LEARNING ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF THE SPECIAL PROGRAM IN THE

ARTS LEARNERS OF JIMALALUD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

A Research Paper
Presented to the Faculty of the
Special Program in the Arts
Jimalalud National High School
Jimalalud, Negros Oriental

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Subject
Research IX

by:

BONTIGAO, NASH GABRIEL V.,

ESTRELLANES, ALCHON S.,

MARTINEZ, SEAN BRYLE Z.,

LINDAYAO, GR G. GANTALAO,

MARK JANSEN H.,

LEDON, SYESHA MAE G.

FEBRUARY, 2023
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER

1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

INTRODUCTION 1

Rationale of the Study 1

Theoretical Background 3

THE PROBLEM 5

Statement of the Problem 6

Significance of the Study 7

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design 8

Research Environment 9

Research Respondents 9

Research Instrument 10

Research Procedure 10

Ethical Considerations 11
DEFINITION OF TERMS 12

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A - Transmittal Letter

APPENDIX B – Informed Parental Consent

APPENDIX C - Location Map

APPENDIX D - Information Letter

APPENDIX E - Curriculum Vitae

 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Learning is the by-product of the classroom experience of both primary and

secondary school students and instructors (Hewitt, 2008) since it allows learners to gain

new information, skills, and capacities (Sweller J. , 1988). Mcleod () states that effective

learning occurs when a person goes through four stages: (1) having a concrete

experience, (2) observing and reflecting on that experience, (3) forming abstract

concepts (analysis) and generalizations (conclusions), and (4) testing a hypothesis in

future situations, resulting in new experiences (Mcleod, 2017). Effective learning

involves actively engaging with the content being learned, connecting new information

with previous knowledge, and applying what has been learned in a variety of contexts.

Thus, effective learning should be experienced by all students especially in the Special

Program in the Arts since it will greatly benefit their academic performance and

productivity.

Learning effectively is something that must be applied to the SPA. The Special

Program in the Arts is an advanced class that not only focuses on the student’s talents

but academic achievements. Unlike in the regular program, the SPA has more subjects

which means they have more lessons to study and comprehend, which may cause

learning issues. Many subjects can be very hard for students to understand all at once,

and this causes learning difficulties.

 Learning difficulties refer to a range of challenges or obstacles that individuals

may experience when trying to learn new information or skills. These difficulties can

occur in various areas of learning, such as reading, writing, math, language, and

problem-solving. Therefore, this study is undertaken to determine the SPA students

learning issues and concerns.

Research has shown that learning difficulties can have a significant impact on

academic achievement, self-esteem, and mental health, and can lead to long-term

consequences such as reduced employment opportunities and lower quality of life

(Snowling, 2011). Understanding the nature of learning difficulties and developing

effective strategies to support individuals with such difficulties is therefore critical for

ensuring their success and well-being. The findings of this will be used as a resource

for information that may help education departments enhance the learning effectiveness

of high school students.

Theoretical Background

The SPA students of Jimalalud National High School face a variety of challenges

that affect their learning outcomes. The Information Processing Theory (Atkinson, 1968)

suggests that students' learning difficulties arise from limitations in their cognitive

processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. The theory proposes

that individuals process information through a series of stages that include sensory

input, perception, attention, short-term memory, working memory, and long-term

memory.
 According to the theory, attention is a limited cognitive resource that can be

easily overburdened. As a result, students may struggle to pay attention during class,

resulting in difficulties in learning and remembering information.

Additionally, the Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller J. , 1988) is a psychological

theory that focuses on how working memory capacity influences learning and problem-

solving. It implies that people have a finite number of cognitive resources, or working

memory capacity, with which to process information (Sweller, van Merriënboer, & Paas,

2019).

The Cognitive Load Theory suggests that learning difficulties can occur when the

cognitive demands of a task exceed an individual's working memory capacity, leading to

cognitive overload and reduced learning outcomes.

The Social Cognitive Theory by Albert Bandura emphasizes the role of social and

cognitive factors in behavior and learning. According to the theory, learning occurs

through observation, imitation, and modeling of others' behavior (Bandura, 1986). Yet, if

unwanted behaviors are encouraged, negative thinking can lead to learning difficulties.

This can distract students from learning and lead to poor academic performance.

Additionally, a lack of self-efficacy can also hinder learning as students may not believe

that they can succeed in a particular task (Bandura, 1997). To address these issues, it

is essential to reinforce positive behaviors, model and encourage positive behaviors,

and help students develop self-efficacy to overcome learning difficulties (Huang, 2015).

