Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Information technology has become a formidable factor
in today’s advancement such as in doing research, in the
academe, even in politics, in speeding – up government
projects, in spreading religion and in almost all aspects of
life. Today, communication is greatly dependent on
information technology.
Every year, more people become connected to the
network, its bandwidth increases and its use becomes more
integrated to most people in the world. Connectivity to
this network has become the key to opportunity, success and
fulfillment for individuals. Technology which changed the
world and it is now changing the learning and teaching
environment.
According to Bose (2017), nowadays Information and
Communication Technology (ICT), in the education sector
plays an important role, especially in the process of
empowering technology into educational activities. Education
sector can be the most effective sector to anticipate and
eliminate the negative impact of ICT. Technology in another
side can be the most effective way to increase student’s
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knowledge. Mehta (2017) said that ICT has a pivotal role to
play to address the issue of quality content and quality of
teachers. Globally role of ICT has been acknowledged and
appreciated.
On the other hand, the process of using ICT in everyday
education is very complicated. The opportunities provided by
ICT to support teaching and learning are not problem-free.
The virtually limitless opportunities of access to
information in an educational context can pose a real danger
of information overload if the teachers do not have the
skills in filtering information for relevance, or are unable
to establish a coherent organizing principle. Both students
and teachers may lack the necessity skills to access,
process and use information (Salehi and Salehi, 2012).
Thus, the researcher seeks to assess the Information
and Communication Technology Skills of the Grade 10 TLE
students in terms of computer hardware servicing,
illustration, technical writing, and contact services center
in relation to selected variables such as sex, socio-
economic status and computer ownership.
Theoretical Framework
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This study sought to assess the ICT skills of TLE
students thus, it is anchored on Constructivism Theory as
viewed by Papert and Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Approach.
Seymour Papert (1980) proved that computers are useful
in higher learning. Papert’s view of the importance of
motivational engagement of the learner contrasts sharply
with Skinner’s who although recognizing this influence,
consider it unnecessary for instruction. In this view,
the learners as active participants are involved in
structuring their own learning experiences. Papert’s work
with Piaget who emphasized the way in which knowledge is
structured using computers are organized as well as how the
learners’ own perception of their prior experiences perform
the knowledge structure. Thus, the importance of how a
learner relates new experiences to existing knowledge
becomes important.
Constructionism adds an extra layer to constructivism
by asserting that people learn with particular effectiveness
when they engaged in constructing personally meaningful
artefacts such as a programmable robot, a machine, a
computer programme or a LOGO turtle. Constructionism is
concerned with building things, both in the sense of
building understanding and building artifacts.
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In addition, throughout Vygotsky’s (1978) formulation
of a sociocultural approach to cognition is the claim that
higher mental functioning and human action in general are
mediated by tools (or “technical tools”) and signs (or
“psychological tools”). The consequence of tools mediating
the activity is that “instead of applying directly its
natural function to the solution of a particular task, the
child (learner) puts between that function and the task a
certain auxiliary means… by the medium of which the child
(learner) manages to perform the task” (Luria, 1928, as
cited in Cole, 1995, 191). From this perspective, cognition
is no longer studied in light of individuals learning in
isolation with only their minds to guide them; instead, the
emphasis is on individuals learning with a wide variety of
tools, and people that help them carry out their goal-
oriented activities in a sociocultural setting.
Conceptual Framework
Using the aforementioned theory as basis, the concepts
and theories that govern this study was determined showing
the personal profile such as sex, socio-economic status and
computer ownership as selected variables in relation to ICT
skills of the student.
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This study focused on the assessment of ICT skills
among grade 10 TLE students in terms of computer hardware
servicing, illustration, technical drafting and contact
services center and its relation to sex, socio-economic
status and computer ownership.
It is believed that ICT skills improve teachers and
learners in promoting change and further development of the
21st century skills.
Levels of ICT
Chapter
Skills of 2
TLS
Students
Student’s 1. Computer
Profile Hardware
Servicing
1. Sex 2. Illustration
3. Technical
3. Socio-
Drafting
Economic Intervention
Status
4. Contact
Services
4. Computer
Center
Ownership
-Very High
-High
-Average
-Low
-Very Low
Figure 1. The Schematic diagram of the Study Showing the
Selected Variables and Their Relationship.
Statement of the Problem
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The purpose of the study is to determine the
relationship between the personal profile and the ICT skills
of TLE students. Specifically, this study sought to answer
the following questions:
1. What is the profile of grade 10 Technology and
Livelihood Education students in the Division of
Bacolod City in terms of:
a. Sex
b. Socio-Economic Status
c. Computer ownership?
2. What is the level of ICT skills of grade 10 TLE
students in the Division of Bacolod City when taken as
a whole and when grouped according to:
a. Computer hardware servicing
b. Illustration
c. Technical drafting
d. Contact services center?
