CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature and Studies
In todays generation, computers and computer tablet are commonly used
for studying. Thus, this chapter shows a summary of information, statements,
and articles from published books, journals, and online search engines. These
concepts were all related to the current study of the researchers which mainly
concerns the effects of computers and computer tablets in the academic
performance of the students.
Related Literature
In general, computers and computer tablets are products of technological
innovation or advancement. Technological innovation can be defined broadly as
a technological idea which does not pre - exist and whose addition gives better
performance than the existing technology, i.e. an improvement as written by
Prof. Dr. M. Y. Saada in the book entitled Philippine Technology Journal
published last January March 1992.
In the same book, the WIPO Model Law for Developing Countries on
Invention defined it as a solution to a specific problem in the field of technology
proposed by an employee of an enterprise employing at least () persons in the
country, for use by that enterprise and which related to the activities of the
enterprise but which, on the date of the proposal has not been used or actively
considered for use by that enterprise.
By this definition, the computers and computer tablets that every person
uses today were not created accidentally instead they were planned and
proposed by companies for technological advancement. These now helps us in
our everyday life making everything easier.
Computers and computer tablets are really of good use to each one of us.
Focusing only on the aspect of education, Rene F. Aguirre (June, 1987) pointed
out the use of computers on education in his published book. He wrote, The
promise of personal computing for teaching and learning is that instructions can
be uniquely adapted to each individual student. From simple features, such as
the ability to select a sequence of topics which makes sense from the learners
viewpoint, to more advanced capabilities, such as facilities to generate examples
of concepts and provide practice material on demand, the computer promises to
provide a tutor of unique value. The key advantage is individual control, and the
great attraction will be the opportunity to learn subjects of ones own choice in a
self paced, supportive environment. An analogy can be made to travelling. As a
student, you now tour the countries of someone elses choice, firmly handcuffed
to the tour guide/ teacher.
Having the use of computer while studying leads us to a different way of
learning. It depends on how the user of the computer wants to learn. Nowadays,
there are available online tutorials, different search engines are open to everyone
and on top of these there is an easy access to those sites that are applicable and
useful for students. A student cannot only learn facts and other information but
they can also learn life lessons from the experiences of the bloggers and other
peoples posts and blogs. Just as the saying goes, A reader lives a thousand
lives before he dies, but a man who never reads lives only once. Being a part of
this generation is a good help for us in the way that we can have easy access
through peoples life experiences. We can also learn from those and at the same
time it may seem like we are really experiencing what was in the computer just
like reading a book. It is also compared to travelling, being able to use computer
serves as a connection to the world. You can know almost everything about a
certain place which makes you feel as if you were there.
Aguirre added, In the developed countries, computers in schools are
used to in many ways. Computers are used in drill and practice lessons in many
academic areas; for educational activities with a game format; for simulations for
recreating real life situations and problem solving and for such activities as word
processing, learning computer programming, etc. School administrators are
using computers in the classroom not as a means of reducing costs but to
improve the quality of education. The use of the computer will free teachers to
give them more time to give more individual attention to students requiring it. It
will allow students to learn and study their own pace; discover their own
weaknesses and strengths to enable them to take more courses. Students using
computers in learning will develop more logical thinking, will be able to form
instructions better and will show improvement in their reasoning and math skills.
Our country is considered as a developing country, with that we tend to
follow what were implemented in the developed countries. As stated in Aguirres
book, the developed countries already uses computer in the education system. In
fact, there are particular areas / courses which involves computer. Just like here
in the Philippines, there are certain courses that are related with computers even
if you are just in secondary level. Computer class is part of the Kto12 curriculum
and thus, it is required to have it in every school. At our own institution, The Lipa
Grace Academy, students can learn about basic video editing, photo editing and
even creating ones own site or game. These lessons serve as an initial stage for
those who are really interested in computers. But this doesnt end with just that,
the logical and reasoning skills of computer maniac students are developed
and enhanced as they explore new ways of doing anything using computers only.
Related Studies
A study entitled, How he ICT Development Level and Usage
Influence Student Achievement in Reading, Mathematics, and Science, was
written by Maxim Skryabin of ITMO University and Jingjing Zhang and Danhui
Zhang of Beijing Normal University (July 2015) shows relationship with the
researchers current study focusing on the effects of computers and computer
tablets in the academic performance of the students. The study of Maxim
Skryabin, Jingjing Zhang and Danhui Zhang contributed new knowledge about
the relationship between national ICT development and individual skills. The
results of their study also indicated also indicated that ICT use showed mixed
influences on three subjects for all groups of individuals, depending on the
different types of ICT usage.
In their study regarding ICT or Information and Communications
Technology, computer is a factor which helps the students to have improvement
in different subjects. The usage of computer together with the application of ICT,
students can learn more in the faster way that reading a book. As for today, in
the Philippines, ICT is already part of the education system so its students are
really coping with the current changes technology has brought. In the study of the
researchers, computers have been proven to affect the lives of every student. It
serves as the main tool of the students for their homework, performance task,
and research, behavior and attitude, and health condition.
Another study shows relation to the current study of the research
with the title, Using the U.S. PISA Results to Investigate the Relationship
between School Computer Use and Student Academic Performance. It is
created by Letao Sun and Kelly D. Bradley of University of Kentucky. Their study
added supplementary information to the existing body of literature on the
influence of computer use at school to students academic performance. The
study also points out that the weak correlation found in their study suggests the
frequency of computer use might not be a good indicator to predict academic
achievement however it was found that students who use computers almost
every day have significant higher achievement scores that those who use
computers in moderate or low frequencies. The results of their study suggests
that simply increasing the educational input on computers at school may not
produce the desired effect instead, the quality of integrating computer use into
effective instructional activities plays a more important role in influencing student
academic outcomes.
Comparing this study to the current study of the researchers, it can
be determined that computers really affects the academic performance of the
students. Likewise, the way the student uses computer is also a big factor that
can show how computers influence his life and academic standing.
Synthesis
The published article of Prof. Dr. M. Y. Saana (January March
1992) and the study of the group of Maxim Skrybin, Jingjing Zhang and Danhui
Zhang (July 2015) that focused about the technological innovation and the ICT
that the Philippines is adapting is the reason why computers have been mainly
used at schools. Computers have been a part of the education system and thus,
it contributes effects on the academic performance of the students. The effect of
brought about by using computer varies on the way the student uses computer.
The way they define technological innovation and ICT have help the current
study to be formulated.
The point of view of Rene F. Aguirre (June 1987) and the study of Letao
Sun and Kelly D. Bradley both have the resemblance of stating that the way on
how the students make use of the computers are the factors that truly affect their
academic performances in their [Link] only variation of the opinion and the
study is the utilization of the computers, it is one of the major contributors that
has an impact to the academic study and most importantly to the existence of
each student.
Conceptual Framework
The research paradigm demonstrates the variables set by the researchers
to guide them in this study. Specifically, the independent variable is characterized
by the effects of modern computers and computer tablets to todays generation,
while the dependent variable pertains to the academic performance of Grade 7
Students in the Lipa Grace Academy SY 2015-2016 in order to form the
respondents profile in labeling of name, age, grade and section, and including
the gender.
Research Paradigm
Effects of Modern Academic
Computers and Performance of Grade
Computer Tablets to 7 Students in The Lipa
Todays Generation Grace Academy
Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Respondents Profile
Name
Grade and Section
Age
Gender
Intervening Variables