, part of the reason for lack of retention is

hypo- thesized to be the user’s inability to form a mental picture, or schema, of the information

pre- sented via a computer screen. In order to form a schema, users need to be able to understand

where newly acquired knowledge fits into ‘‘the big picture’’. However, computers and the

information on them are so infinite, users may have trouble thinking in terms of a big picture.

When on a website, for example, how many times have you asked yourself, ‘‘Where am I?’’ or

‘‘Where was I?’’ or ‘‘Where am I going?’’ Likewise, for many learners, there may be little sense

of place when learning with the assistance of a computer. This is why computer literacy should

be taught thoroughly by ICT instructors to learners.

 9

Cognitive Learning Theory

This theory explains human behavior through

understanding the thought process. A theory that
explains the connection of learning and information
processing.

Computer Literacy of High School

Graduating Students
Figure 2. Theoretical Framework of the Study