COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

Determining the Efficacy of Online Coding Resources on FEU-Alabang

Sophomore IT Students' Programming Skills

Members:

Britanico, Patricia
Cafugauan, Mark Kenneth
Dela Peña, Jiana Alana-Val
Duñas, Sean
Eliot, John Simley
Monteiro, Brian
Serohijos, Anjo
Sinamaban, John Christopher
Sison, Terrence Mark
Torrente, Kaira Eisley

AWB-21
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS
INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study:

Information Technology is a broad course that demands focus from the student. With the
industry’s changing demands and technology’s evolving system, the IT student themself has to
stay updated on the needs of their desired work and focus on their strengths. One of the
foundations in entering the program requires razor-sharp focus with programming, a subject that
complements the course in that they are both broad in their scope and possibilities. Industry
standards prove difficult to attain, and companies only demand the most competent of workers in
this field. Even experts themselves, when consulted, give the advice that mastering one
programming language is the best bet to entering a career path in IT. A common action aspiring
IT person do to “test the waters” for this field is entering a tertiary educational institution filled
with expert educators, sharing their knowledge and work experience to college students. These
teachers help immerse the student, presenting a picture of real-life situations and applications for
the knowledge required in the Technology Industry, while being bound by the institution’s
curriculum. A challenge presented within the standard 4-year course is compiling all the
educational material for entry-level students to grasp concepts that even experts themselves
struggle with. Staying on the topic of programming, there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes
to choosing an optimal language for the individual. Different programming languages, such as
the commonly known “HTML”, “C++”, and “Java” that is also commonly taught in the
Philippines, may have their commonalities, though still have numerous intricacies and unique
elements that make learning just a single language an enormous task. There are aspects that
prove difficult to learn, such as syntax for algorithms, applying code to computing devices,
innovating learned knowledge for practical use, studying the history behind different systems
and their creators, and so on. While the industry demand exists, personal preference,
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

understanding, and tolerance still pushes the budding IT student to their desired course.
Through this, staying updated on the chosen language keeps the learner afloat and pushes them
to continue functioning in the technology aspect of choice. As tertiary students, most are new to
the concepts presented and are yet finding their footing in what concepts they choose to master.
The institution helps align students’ footing by providing curriculum-based learning that gives a
summary of required elements in an allotted time frame. Though the protocol of the institution
exists, students are still encouraged to curate independent study for the sake of their
programming ability. An alternative learning path that supplements curriculum-based learning is
researching through external programming sites. These websites hold information that aids
students and is focused on providing answers for specific, unorganized lessons that are one click
away. After such learning, examinations are administered to IT students through their major
subjects and their abilities are gauged based on laboratory activities and written examinations.
Practical use and Knowledge-based exams give the image of how efficient the learning tools
provided to the student are. Through this, the researchers intend to host a similar test, gauging
how much of an impact outsourced learning to external programming sites aids student learning
in chosen aspects. The respondents are of the optimal level, sophomore undergraduates who have
already experienced a year of programming and can give a clear picture of how their introduction
to the topic has been affected by learning outside of the school-allotted time frame.

Statement of the problem:

The question that the researchers will tackle is, "How well do online coding
applications/tutorials help improve the coding skills of IT students in FEU-Alabang?", as stated
in question form based on the title above.

Significance of the study

Learning programming is an essential requirement for IT students to gain knowledge that

is entry-level for their desired course. Arguably, this topic keeps the student afloat in whatever
focused course of this broad program they decide to tackle. The study contributes to the seedling
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

knowledge of how sources provided by the school as well as the sources accessed
through the internet for programming impact the educational information gathered by the IT
students, through gauging the staying power of the information they absorb from external
programming sites such as “GitHub”, ”Stack Overflow”, “geeksforgeeks”, and other sources
alike. This study aims to educate its reader as to how often students utilize external sources to aid
information retention related to programming as well as how information they have gathered
assist them in answering activities provided by the academic institution. Aside from this, the
study and its results can be significant to the following:

School administration to take note of student’s preference when seeking to retain

knowledge and which sources they decide to use, possibly aligning the curriculum to bridge
students towards sources that help students learn programming in and out of school-allotted time
frame. Depending on the study’s conclusion, administration can observe students’ study habits
and build a system around the patterns for an optimal learning environment.

IT school educators that can take notice of how students decide to learn programming
and fundamentals of the course. The challenge of learning new concepts in technology becomes
double fold when teachers are slated to educate students who are still being introduced to the
complicated lessons. Without proper initiation into the curriculum, teachers will be unable to
help students retain IT concepts. Through seeing students’ perspective related to independent
learning, there can be teacher-based learning that creates lenient, efficient learning in the
classroom.