3. Is there a significant difference on the level of ICT
skills of grade 10 TLE students when grouped according
to:
a. Sex
b. Socio-Economic Status
c. Computer ownership?
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4. Is there a significant difference in the ICT skills of
grade 10 TLE students when grouped according to:
a. Computer hardware servicing
b. Illustration
c. Technical drafting
d. Contact services center?
5. Are there significant relationships between sex and ICT
skills, socio-economic status and ICT skills, and
computer ownership and ICT skills of grade 10 TLE
students?
Hypotheses of the Study
Based on the problems raised, the following null
hypotheses were formulated:
1. There is no significant difference on the level of
ICT skills of grade 10 TLE students when grouped
according to sex, socio-economic status and computer
ownership.
2. There is no significant difference in the ICT skills
of grade 10 ICT students when grouped according to
computer hardware servicing, illustration, technical
drafting and contact services center.
3. There are no significant relationship between sex
and ICT skills, socio-economic status and ICT
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skills, and computer ownership and ICT skills of
grade 10 TLE students.
Significance of the Study
This research is conducted to provide baseline data to
certain groups of people who may use the results of this
study along their area of concerns.
Students. The result of this study can greatly help the
students to strengthen their ICT skills in a way that can
affect their academic performance in school. It can also
give them idea about approaches, technique and strategies in
using computer that can help in improving their learning
processes.
Parents. This study can inform parents about the
factors that may affect the ICT skills of students which may
hinder or improve children’s development in the school.
Teachers. This study can help teachers especially in
intermediate and secondary levels to teach their students
the necessary ICT skills that will be useful not only inside
the classroom but also outside the academe and find unique
and creative ways to persuade students to practice computer
skills for better development of oneself.
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Administrators/Principals. This study can make the
administrators see the importance of ICT skills among the
students and eventually gain their support in implementing
programs and interventions that would boost the students’
morale and improve performance in school.
Education Program Supervisors. This study can serve as
a basis to gadget intervention programs in improving the
students ICT skills. It might also serve to give information
in providing computer skills experiences to our learners.
School’s Division Superintendent. This study can
further develop the ICT programs already established which
can promote sustainable development in the whole division.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study was conducted among the 17 public secondary
schools in the Division of Bacolod City for SY 2018-2019.
It assessed the ICT skills of Grade 10 TLE students
officially enrolled in the four (4) specified areas of ICT
namely: computer hardware servicing, illustration, technical
drafting and contact services center. The researcher limits
the selected variables to the student’s profile composed of
sex, socio-economic status and computer ownership. The
measurement of ICT skills was limited only to students and
was assessed by the students themselves.
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Definition of Terms
The following terms are defined in their operational
and conceptual function to ensure clear understanding
between the researcher and the readers:
Computer Hardware Servicing. Conceptually and
operationally, computer hardware servicing is a blanket term
applied to the act of supporting and maintaining computer
hardware. This includes diagnosing computer hardware issues,
upgrading hardware on a computer and repairing computer
hardware (Matt Billock 2014).
Computer Literacy Level. Conceptually and
operationally, it is 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. (Wikipedia 2011)
Computer Ownership. Conceptually and operationally, it
refers to an individual possessing a computer to be used
personally with advance skills so that he/she may have all
the access in studying, searching and collecting some
information and ideas.
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Contact Services Center. Conceptually and
operationally, contact services center is more of a “hands-
on tinkering” of computer networks and servers. It involves
of the use of hand tools to terminate and connect wiring and
electronic circuits, computer systems are configured and
perform other computer operations.
ICT Skills. Conceptually, it refers to the competencies
gained by the students while taking the specialized course
in ICT. ICT refers also to The study of the technology used
to handle information and aid communication (National
Curriculum documents for the UK 2000).
In this study, it refers to the ICT skills such as
computer hardware servicing, illustration, technical
drafting and computer services center.
Illustration. Conceptually and operationally defined as
something that serves to illustrate: such as an example or
instance that helps make something clear or a picture or
diagram that helps make something clear or attractive
(Merriam Webster 2014).
Socio-Economic Status. It is an economic and
sociological combined total measure of a person’s work
experience of individual’s or family’s economic and social
position in relation to others, based on income, education
and occupation (Poewadarminto, 2012).
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Operationally, it refers to the cumulative family’s
gross monthly income classified as very low income, low
income, average income, high income and very high income
(NEDA, 2017).
Technical Drafting. Conceptually and operationally, it
is the act and discipline of composing drawings that
visually communicate how something functions or is
constructed. Technical drawing is essential for
communicating ideas in industry and engineering. To make the
drawings easier to understand, people use
familiar symbols, perspectives, units of measurement ,
notation systems, visual styles, and page layout (Wikipedia
2014).
TLE students. Conceptually and operationally, it refers
to the Grade 10 TLE students coming from 17 schools in the
Division of Bacolod City, SY 2018-2019 who were the subject-
respondents of this study.