Overall, these theories provide insights into the potential causes of learning

difficulties in high school students, which may then be used to develop solutions and
methods to address them. Effective instructional design and support can help high

school students avoid cognitive overload, improve attention and memory, and build self-

efficacy, all of which lead to higher learning outcomes.

THE PROBLEM

Objectives of the Study

Learning difficulties is a common problem among high school students, yet little

is known about the factors that cause these issues. Learning difficulties may cause

long-term effects on the academic performance of the students, which will further cause

a great impact on their life’s future. While there has been research on the learning

difficulties faced by high school students, there is still a need for a more in-depth

exploration of the experiences and challenges that high school students encounter with

learning. This research intends to fill a vacuum in the literature by investigating the

intellectual, social, and emotional aspects that impact high school students' learning, it

will also provide vital insights into the establishment of effective interventions and

support systems to improve academic performance by identifying the problems that high

school students experience.

This investigation seeks to determine the different factors that cause learning

difficulties. Furthermore, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the lived experiences of high school students with learning difficulties in

their academic and social environments?

2. What are the high school students' methods for dealing with a heavier workload

as the number of topics increases?

 3. How do high school students cope with learning difficulties, and what factors

influence their ability to overcome these challenges?

Significance of the study

The study can provide insights into the elements that contribute to learning

difficulties among high students, including cognitive, emotional, and social issues.

Knowing these factors can help to inform the creation of effective solutions and ways to

address these challenges, ultimately leading to better educational results for high school

students.

This study is beneficial to the following groups:

Students. The study's findings can have long-term effects for high school students'

academic and professional performance. Treating learning disabilities in high school

can increase students' chances of pursuing higher education, finding work, and

contributing positively to society.

Teachers. The research can help instructors understand the obstacles that high school

students encounter and how to modify their teaching approaches to meet a variety of

learning demands. This might involve using various teaching approaches, learning aids,

and customized instruction to meet the specific learning needs of each student.
Parents. Understanding the difficulties of high school students can help parents support

them. This may include emotional support, appropriate study surroundings, and help

with homework and tasks.

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This research study aims to investigate the learning difficulties of the SPA

students. This study will also explore what interventions are effective in helping students

with learning difficulties. This study utilizes the qualitative research design called

phenomenology.

A phenomenology approach allows for an in-depth examination of students'

experiences with learning difficulties as well as the interventions and tactics used by

educators to help these children. This method will give a thorough grasp of the

complexity and subtleties of learning difficulties, as well as their influence on student

learning and development.

To gather data, the researchers will `interview the students. We will analyze the

data using a method called thematic analysis, which looks for patterns and themes in

what we have learned.

The findings will help teachers, parents, and policymakers better understand

learning difficulties and what can be done to help students who have them. By learning

about effective interventions, it can help students with learning difficulties succeed and

thrive in school and beyond.

Research Design
 This study uses the phenomenology research design in determining the different

challenges that the students face. Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach

that seeks to comprehend and describe the essence of human experiences. In a case

study, the researcher extensively studies the case in order to get a deep and detailed

understanding of the case's features, dynamics, and relationships. This research study

is conducted to determine the different factors that cause learning difficulties, using

phenomenology allows us to gain a deeper and more comprehensive grasp of the

findings of this research.

The gathering of data will be performed through an interview with the students.

The data gathered will be analyzed using a method called thematic analysis, which

looks for patterns and themes in the findings. The researchers will then identify

similarities and differences between different participants or cases and identify any

inconsistencies or gaps in the data. The data interpretation will be presented in a clear

and straightforward way, with recommendations and implications for practice and policy.

Research Environment

This study will be conducted at the main campus of Jimalalud National High

School, which is located at Jimalalud Negros Oriental, South Poblacion. The SPA

consists of one section per grade levels 7-10 and are held in 4 standard classrooms.

where the SPA students are at. Thus, it is also the place where the SPA learners go to

class, therefore it is the environment where learning difficulties of the SPA students

occur.
Figure 1. Map of Jimalalud, Negros Oriental
Research Respondents

The subjects of the study are the students from all the grade levels of the Special

Program in the Arts. This ensures that the subjects have had similar experiences and

challenges and can provide insights to the problems faced by the SPA.