Future researchers since the study only takes place in FEU – Alabang, different
studying methods and environments for IT students in other educational institutions could benefit
from the conclusions of this study as to how learning is supplemented between curriculum-based
and external, outsourced learning. This could offer a new perspective that points researchers to
conducting a similar research with their own factors to benefit their own group.
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

Technology Industry since the internet is still a somewhat new medium that the general
public has the chance to utilize, they can take advantage of the need for wider, accessible
information relating to current technology, and in extension, programming. If taken advantage
of, expert knowledge could become more widespread in distribution, thus resulting in more
potential IT members.

Sophomore IT Students of FEU – Alabang that contribute to the study can also
understand the perception of fellow learners with their pace and preference in learning the aspect
of programming. The school curriculum introduces students to lessons, showing an organized
syllabus of possible scenarios and examples of real-life demands in the IT field. Considering that
most members of this group are fairly new and experienced with amateur programming, results
from this study could show common outsourced systems of learning, and showcase the efficacy
of learning through external websites for the improvement of programming ability.

Objectives: (Use action verbs, not understand)

● Explore how often sophomore IT students in FEU-Alabang outsource to programming

sites for more information about the topics that they are studying. (REPHRASE)
● Analyze if the knowledge students gain from external programming sites contribute to
how well they can answer the exercises, quizzes, and exams administered by their
educational institution.
● Determine if learning from online resources outside of those provided by the institution
help students retain programming knowledge.
● Distinguish if students have a learning preference between institution-provided material
and external learning material.

● Survey common learning materials students interact with outside of the institution-
provided material.

Scope and Limitations

 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

This study encompasses the utilization of external programming sites by the IT students
of FEU Alabang and how often this information has been useful for them in terms of answering
the activities provided by the school. Included here is determining if students have a preference
between institution-provided material or external sources. The researchers acknowledge that the
institution distributes outsourced learning in online material, and the study focuses on external
sources not explicitly distributed by the school. This study will be conducted only by the given
time schedule, which is one semester of the school year, and will only focus on the study group
of undergraduate IT students currently enrolled in FEU Alabang. This study does not aim to
compare the effectiveness of the study materials provided by the school and the effectiveness of
information and study materials that can be accessed through the internet to the learnings of IT
students in FEU Alabang.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Internet was the biggest discovery by mankind in the 20th century, with more than
50% of the global population using it today. Benefits such as online learning and an easily
accessible education system are made possible with fast and relatively low-cost access to
information on the internet. Online education gives us the benefit of accessing short-term courses
with the course materials available and cross-referencing the information. The Internet also
houses simplified information sourced from more-experienced personnel far away. (Edu Zenith,
2020)

In the current era of modern technology, where information is easily accessible, Online
resources obtained through the internet exist hand in hand alongside learning. Generally, all
students are under the internet's guidance for additional resources for the subject or skills they
want to improve on. Last 2013, a renowned American Politician and former governor of Florida,
Jeb Bush, stated that the internet is the most powerful and potent tool for innovation.
Considering that not all students can immediately catch-up with the lessons given through
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

traditional learning, online resources have proven to be an alternative compared to

traditional learning. It’s a great opportunity to get access to the sources and expertise of the
knowledgeable.

The use of the internet enhances most of the students’ self-directed learning, pointing out
that the availability of how-do-it online videos has extended their skills in research and has
helped them to get conversant to certain practical and technical aspects of their various courses.
(Apuke and Iyendo, 2018) A study in the University of Abuja, Nigeria showed that 59% of
students use the internet as an aid in their research, nearly half of the student population that was
surveyed, and a third of the population confirming that they use the internet to complete
schoolwork and prepare for exams. The results conclude that the web is essential in academic
learning. (Emeke and Nyeche 2016).

Individuals in various age gatherings and occupations, understudies, and academicians

who do logical research and get ready undertakings, are inclined to using the Web since it is the
most straightforward, quickest, and least expensive method of getting essential data (Cloud,
1989). Based on the data collected by the study consisting of project scores, homework scores,
and final grades, an average of 74% shows that students found the necessary information from
sources that are harder to access while being more reliable, concluding that the internet is useful
for students. (The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2010)

There are currently 3.8 billion smartphone users worldwide, (Statisca, 2020) and with the
advancement of the internet, the use of smartphones as a learning material is now possible.
According to a survey by Learning House, about 50% of the students surveyed used mobile
devices as learning material, stating that they can easily access the contents of their courses, and
collaborate with their classmates and professors. (Walker, 2018) However, mobile devices have
their limitations in terms of schoolwork convenience. Computers are built for complexity and
students can work on complex school projects and subjects such as Science, Math, Programming,
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

etc. There are also complex applications and training that are only available on
computers. (Shabani, 2009).

