A THESIS - Assessment of the Levels of Study Skills of Computer Engineering Students at the Polytechnic University of the Phillippines
1. Presented to the Faculty of the Institute of Technology Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Manila In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Diploma in Computer Engineering Management Technology by ANGELICA MAE V. ALCANTARA ALLEN NICOLE P. ANGAT RALPH ANTHONY I. ANGELES ELIJAH PHILIPPE D. BARRO WELJEM A. DANIEL JAYMALIN P. JAMOLIN ELMERTO M. MARTINEZ II ANNA JANE E. SALVADICO ABIGAIL B. TAYLAN LUDI JANE G. TERANA March 2014

2. Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction People say “Education is a greatest treasure that can achieve”. Education is all around us. Education is everywhere. It is not just about the lesson that can get in schools and textbooks; it’s also about the lessons of life. It gives us knowledge and changes into something better. It builds the character of a person. Excellent education leads to the success of life. The learners cannot learn simply by being told what to do or by watching others, they have to practice and practice frequently. Successful students employ time management systems to create study patterns that work and use active learning methods to add meaning and interest to their study time and maintaining their motivation by connecting reasons for study to their life goals and values. Learners must develop and established good study habits in doing school work, which can raised their academic performance. It is a common knowledge that many students fail in studying; even those who work hard often study in ways considered unproductive. Several others are just contented with barely passing grades, never developing their skills and abilities to the highest level attainable. What to study, where to study and how to study are indispensable to every student in class. In fact, proper study habits are the tool for acquiring deeper understanding in different subjects.
It takes a good study skills, patience and persistence to attain good grades. Learning is never easy. Learning is acquiring new, or modifying existing, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information and a continuous process. Today, a lot of college students dropping and failing their subjects. These may be occurring due of lack of study skills. Study skills play a major role to get and maintain a high grades. Moreover, it is a key to cope up easily with the discussions, sharpens your mind and improve your time management. There are many factors which may affect study skills. Study skills can be affected by the environment in which the student studies. The amount of time used for studying is another affecting factor. Good study skills minimize failure and enable students to take advantage of learning oppurtunities. The researchers believe to achieve a good study skills, one must have a desire to learn and to improve. Motivation and persistence is very essential in learning because the researchers know that learning is a continuous process. Background of the Study One of the goals of PUP is the provision of undergraduate and graduate education which will meet the international standards of quality and excellence. It continues to provide highly qualified, competent and multi-skilled faculty members to produce progressive leadership, integrity in governance and globally competitive students. Through the mission and vision of PUP, the researchers aims to helps the students for enable to explore topics in a deeper and more expansive way, incorporating creative and expressive modes into their learning, and developing deeper insights into the complex connections between the subjects they are studying and as a result Students have a vital personal model for intellectual inquiry and growth and the faculty enjoys a continuously challenging and changing teaching environment, and the rewards of playing a primary role in student development. Institute of Technology (Itech), formerly known as College of Technology, is one of the colleges of PUP that offers diploma programs with ladderized curriculum. Itech focuses merely in the integration of technology and skills development to its students. It intends to develop knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will prepare the students for entry into world of work. Itech provides six different ladderized diploma programs to its students which lead to Bachelor Science degree. This study aims to assess levels of the study skills of 1st year and 2nd year Computer Engineering students of Institute of Technology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework that used in the study is the Input-Process-Output Model. In the IPO model, a process is viewed as a series of boxes (processing elements) connected by inputs and outputs. Information or material objects flow through a series of task or activities based on a set of rules or description points. Flow charts and process diagrams are often used to represent the process. What goes in is the input; what causes the change is the process; what comes out is the output. Figure 1 illustrates the basic IPO model: Figure 1. Input-Process-Output Model The components of the IPO model are defined as: • Input - The information, ideas, and resources used • Process - Actions taken upon/using input or stored material • Output - Results of the processing that then exit the system Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework is a set of coherent ideas or concepts organized in a manner that makes it easy for them to communicate with each other. It uses an IPO model that shows how the data is bringing together in order to be Input Process Output processed and provide a certain output. The IPO includes requirements that are needed for the study. Figure 1. Conceptual Paradigm Figure 1 shown for the input, the researchers sought for the profiles of the students: gender, and year level. It also includes the level of study skills of the students in terms of Concentration, Time management, Note taking, Test preparation and Reading. The process included the collection of data through used of survey questionnaires, analysis and interpreting of data. The output of the study is to assess the current level of study skills of the students. Improvement of study skills and excellent grades can be achieve as Feedback.
Statement of the Problem
This study sought assessed the levels study skills of Computer Engineering students. Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions. 1. What are the profiles of the respondents in terms of the following demographic: 1.1gender 1.2year level 2. What is the level of study skills of the students according to the following: 2.1concentration 2.2time management 2.3note taking 2.4test preparation 2.5reading 3. Is there a significant relationship between the levels of study skills of the respondents to their demographic profile? Hypothesis 1. There is no significant relationship between the levels of study skills of the respondent to their demographic profile.
Scope and Limitations
The study seeks to determine the factors that affect the study skills among Computer Engineering students. The researchers will give a self-evaluation questionnaire that is required to answer by 1st year and 2nd year students of Institute of Technology, regarding with their study skills in terms of: Concentration, Time management, Note taking, and Test preparation. The study is largely dependent on the honesty, sincerity, and integrity of the respondents. This study will not cover the graduating students, due to the fact that we have limited sources. Moreover, 1st year and 2nd year Computer Engineering students are only allowed to participate in the research. Significance of the Study The researchers believe that following will be benefited from the findings of this study. Computer Technology Department. The study may also be guided in the formulation of future modification of educational policies, curriculum and strategies toward a more effective delivery of learning. Professor. The study will also be help in understanding better the diversity of learning of their students. As such, it is hoped that they could develop more effective methodologies in teaching their subject matter. Students. The study will benefits students most specially the Institute of Technology will be given information on how study skills affect their academicperformance. The result of the study will make them aware of the common study skills among their co- education students. Parents/Guardian. The study will help the parents in encouraging their children in achieving academic performance in school or increase their study skills. Future Researcher. The study may be able to use the result of the study in farther research similar to what the study is. Definition of Terms For the purpose of definiteness and in order to avoid confusion and ambiguity, the following terms were defined conceptually and operationally. Conceptually Factors. It is one that actively contributes to an accomplishments, results or process. Integrity. It is basing of one's actions on an internally consistent framework of principles. Knowledge. It is the state of being aware of something Motivation. It is the process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. Study skills. It is the process of organizing and taking in new information, retaining information, or dealing with assessments manner in which you consistently use to study for school or college or even for the next day lesson. Synthesize. It is to combine so as to form a new, complex product.