The researchers will recruit students from each grade level of the Special

Program in the Arts. Each student will vary in different factors including age, gender,

religion, and major. The sampling method that we will use to recruit participants will be

“Purposive Sampling”. This method allows us to recruit students who can provide in-

depth and detailed information about their challenges and problems so that it can help

the researchers to create and inform the establishment of effective solutions and

methods to address these difficulties.

Research Instrument

An interview will be utilized for gathering data from the students that we have

selected. This allows us to contact the subjects online using different types of social

media platforms like Facebook Messenger. It will also allow us to easily gather the

participants’ responses online through open-ended questions which will collect valid

answers about their experiences. The students involved with this study are those who

have current issues or difficulties in learning and are enrolled in the Special Program in

The Arts. An interview will be conducted with the students to gather more data and

grasp a deeper understanding of the problems.

Research Procedure

This investigation seeks to determine the different factors that cause learning

difficulties. This study will take place at Jimalalud National High School, Special

Program in the Arts. This research requires the approval of the school’s principal which

we will request before we conduct the collection of data from the students. The approval

of this study will commence the following actions:

1. Distribution and retrieval of Parental Consent. Before we conduct the

investigation on the participants, we will inform them about our ethical principles,

as well as provide them with parental consent. We will give the students 2 days

to give consent, but we will not force the respondents to cooperate if they don’t

want to. Additionally, we will inform them to complete a survey, and attend an

interview.

2. Distribution of instruments. Data will be gathered through an electronic survey

that will be sent to the participants online. We will give the respondents 5 days to

answer the survey given to them.

3. Interview day. During the day of the interview. We will ask the students

questions regarding their experiences with learning difficulties in hoping to gain

valid results. We will also try to ask their teachers for additional information about

their students’ academic performance.

4. The Retrieval and Treatment of data. Once all the data has been retrieved from

the respondents, we will then analyze the data through thematic analysis.

Thematic analysis allows us to look into the patterns and similarities in the data
 collected from the students. This enables us to conclude and finalize our data

and create interventions to the main problem.

Ethical Considerations

The study “The Learning Difficulties of the Special Program in the Arts of

Jimalalud National High School”, will follow the ethical principles for research involving

human participants. All participants will be provided with informed consent and be

informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

Participants will be guaranteed confidentiality and anonymity, and all data will be

securely stored.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Learning difficulties. This refers to a range of challenges or obstacles that individuals

may experience when trying to learn new information or skills.

Information Processing Theory. This is a psychological theory that suggests that

students' learning difficulties arise from limitations in their cognitive processes such as

attention, memory, and problem-solving skills.

Cognitive Load Theory. This is a psychological theory that focuses on how working

memory capacity influences learning and problem-solving.

Social Cognitive Theory. This is a psychological theory that emphasizes the role of

social and cognitive factors in behavior and learning.

Self-efficacy. This refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in a particular

task or situation.

Interventions. In this context, interventions refer to strategies or methods that can be

used to address learning difficulties and improve academic performance.

REFERENCES
References
Atkinson, R. C. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. Academic
Press.
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory.
Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman and Company.
Hewitt, D. (2008). Understanding Effective Learning . UK: McGraw-Hill Education.
Huang, F. &. (2015). The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 1-
17.
Mcleod, S. (2017). Simply Psychology. Retrieved from Kolb - learning styles:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html
Snowling, M. J. (2011). Evidence-based interventions for reading and language difficulties:
Creating a virtuous circle. British Journal of Educational Psychology. doi:10.1111/j.2044-
8279.2010.02014.x
Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science.
Sweller, J., van Merriënboer, J. J., & Paas, F. G. (2019). Cognitive architecture and instructional

design. Educational Psychology Review.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A
 TRANSMITAL LETTER

JIMALALUD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

South Poblacion, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental
Feb 26, 2023
JIJI S. TALADUA
Secondary School Principal Il
Jimalalud National High School

Madam:
Greetings!
This is to ask for your kind approval to conduct a research at Jimalalud National High
School, Jimalalud Negros Oriental on “The Learning Difficulties of the Special Program
in the Arts of Jimalalud National High School” as part of the research requirement
Students who are studying at Jimalalud National High School for School Year 2022-
2023, their experiences will help us better understand the difficulties they experienced
and gain information that will aid in the development and strengthening of students grit
and resilience.
Rest assured that the data we will gather will remain confidential and to be used
for academic purposes only. We hope for your positive response on this matter. Your
permission to carry out the research will be much appreciated.
Most respectfuly,

SEAN BRYLE Z. MARTINEZ GR G. LINDAYAO NASH GABRIEL V. BONTIGAO

Proponent Proponent Proponent

MARK JANSEN B. GANTALAO SYESHA MAE LEDON ALCHON S.