Understanding programming languages is a necessity since the language of computers is

very limited compared to human language. Learning materials can be used to progress this
understanding through sources in and out of the curriculum, with outsourced resources helping
aspiring IT students stay up-to-date with the industries’ norms and acquire new skills to be
learned with. (Tim Stobierski, 2020).

Digital technology continues to advance and has currently been an important part of our
modern world society. Technology has made information accessible, transmittable from
anywhere and to all groups of people. Education has reached most parts of the world and opened
up new manners of understanding lessons, cementing ICT as an integral part of human life
(Gihan Wikramanayake, 2005). Different programming languages are developed depending on
the generation, creation, and acquisition of knowledge through technology.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researchers of this study will use the Explanatory Research Design to evaluate the
results from the qualitative study. Aside from a Likert scale, opinions will be asked for at the end
of the survey.

Research Approach

Undergraduate IT students from FEU-Alabang will be chosen as respondents for this study,
those who are willing to participate and cooperate in this study will serve as the data for this
research. As for the Research approach the researcher will be using Mixed methods. This method
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

includes the processing of both quantitative and qualitative data, the combination of the
two data sources and the use of distinct designs that may require philosophical assumptions and
theoretical frameworks. This method gives a more complete view of the research issue than it does.

Sampling Method

As for sample size and sampling method, researchers will use probability sampling method
specifically cluster sampling. Researchers split the whole population into portions or clusters of
the population. Clusters are classified and included in a survey depending on their degree of year.
The population of sophomore IT students will be subjected to an interview to serve as the data of
this study.

Data Collection Method

Researchers may use online surveys in this data collection process. Population will come
from all sophomore undergraduates of FEU-Alabang and it will be conducted using Google Forms.
The interview technique can be used as an alternative to collecting data with a qualitative approach,
whereas the interviewer would administer an interview using an online video call limited to the
number of respondents, who will be chosen based on a random system.

Data Analysis Method

Mixed Method is chosen for data analysis. This approach consists of gathering and
reviewing both quantitative (closed) and qualitative (open-ended) data. Researchers should use
comprehensive methods to gather and interpret data that are relevant to the practice of each system,
such as ensuring the appropriate sample size for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Using this
approach works by combining the findings of one form of study with another research process.
The average of quantitative results supplemented by the respondents’ answers will help conclude
the research. As a result, mixed-method analysis is used to avoid false results.
 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

Timeframe (brief draft)

 March 10 - Submission of Research Proposal

 March 11 - 25 - Questionnaire distribution & Data-gathering
 March 26 - 28 - Research Analysis and Data-Analysis; Conclusion will be
reached through gathered data
 March 29 - Submission of SA3 / Final Requirement
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References:

 Apuke, O., & Iyendo, T. (2018, December 17). University students' usage of the
internet resources for research and learning: Forms of access and perceptions of
utility. Retrieved March 04, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844018341227
 Dimakis, A. (2020, April 8). Impact of the Internet on Education (1990-2020).
Learning Registry. https://learningregistry.org/how/impact-of-the-internet-on-
education/
 Emeke, U. J., & Nyeeche, O. S. (2016). Impact of Internet Usage on the Academic
Performance of Undergraduates Students: A case study of the University of Abuja,
Nigeria. Retrieved March 4, 2021, from
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/51651315/Impact_of_Internet_Usage_on_the
_Academic_Performance_of_Undergraduates_Students_copy.pdf?1486323096=&r
esponse-content-
disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DImpact_of_Internet_Usage_on_the_Academi
c.pdf&Expires=1614867501&Signature=FXZEYj2oN-
W7UxctLy86g9f3JoovbnhivRRbdHIDk9lPT0GA3MQuPLFIjwvH8FAMMTE6Vc
E2XbT1vU18K7286NvPgsmVDF87rJa7wWPMEphKk6o2l5m6624ueecYS1gu-
446Nc1d0ok1z6o72H5JqMb-
2ZIa0VMH8NI31t~q~cFhq8eOZl4STbG6pPnjA3OIshR5vdUuKTX5YzwKhAphU
NV3ETSU5LQ8fqqGDbPLgKV~ekLlgEmmXxvn-
Fgaq3vP0Vg~S1n2E4ZS~9FUtdqn6ZQJQiwZnEP8T6f-
3z9tXRbme8EYUDH8QM6LqIBN5EvWXe85ygam~qkKV8xKgMdpeQ__&Key-
Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
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 M. (2010, September 7). The Numerous and Useful Advantages of the Internet in
Education. Eduzenith. https://eduzenith.com/advantages-of-internet-in-
education?fbclid=IwAR3BpDIc2RCI4tfjQr965YeMrqy87YmfIZiDhe_nqKcuqSM
BTe0xXjPjDP0
 O'Dea, P., & 10, D. (2020, December 10). Smartphone users 2020. Retrieved
March 04, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-
smartphone-users-worldwide/
 Sahin, Y., Balta, S., & Ercan, T. (2010). THE USE OF INTERNET RESOURCES
BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THEIR COURSE PROJECTS
ELICITATION: A CASE STUDY (Master's thesis). AprilRetrieved from
http://www.tojet.net/articles/v9i2/9224.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0tNbk3988-
j5TlvwqgmEVzlZNKbFeEfag7ITYyMChMNogWlQNJGwVlJn8
 Shabani. (n.d.). Educational technology debate. Retrieved March 04, 2021, from
http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/computers-are-more-
capable-than-mobile-phones/#IDComment23458279
 Stobierski, T. (2020, August 7). How To Improve Your Coding Skills & Reach
Your Goals. Northeastern University Graduate Programs.
https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/improve-your-coding-
skills/?fbclid=IwAR0GdaK2aacmkRFFE4XftPy4fz5m2zQPvyhcyUVtKmodjeVuY
UDW3nRG6gQ
 Walker, A. (2018, August 03). Can you really study online using a mobile device?
Retrieved March 04, 2021, from https://www.onlinestudies.com/article/can-you-
really-study-online-using-a-mobile-device/
 Wikramanayake, G. N. (2005, August 15). Impact of Digital Technology on
Education. ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216361364_Impact_of_Digital_Technolo
gy_on_Education
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Plagiarism Report:

