The aim of this qualitative action research is to know students’ insights in relation to the competency “Webpage Creation Using Weebly” in Empowerment Technologies. There were 20 student-respondents who voluntarily shared their statements to answer the specified questions of the study. Respondents would need help and good advice in creating useful and accessible websites. Considering that majority of them could not create a website using the online dashboard of Weebly because they didn’t know the steps in creating a website. In addition, all respondents shared their suggestions to resolve the problem in creating a website as a competency-based content in Grade 11 Empowerment Technologies. They would want the reporter to provide concrete procedures in designing the web pages with proper demonstrations. Therefore, it was recommended for that DepEd Cebu Province would approve the proposed training-workshop for teachers in building the classroom website for teaching and learning as the primary output of the study. Keywords: Information and Communications Technology (ICT); DepEd Dalaguete NHS Students’ Insights in “Webpage Creation” Using Weebly in Empowerment Technologies; Qualitative Action Research; Poblacion, Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines
Rationale of the Study The use of technologies serves its purpose in different learning institutions around the world wherein students have preferred to utilize gadgets and schools’ Information and Communications Technology (ICT) facilities to enhance their applied and learned skills in technologies. European and American students have utilized the technologies to create their personal websites that can be used in learning the subjects. To create a website is a competency in the K to 12 Senior High School Curriculum. And this qualitative research is concerned with the insights of students to the content ‘Web Page Creation Using Weebly’ as one of the competencies from the Curriculum Guide (CG) in Empowerment Technologies (Management Association, Information Resources. (2015) Standards and Standardization: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. p. 223 (4) states that the concept of mathcaching is also an excellent resource for the purpose of teaching preservice and inservice teachers about the Common Core State Standards. Using a website builder such as Weebly (https://www.weebly.com), students (either individually or in groups) can create their own mathcache website that is aligned with the CCSSM. The researchers believed that designing of a webpage is also under the principle of Gestalt who believes every web designer should consider when moving through the design process (Ahmed Hussam, 2011). And such principle is supported by Howard Gardner (1983), another educational theorist, proposes the theory of Multiple Intelligences and argues that if teaching is flexible and pays attention to the range of intelligences, more students will gain a better understanding of what is being taught. Now, the virtual developments are linked in the Worldwide Web that would enhance opportunities to help learners understand from a diverse environment. The webpage is precisely one of the links of the Worldwide Web that can be developed by students in the Senior High School. They can collaboratively create their personal websites to be used in learning without the use of programming language for free using the free sub-domain of Weebly. Students can browse the sites using the desktops, laptops, tablets, e-notebooks, and mobile phones. The creation of the webpage using Weebly is one of the competencies from the Curriculum Guide (CG) of Empowerment Technologies under Republic Act No. 10533 that is implemented by the Department of Education in the Philippines. The creation-and-editing application of the websites is very simple. The students can just click, hold, drag and drop the selected image or text and the design will automatically rearrange with a grid layout. Everything really fits into the best place of your webpage. In this qualitative research, the students were asked about their insights in the content ‘Creation of the Webpage Using Weebly’. In the creation of the webpage using Weebly, the users accessed www.weebly.com and created their account. Once the users had their Weebly accounts, they could login and create their websites then, design their subpages. However, there were students who failed to develop their personal websites. And this was the primary purpose of this study - to know the reasons why students fail to create their websites. This virtual innovation would lead to certain insights of students in the building of their personal websites especially when they failed to create a webpage using weebly. This study was conducted to further interview respondents of their possible insights, reasons, and suggestions to resolve the problem. Theoretical Background This study is anchored from Gestalt’s Principle of web designs, Piaget’s Theory of Constructivism, Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, John Dewey’s Theory of Learning, and Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. And this is strengthened by the Department of Education through DepEd Memo 143, s. 2017 for ICT Best Practices and (DepEd Order No. 43, s. 2015), as amended by (DepEd Order No 4, s. 2016) then, repealed by (DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2017) in which this qualitative action research would be precisely in relation to the Research Agenda Category: Teaching and Learning. The way that people see the designs strongly effects the meaningthat they take away from them. The Gestalt Principle examines these phenomena; As such, it’s one of the fundamental principles that each and every web designer should consider when moving through the design process (Ahmed Hussam, 2011).Piaget's Theory of Constructivism addresses how learning actually occurs, not focusing on what influences learning. The role of teachers is very important. Instead of giving a lecture the teachers in this theory function as facilitators whose role is to aid the student when it comes to their own understanding. In constructivist learning, students construct their own knowledge and there is a purposeful nature to designing learning activities. A bridge is built between what students already know and what they are expected to learn (Gagnon & Callay 2006).Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience is a visual representation of learning resources arranged according to degree of abstractness. The further you move away from the cone, the more abstract the learning resource becomes. The Cone of Experience implies that we move from the concrete to the abstract (and from abstract to the concrete as well.) Direct experiences serve as the foundation of concept formation, generalization and abstraction. John Dewey in his famous Theory of Learning by Doing has made this fundamental point succinctly: “an ounce of experience is better than a ton of theory” because it is only in experience that any theory has vital and verifiable significance. An experience, a very humble experience, is capable of generating and carrying any amount of theory (or intellectual content), but a theory apart from an experience cannot be definitely grasped as a theory. It bends to become a mere verbal formula, a set of catchwords used to render thinking, or genuine theorizing unnecessary and impossible (Corpuz and Lucido, 2008). Howard Gardner, PH. D. in his Theory of Multiple Intelligences emphasizes and supports that teaching is flexible and pays attention to the range of intelligences, that more students will gain a better understanding of what is being taught.