ESTRELLANES
Proponent Proponent Proponent

Noted: Approved:

BETH G. LABRADOR JIJI S. TALADUA

Research Teacher Principal ll
 Appendix B

INFORMED CONSENT

Dear Parent,

We invite your child to take part in a research study being conducted by Sean

Bryle Z. Martinez, Nash Gabriel V. Bontigao, GR G. LINDAYAO, Syesa Mae G. Ledon,

Alchon S. Estrellanes, Mark Jansen B. Gantalao , who are students and currently

studying at Jimalalud National High School as part of their research project entitled “The

Effect of Learning Difficulties to the Special Program in the Arts of Jimalalud National

High School”. The study, as well as your child’s rights as a participant are described

below.

Description. This study will examine learners’ perceptions of the factors

associated with the effect of learning difficulties to the Special Program in the Arts of

Jimalalud National High School Children will answer a questionnaire on demographics

as well as rate statements according to their own opinions. Your child’s identity will not

be revealed to anyone but the principal investigator(s) and her designated research

associates.

Confidentiality: Children answers will not be associated with their names. Rather,

each child will be given an identification number on the interviewer’s sheet.

I agree with the researchers using my child as a respondent in this research

publications on results from the research.

_______________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian
I agree to have the researchers take pictures of my child during this study. I understand

that my child has the right to stop answering the questionnaire at any time, or to refuse

to answer any of the questions without prejudice from the researchers.

Grievance Procedure: If I have concerns or am dissatisfied with any aspect of this study

I may report my grievances anonymously if desired to the Jimalalud National High

School, South Poblacion, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental.

Principal Investigator: Sean Bryle Z. Martinez, Jimalalud National High School,

Jimalalud Negros Oriental, School year 2022-2023

Informed Consent Statement I, ___________________, give permission for my child,

_______________ to participate in the research project entitled “The Effect of Learning

Difficulties to the Special Program in the Arts of Jimalalud National High School

” The study has been explained to me and my questions are answered to my

satisfaction I understand that my child’s right to withdraw from participating or refuse to

participate will be respected and that his/her response and identity will be kept

confidential. I give this consent voluntarily.

 PAGTUGOT SA GINIKANAN

Among gidapit ang imong anak sa pag-apil sa usa ka research study nga gihimo

ni Sean Bryle Z. Martinez, Nash Gabriel V. Bontigao, GR G. LINDAYAO, Syesa Mae G.

Ledon, Alchon S. Estrellanes, Mark Jansen B. Gantalao , kinsa sila mga estudyante ug

kasamtangang nagtungha sa Jimalalud National High School isip kabahin sa ilang

research project nga nag-ulohan og “The Learning Difficulties of the Special Program in

the Arts of Jimalalud National High School”. Ang pagtuon, ingon man ang mga

katungod sa imong anak isip partisipante gihulagway sa ubos.

Deskripsyon. Kini nga pagtuon magsusi sa mga panglantaw sa mga estudyante

sa mga hinungdan nga adunay kalabotan sa kahimsog sa pangisip sa mga estudyante

sa Jimalalud National High School sa panahon sa pandemya. Ang mga bata motubag

sa usa ka pangutana bahin sa demograpiko ingon man sa mga pahayag sa rate sumala

sa ilang kaugalingon nga mga opinyon. Ang pagkatawo sa imong anak dili ibutyag kang

bisan kinsa gawas sa (mga) prinsipal nga imbestigador ug sa iyang gitudlo nga mga

kauban sa panukiduki.

Confidentiality: Ang mga tubag sa mga bata dili iapil sa ilang mga ngalan.

Hinoon, ang matag bata hatagan og identification number sa papel sa tig-interbyu.

Uyon ko sa mga tigdukiduki nga naggamit sa akong anak isip respondent niini nga mga

publikasyon sa panukiduki sa mga resulta gikan sa panukiduki.

_____________________

Pirma sa Ginikanan/Tigbantay

Uyon ko nga ipakuha sa mga tigdukiduki ang mga litrato sa akong anak atol niini

nga pagtuon. Akong nasabtan nga ang akong anak adunay katungod sa paghunong sa

pagtubag sa pangutana bisan unsang orasa, o sa pagdumili sa pagtubag sa bisan unsa

sa mga pangutana nga walay pagpihig gikan sa mga tigdukiduki.