Plagiarism Checker site provided by: https://plagiarismdetector.net/

 COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

Appendices

LIKERT SCALE QUESTIONNAIRE

(Print form, will be moved to Google Forms for distanced survey)

SCALE

5 - Very often

4 - Often

3 - Occasionally

2 - Rarely

1 – Never

Good day! We are researchers from FEU-Alabang’s BSIT-SMBA course, gathering data
with the question “"How well do online coding applications/tutorials help improve the coding
skills of IT students in FEU-Alabang?"

With your consent, we would like to ask the following questions to progress our research,
and simultaneously add to the knowledge concerning if and what alternate methods students use
to maintain their programming skills, especially since our own group is taking the subject itself.
Data gathered will help understand any possible avenues of integrating other sources of learning
programming to advance student ability in the subject.
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PART 1 (NUMBER SCALE):

From a scale of 1 (Never) - 5 (Very Often), rate your perception of the following questions:

1.How often do you utilize programming sites for information on your current modules?
Sites such as Stackoverflow, W3schools, Github, etc…

2.How often do you find relevant information from those sites that apply to the topics that
you are currently studying?

3.How often does the information that you have gathered from the programming sites
help or assist you in answering compliance activities for your subjects?

4.How often do programming sites that you utilize hone your programming skills
therefore aiding your skills needed to answer the school’s technical exams?

5.How often do you retain the information that you have studied from the programming
sites?

6.How often do you implement information absorbed from the sites to several different
topics that you are studying?
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7. How often do you find the information provided by the programming sites more
preferrable than those provided by the institution?

8. How often do you rely on programming sites than the modules provided by the
institution?

PART 2 (YES/NO): Answer YES or NO, and supply WORDED ANSWERS if you
AGREE to the following questions:

9. Do you often seek out programming websites to learn at a better pace?

□ YES

□ NO

If answer is YES, please list down 3 common sources you use:

a) ____________________________

b) ____________________________

c) ____________________________
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10. Do external programming sites help you learn programming better?

□ YES

□ NO

If YES, please list down three ways external sites benefit your programming knowledge:

a) ____________________________

b) ____________________________

c) ____________________________
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EVALUATION OF MEMBERS (LEADER: Sison, Terrence)

Actual contribution to the proposal -------- 80%

Attitude/Cooperation/Participation in
meetings/consultations/brainstorming------ 20%

MEMBERS:
(Britanico, Patricia
Dela Peña, Jiana
Duñas, Sean
Sinamban, John Christopher) – Handled RRL

(Cafugauan, Mark Kenneth

Eliot, John Simley
Monteiro, Brian
Serohijos, Anjo) – Handled Methodology

(Sison, Terrence Mark

Torrente, Kaira Eisley) – Handled Introduction, Appendices, and
Proofreading of paper

Fortunately, all members contributed completely to both the proposal and participation in
meeting and have all been cooperative, therefore all deserve the perfect score in the group
evaluation.