The personal profile of student-respondents focused only to student’s name considering that the respondents of the study were specified only to Grade 11 students who took Empowerment Technology-subject from the previous semester but who hadn’t yet developed their personal website using Weebly. The respondents were asked pertaining to their insights in the competency “Web Page Creation Using Weebly”. According to Graham Stanley (2013) stated that it’s now quite feasible to create a website without knowing anything about HTML or, indeed, any other computer language. He said, “Create an account with Weebly” and he further stated that it is easy and just requires a name, an email address and a password. The researchers asked respondents why they haven’t yet created their personal website. The researchers would need to know respondents’ reasons to their missed competency which was really very important. And precisely, this was the very purpose of this qualitative research that respondents would have to answer the question “Why don’t you create a web page using Weebly?” According to Graham Stanley (2013) stated that the website can be created for free, using Weebly at http://www.weebly.com. It was further explained that no need for students to spend their money just to have a good personal website. The researchers allowed respondents to suggest possible ICT training-workshop in relation to the development of students’ website justly to resolve their missed competency from the previous semester. The respondents had answered the question “What are your suggestions so that you can create a web page using Weebly?” Then, researchers allowed respondents to suggest possible resolutions of the problem. And expectedly, respondents would undergo the training-workshop in the creation of website using Weebly. According to Peter Cope (2012) stated that there are now many online sites that let you create your own website from scratch. A popular one is Weebly, although there are plenty of others too. The great thing is that joining Weebly to create a basic website, quite sufficient for most needs, is free. Researchers did summarize and discuss respondents’ answers after data gathering. Then, findings, conclusions, and recommendations would be presented to the school administration and to DepEd offices for planning. According to Lori Holcomb et. al (2007) and cited by (Leu et al., 2004) that through its use, the Internet has allowed for greater access to information and resources. They believed that by having access to information, an individual has access to opportunity, thereby making the Internet an essential tool for teaching and learning. Holcomb et. al (2007), further stated that educators have a responsibility to teach students how to unlock the information which is potential to the Internet that makes available by extending a wide range of online learning experiences. In addition, Lori Holcomb et. al (2007) stated that new skills and strategies are essential in the global marketplace. They believed that in recent estimate suggests that one billion individuals, or one-sixth of the world's population, are now online. They also stated that the rate of this growth is staggering, and most of it has occurred during the past few years. Conditionally, they believed that if the current rate of access is sustained, half of the world's population will be online in another five years, as it was also cited by (Global Reach, 2005). Moreover, Lori Holcomb et. al (2007) stated that these profound changes at home and at work are gradually being mirrored in our classrooms as nations seek to prepare their students for the literacy and learning requirements of life in a an age of information and communication as it was cited by (Leu & Kinzer, 2000). In addition, it was cited in the journal (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2003) that teachers who develop classroom websites demonstrate a commitment to preparing students for participation in a growing technologically-literate world. They believed that the use of ICTs calls for fundamental change in the ways we teach as it was also cited by (Leu, 2000). The above statements are very much necessary to motivate teachers of Empowerment Technologies to share their ideas in developing simple websites to students. Moreover, as stated by Lori Holcomb et. al (2007) in this example, that in order to be competitive in the global market, students must be able to identify important problems, locate useful information related to the problem, critically evaluate the information, synthesize the information, and quickly communicate the solution to others as it was also cited by Leu et al, (2004). According to (Alexander & Jetton, 2002; Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2000) that since academic achievement is dependent on the ability to read, comprehend, and communicate at high levels and they further stated that since the Internet is increasingly used in school classrooms for information and communication, it is essential that research begin to study the connection between online literacy and learning in school classrooms. They believed that classroom websites can help teachers enhance these new literacy skills at school and parents to support and reinforce them at home. This qualitative research entitled, “INSIGHTS OF STUDENTS TO THE CONTENT ‘WEB PAGE CREATION USING WEEBLY’ IN EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES” is in relation to the areas: improving access to education; improving the quality of education; and improving governance as stipulated in (DepEd Order No. 43, s. 2015), as amended by (DepEd Order No 4, s. 2016) however, repealed by (DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2017) in which said research is precisely in relation to the Research Agenda Category: Teaching and Learning. Therefore, the proposed