Pamaagi sa Pagreklamo: Kung ako adunay mga kabalaka o dili kontento sa bisan

unsang aspeto sa kini nga pagtuon mahimo nako nga ireport ang akong mga reklamo

nga dili mailhan kung gusto sa Jimalalud National High School, South Poblacion,

Jimalalud, Negros Oriental.

Principal Proponents: Sean Bryle Z. Martinez, Jimalalud National High School,

Jimalalud Negros Oriental, School year 2022-2023

Informed Consent Statement Ako,_________________, naghatag pagtugot sa akong

anak, _______________ sa pag-apil sa proyekto sa panukiduki nga giulohan og " The

Learning Difficulties of the Special Program in the Arts of Jimalalud National High

School". Ang pagtuon gipatin-aw kanako ug ang akong mga pangutana gitubag sa
akong katagbawan Nasabtan nako nga ang katungod sa akong anak sa pag-atras sa

pag- o pagdumili sa pag-apil respetuhon ug nga ang iyang tubag ug pagkatawo itago

nga kompidensyal. Gihatag nako kini nga pagtugot nga boluntaryo.

 Appendix C

Factors Associated with the Effect of Learning Difficulties to the Special Program

in the Arts of Jimalalud National High School of Questionnaire

This survey is all about the factors is associated with The Effect of Learning

Difficulties to the Special Program in the Arts of Jimalalud National High School. The

best way to confirm their situation is to ask the students in Jimalalud National High

School-this means you. By completing this questionnaire, you will be giving an

important contribution to assess the problems of mental health.

We need to find out about your mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is

as simple as that. This is not a test, you have the freedom of choice in writing your

name(s) or leave it blank, and your answers are remained to be confidential, the

researchers do not send your answers to your school, parents, or anyone else you

know-just the researchers.

We will collect your honest responses, make the analysis and interpretation. Thank you

for your cooperation, God bless us all.

 APPENDIX D

Information letter

Research title: “The Learning Difficulties of the Special Program in the Arts of Jimalalud

National High School”

We, group 3 led by Sean Bryle Z. Martinez, under the supervision of Ms. Beth G.

Labrador are currently enrolled in research. We are currently conducting qualitative

research that aims to obtain information about their learning difficulties. We believed

that the information that you will share will be of utmost important to us in gaining

knowledge regarding the experiences of the effect of learning difficulties on the SPA

students. This study will be conducted through interviews which will last 20-30 minutes

each and will be recorded. If you are uncomfortable and you think that the questions are

irrelevant, you may decline to answer and ask the recorder to turn it off. Informed

consent will be given before the interview. Your name shall be confidential and will not

be shown on the report. You may withdraw from the study anytime if you feel there is a

need to, under certain circumstances.

For Further classification on specific details of our research, you may contact me

personally through this mobile number 09692400961.

Respectfully yours,

Sean Bryle Z. Martinez

Group leader
 CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Background

Name: Sean Bryle Z. Martinez

Address: North Poblacion, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental

Date of birth: February 1,2008

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Karen Z. Martinez, Garry A. Martinez

Educational Background:

Elementary: Bais City Pilot School

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School

Name: Syesha Mae Garupil Ledon

Address: Polopantao, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental

Date of birth: May 3 2008

Gender: female

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Emily Ledon, Fel Ledon

Educational Background:

Elementary: Jimalalud central school

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School

Name:Mark Jansen Bernice H. Gantalao

Address: Sampiniton, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental

Date of birth: April 30 2007

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Milfred A. Gantalao, Baby Lyn H. Gantalao

Educational Background

Elementary: Sampiniton Elementary School

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School

Name: GR G. Lindayao

Address: North Poblacion, Jimalalud Negros Oriental

Date of birth: February 5,2008

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Gino C. Lindayao, Rute G. Lindayao

Educational Background

Elementary: Jimalalud Central Elementary School

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School

Name: Nash Gabriel V. Bontigao

Address: North Pob. Jimalalud Negros Oriental

Date of birth: April 13, 2008

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Neil A. Bontigao, Chona V. Bontigao

Educational Background

Elementary: Jimalalud Central Elementary School

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School

Name: Alchon S. Estrellanes

Address: Polopantao, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental

Date of Birth: November 22, 2007

Gander: Male

Civil Status: Single

Parents: Alfred Estrellanes, Maria Chona S. Estrellanes

Educational Background

Elementary: Jimalalud Central Elementary School

Secondary: Jimalalud National High School