PERCEPTIONS OF FIRST YEAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF ATIMONAN NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL ENGAGED IN INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

AS CAREER PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION

ABSTRACT This paper presents the study about the perceptions of first year high school students of Atimonan National Comprehensive High School engaged in Information Communication Technology as Career Pathways in Technology Livelihood Education. With the advent of technology, many inventions and advances were made to cope up with the demands of the present life. As for Department the Education, this is a great challenge to prove that Philippines can go along with developing countries in Asia like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and many more. Aside from implementing various programs, the Department revised its curriculum from Basic Education Curriculum to Secondary Education Curriculum and now, the most recent to be implemented next year is the K 12 curriculum and to conclude whether the recent SEC curriculum is effective or ideal in subjects like Career Pathways in Technology and Livelihood Education with so many areas or sections to choose from. This study focuses on Information and Communications Technology as career pathways in Technology and Livelihood Education and the perceptions of first year high school students who are engaged in the said subject. Also, this paper extendedly reveals how the new generations embrace the modern way of schooling and learning.

INTRODUCTION Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries. The term is somewhat more common outside of the United States (http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/ICT). ICT has been one of the most in-demand fields these days all over the world. That is, because most companies, government and educational institutions, agencies,

entrepreneurs and even simple individuals do undoubtedly rely on ICT. To cope up with the rapid technological advances, the Department of Education designed the Secondary Education Curriculum and recently the K-12 program, which will kick-off next year. The said programs are expected to respond to the needs of modern society. Based on the Secondary Education Curriculum (SEC), some improvements were made in different specially the Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), during the previous years, TLE was divided into four areas like home economics, industrial arts, computer education and entrepreneurship wherein the said areas will be discussed in every grading period. Compared to the recent curriculum, the TLE subject has been remodel by creating a competency-based courses, this means that each student is allowed to choose a field suited to his/her skills. Students will be evaluated at the end of the school year and will be assessed if he/she must continue pursuing the course or shift to another where the students are excelling. Some of the career pathways to choose from are: Industrial Arts,
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Agri-Fisheries, Automotive Technology, Beauty Care, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and many more. With so many courses to offer, Information and Communication Technology is one of the topmost options probably because of its demand to the market. It is quite true that most students of this new generation have a much grasps and know-how about technologies but the main concern to this is why and how students use and apply these crafts as well as their perceptions when they hear the word Information and Communications Technology which is somehow and in some ways affect their behavior in the said career path. In this modern age, a five year old child can operate gadgets and equipment like cellphones, computers, PlayStations, etc. better than a man who is in his middle age. It is indeed obvious that most youngsters are exposed to technology. As such, it can easily classify the things they do in technology. Most kids see computer as leisure. If available and without proper guidance of parents or guardian, they will spend most of their time dealing with computer games. Through this cause, understanding and perception about technology is not that close if compared to the main purpose and essence of it. In public schools like Atimonan National Comprehensive High School, it is expected to have a bulk of enrollees from nearby barangays. Subjects like TLE having ICT as a course is a big challenge. This study aims to reveal the perceptions of first year students of Atimonan National Comprehensive regarding ICT.

METHODOLOGY

Atimonan, Quezon has five public secondary schools scattered on various area of the town. The largest among those public schools is the Atimonan National Comprehensive High School because of its location in the main town. Every year, many freshmen students from nearby and remote barangays without secondary schools closest to their place were enrolled in the said school. This school year 2011 2012, with eleven sections including the Science class, more than two hundred students are engaged in Information and Communications Technology as career path in Technology Livelihood Education. The results of this paper were gathered during observations while the teacher is delivering the topics about Computer Technology. Students with various level of understanding on the lesson, social, economic and family background, location and daily activities are the main elements considered to arrive with different perceptions coming from the students. Answers derived from the students during recitation and preliminary discussions provide results about how they perceive ICT as a course. Findings which are considered to be valid were also used in this paper.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In todays knowledge society, not only must schools ensure that learners possess the competencies to wield these new information and communication tools productively, they must equip learners with the critical and analytic tools necessary to live and flourish in an information-saturated environment. Mastery of facts has become less important than the ability to contextualize these facts and derive their meaning within specific contexts. Thus, learners must develop three foundational skills: 1) how to find information; 2) how to determine if what is found is relevant to the task at hand; 3) how to determine if the relevant information is accurate. (Tinio, 2002 p.3). Elements Based on observations among 210 students, some elements or factors which affect the ability to learn and perceptions of first year students about ICT are the following: Socio-Economic Status. Most students in public schools belong to the low level status wherein the income of the family is just enough to acquire basic necessities such as food shelter and clothing. Because of this, students dont have the chance to explore the world of Information Technology. Location. Students who live in remote areas dont have access to the World Wide Web, thus the only ways of communication is through the use of cellphone. Daily Activities. Based on observation, most high school students who have access in the World Wide Web uses it for leisure activities such as online games, social networking, online chatting, watching videos and downloading music.

Parent. Some parents dont have enough knowledge to monitor their child concerning the use of computer in their home. Based on the findings, students perceive that technology is all about leisure and fun. Without proper knowledge what ICT is all about, they tend to explain it in a way that they use it. Among 210 students, only 20% or 42 students can explain what computers and other technologies are all about. 30% or 63 students describe computer as games they used to play and social networking sites they visit. 50% or almost half of the students dont have any idea what computer is all about, likewise they dont know how to operate computer or do simple operations in some office applications like word processing, electronic spreadsheet, etc. Their perceptions about computer are games and internet. Figure 1 shows the graphical representation of the findings.

Perceptions of Students
20% 50% 30% No Idea Computer as tool for productivity Computer as leisure

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Integrating and understanding the real essence of technology is a big challenge not only to the students but especially to the Department of Education and teachers who are responsible for the learning and productivity of the students. Although most students are not that familiar with what computer and technology can bring to them and how will they use and earn some living from it, it is not too late to teach and enlighten them on what is the real purpose of technology to the lives of everyone. Students can have a better perspective and viewpoint about technology if they will educate about the real purpose of technology, its vital role in this ever changing environment and the responsibilities that they have while using and applying it to the day to day routine. Technology is our gateway to success but can also be a bane if not properly handled.

REFERENCES

Information and Communications Technology (Wikipedia.org) Information and Communications Technology . http://searchciomidmarket.techtarget.com/definition/ICT Pinoy Internet: Philippine Case Study. Michael Minges et.al March 2002 Survey of Information & Communication Technology Utilization in Philippine Public High Schools. V. Tinio. March 2002

Information and Communication Technology Development in the Philippines. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan006170.pdf

ICT Country Case Studies - Philippineshttp://www.itu.int/ITUD/ict/cs/philippines/index.html