qualitative research was conducted at Dalaguete National High School to Grade 11 students who had taken the subject, Empowerment Technologies but hadn’t yet developed their personal website. The purpose of this research is to plan for a training-workshop for Senior High School Grades 11 and 12 students and teachers in order to technically deliver the objectives of the teaching and learning process. THE PROBLEM Statement of the Problem This qualitative action research gathered insights of students to the competency, ‘Web Page Creation Using Weebly’ in Empowerment Technologies. The respondents of the study were the Dalaguete National High School Grade 11 who had taken the above mentioned subject but were not able to develop their personal website. The respondents answered the following questions: 1. What is the information related to: 1.1 Personal Profile of Respondents, specifically to student’s name? 2. What are your insights in the content ‘Web Page Creation Using Weebly’ as stated in the Curriculum Guide (CG) in Empowerment Technologies? 3. Why don’t you create a web page using Weebly? 4. What are your suggestions so that you can create a web page using Weebly?
Significance of the Study This study would benefit the following: Department of Education. The result of the study would be their basis in planning reliable trainings of students in the development of personal websites. Division of Cebu. The DepEd office would have to approve the action research and would have the responsibility for planning and considered as one of the beneficiaries of this action research. Community. The community would be given a chance to uplift their status of living by producing knowledgeable and skillful community members. They could also monitor the students’ activities through browsing their personal website/s. Parents. Being the most concerned stakeholders, the findings of the study might encourage parents to support the school in promoting the development of students’ personal websites as stated in Empowerment Technologies Curriculum Guide (CG). School Administrator. The principal would have an access to other agency that would support and sponsor a training-workshop in the development of students’ personal websites. Stakeholders. The parents of students, teachers, principals, district supervisors, DepEd personnel, superintendent, and other concerned entities and individuals. Students. As the direct beneficiaries of the study, students could be the active recipients of building their personal websites as an applied competency in Empowerment Technologies. Teachers/Faculty Members. As the first-hand educators of different fields with the use of students’ personal websites, teachers could have an accurate view of students’ activities undertaken from different subject areas.
Findings and Discussions In Dalaguete National High School (DNHS) school year, 2017-2018, there were 20 Grade 11 student-respondents who voluntarily shared their insights pertaining to the content Web Page Creation Using Weebly in Empowerment Technologies. Respondents admitted that they enrolled in Empowerment Technologies but they were not able to develop their personal website as a required competency based from the Curriculum Guide (CG). The study revealed that there were 20 respondents who had shared their insights to the question, “What is your insight in the content web page creation?” There were four (4) respondents who answered the statement, “It is my website to create”. Another group of four respondents who answered the statement, “It is my website to create to share our classroom activities and to learn more skills in online publishing”. Still, another group of four (4) respondents who answered the statement, “Creating my personal website is a bit advantage than others”. There were three (3) respondents who answered the statement, “It is my web page-output to cope with the competency based from the Curriculum Guide (CG)”. Another group of three (3) answered the statement, “In designing my webpage, I would become an independent learner when I have fully developed my personal website.” And there were two (2) respondents who answered the statement, “It is my website with content includes texts, pictures, videos and mixed layouts with my blog to let other sign-in.” The findings of the study are similar to the findings (journal) of Deborah E. Rosena and Elizabeth Purinton (2004) stated that content on the web includes text, pictures, graphics, layout, sound, and motion… They added that the results identify underlying dimensions of effective website design and provide insight into site design characteristics, which may lead to a higher likelihood of revisit. The implication for this - is that the students are required to create their personal websites and maintain their webpages in accordance with the curriculum guide of DepEd. Moreover, there were 20 respondents answered the question, “Why don’t you create a web page using weebly?” There were 12 respondents who answered the statement, “I don’t know how to use the online dashboard of Weebly”. There were three (3) respondents who answered the statement, “Computers in the laboratory are limited and could not cater students’ needs”. There were two (2) respondents who answered the statement, “School internet signal is very slow.” Then, there was one (1) respondent who answered the statement, “I am busy and I can’t take a look on it.” There was one (1) respondent who answered the statement, “I don’t know the steps in creating a website using Weebly.” And lastly there was one respondent who shared the statement, “I have no computer at home.” These statements are common opinions of student-respondents to be addressed in teaching and learning especially in focusing the best strategy to be used by the teacher. The findings of the study are partly discussed by James E. Herring (2011) stated