DIFFICULTIES FACED BY LAGUNA UNIVERSITY GRADE 11 ICT

STUDENTS TOWARDS COMPUTER PROGRAMMING I

Background of the Study

According to Codecademy (2018) computer programming is a way of giving computers

instructions about what they should do next. These instructions are known as code, and computer

programmers write code to solve problems or perform a task. Norris (2001), Trilling & Fadel

(2009) also stated that students are expected to be knowledgeable about ICT to survive in the

twenty-first century. It means that learning computer programming will improve and develop

ourselves in the near future. Learning programming requires time to fully understand for a

person who wants to be a professional programmer. Novice computer programmer are lack of

skills and knowledge about programming just like the Grade 11 students of Laguna University.

On the first semester, ICT students used C# as their programming language. For the second

semester they use Visual Basics, their programming language changes for just only few months

that is why even they passed the first semester their knowledge and skills are not fully

developed. The research wants to know the problem they faced during their first semester in

computer programming.

Laguna University is one of the universities in Laguna located in Bubukal, Sta. Cruz

where most students enrolled. Because of the trend, many students chose courses that focuses on

computer. Other student choses the ICT strand because of friends and other thought it was easy

that is why many ICT students experiencing difficulties with their major subject that is computer

programming. The general situation or circumstance that makes the researcher develop this study
are because of the hardships that can affect the development of the skills and knowledge of some

ICT students on computer programming.

One study by Rahmat et al. (2012) states that making a computer program is not an easy

thing. This skill need another skills, like designing algorithm, writing program in certain program

language and understanding syntax from the program.

The problem of the students on computer programming needs action. They can’t

understand their lessons that is why sometimes it causes failure on some quizzes and activities

and worst, low grades on that subject. The student really needs to improve their knowledge and

skills on computer.

This research main objective is to determine the problem of some Grade 11 students of

Laguna University that affects their performance on computer programming.

This study aims to discover the perception of Grade 11 ICT students in computer

programming and to let the teachers to improve their teaching style on their students that is

having difficulty on programming subject.

Research Question

The purpose of this study is to discover the difficulties of some students on computer

programming for Grade 11 ICT at Laguna University. At this stage in the research the

In this study, the researchers want to know the perspective and answers of some students

to the following questions:

1. What are the problems encountered of the students on Computer Programming 1?

 2. What are the advantages of being a student under the Computer Programming 1

course?

3. How can the students overcome their difficulties on Computer Programming 1?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This research study focused on the analysis of the problem of selected Grade ICT

students of Laguna University on Computer Programming I. This study also shows how the

problem can affect the performance of the students.

On the other hand, this study does not cover the Grade 12 ICT and other strand from

Laguna University because

Significance of the Study

This study aims to know the problems that are ICT students of Laguna University faced

during their first semester in Computer Programming 1. This research study will benefits the

following:

1. Students – This research will help the students to improve their knowledge and skills

about computer programming that they can use for their future.

2. Teachers – This research will allow them to know what are the difficulties of their

students are facing so that they will know what to improve on that student.

3. Proponents – It will help the researchers to increase their knowledge about computer

programming and the significance of learning computer programming.

 4. Future researcher – This study will benefits the future researchers to lessen their time

finding information for their research and give them knowledge about this kind of topic.

Statement of the problem

STATEMENT 1

The Department of Education (DepEd) general goal is to enhance and develop the skills

of the student in the field of technology in this country. They also want to improve the quality of

education for the excellent performance of every students.

STATEMENT 2

On the other hand, there are still many student are facing difficulties with computer

programming that affects their skills in some task. These difficulties leads them to low grades

and poor performance.

STATEMENT 3

Hence, this problem leads to the researcher to conduct this study to understand their skills

and difficulties on computer programming. With this research it can use as references to know

the challenges faced by ICT students and in that way, it can help to improve the learning and

teaching strategies of both students and the teachers.

Definition of Terms

To have a better understanding in this study, the researcher showed the following term

that will enlighten the readers.

Code- combination of symbols, letters and number to give instruction to a computer. In

this study, code is used as an instrument of a programmer to give instruction and direction to a

computer to perform a specific task.

Computer Programming- the way of giving a certain instruction on a computer.

ICT- it is closely related to Information Technology but it focuses on telecommunication

and computers.

Programmer- the one who write a codes and perform a specific task.

Programming language- a language of a computer that consist of set of instructions.

Visual Basic – a type of programming language that is easy to learn and use for a novice

programmer.