that learning and teaching is the main basis for activities in schools and developing information literate students to be effective web users depends on schools having a clear focus on what students learn, how they learn, and what teaching strategies will be most effective. According to him this will enable students to use their information literacy skills and make effective use of the web in order to increase their learning. The implication of these findings would encourage the teacher handling Empowerment Technologies to develop his/her personal website using Weebly and collaboratively spend his/her classroom activities with students in building a group website. However, there were 20 student-respondents answered the question: “What are your suggestions so that you can create a web page using Weebly?” Eight (8) of them shared the statement “I can create the website if the reporter will provide me concrete procedures in designing the web pages and there will be proper demonstrations in designing the website, so, the reporter should guide me.” There were four (4) of them shared the statement, “I try to ask someone who knows to do it and shares his knowledge to me in web page designing and I will secure a computer to be used most of the time.” A group of four (4) respondents shared the statement, “I need a knowledgeable person who can help me - create a website for a good foundation of my education, my careers, my businesses and my social undertakings.” There were two (2) respondents shared the statement, “I need somebody who knows it because it is very important to my career in the future and to have better life…” And lastly, there were two (2) respondents shared the statement, “I will make a design of my webpage in any of the internet cafes in the town.” The researchers solicited suggestions from respondents to let them try resolve the problems especially when using computer technology in order for them to learn and to meet the challenges ahead in colleges, universities, and society. These findings and discussions are similar to the findings of Dorothy Van Soest, Robert Canon and Darlene Grant (2014) stated that suggestions and recommendations are based on evaluating the use of computer technology to meet the challenges inherent in teaching and learning processes related to combining cultural diversity.... The findings of the study would serve its purpose to emphasize more on website building with the help of a knowledgeable person the students could precisely experience the web page creation as a good implication in achieving the academic objectives in the teaching and learning process.
Conclusions Based on findings, the student-respondents would need help and good advice in creating useful and accessible websites. Majority of respondents could not create a website using the online dashboard of Weebly because they didn’t know the steps in creating a website. And that few of them could not access online computer units in the computer laboratory due to limited of resources. The school’s internet connection was very slow. In addition, a respondent shared that he had no computer at home. But unfortunately, there was one respondent who negatively shared his opinion stating that he was busy and couldn’t take a look on it. The researchers believed that this type of student needs to be properly motivated by the teacher. All student-respondents shared their suggestions to resolve the problems in creating the website as a competency-based content in Grade 11 Empowerment Technologies. They would want the reporter to provide concrete procedures in designing the web pages with proper demonstrations. They would want someone to share his knowledge in designing the web pages and would help them create a website for a good foundation of their education, their careers, their businesses, and their social undertakings in the future. And that they would want to make a design of their webpages in any of the internet cafes in the town because computers in school were limited.
Recommendations It is recommended for that DepEd Regional Office 7 will organize the Mass Training of Teachers in the content based training-workshop in developing the website using Weebly and other sites offering the free subdomain. It is also recommended for that DepEd Cebu Province Division will allow the district or school-based training-workshop in website building for teachers to be held at Dalaguete National High School Computer Laboratory during summer vacation. In addition, the training-workshop for students will be done right after the periodical exam. It is further recommended for that the Dalaguete National High School administration and faculty of teachers will support the training-workshops and the school will provide a set of computer to be installed in every Senior High School classroom for students to develop their personal websites. The school will also provide an internet connection to the classrooms using the Local Area Network (LAN) or will provide a free WiFi connection. References
“INSIGHTS OF STUDENTS TO THE CONTENT WEB PAGE CREATION USING WEEBLY IN EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES”
Respondents’ Survey Questionnaire
To my dear respondents,
Your responses will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Definitely, your name will not be included in the Findings and Discussions of this qualitative research.
Direction: Please write your insight/s, reason/s and suggestions inside the text boxes. Part I. Personal Profile of the Respondents:
Name of Student:
Part II. Insight/s of Student: What are your insights in the content ‘Web Page Creation Using Weebly’ as stated in the Curriculum Guide (CG) in Empowerment Technologies?
Part III. Reason/s: Why don’t you create a web page using Weebly?
Part IV. Suggestions: What are your suggestions so that you can create a web page using Weebly?