UNIVERSAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

ISSN: 2960-3714 (Print) / 2960-3722 (Online)

Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2022, 27-34
www.ujer.org

Technological Devices: Boon or Bane?

Nor Aine L. Sarip, Cantandog II Elementary School, SDO Leyte, Philippines*
Melodina L. Dela Cruz, Saint Joseph College, Maasin City, Philippines

*Corresponding email: noraine.sarip@deped.gov.ph

Received: January 2022 Accepted: February 2022 Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between the level of usage to technological devices
and the academic performance of Grade II learners in selected Multigrade School in Hilongos South
District, Hilongos, Leyte. The study used descriptive survey design since the researcher used checklist to
determine the learner’s level of usage to technological devices and survey it used open-ended question to
determine how technological devices help the learners in learning. More so, both qualitative and
quantitative data were being gathered for the further validation of the quantitative data of the study. The
result shows that the level of usage of the learners is at Normal Level. The learners understudy is using
technology devices at a tolerable level, that is, 3 – 4 hours in a day. The learners performed well in English
with a Closely Approaching Mastery Level in their Quarterly Assessment. The level of usage of the learners
to technological devices has a significant relationship with the English performance of the learners. The
more exposed the students are to technological devices the more affected their performance in English are.
Using to technological devices has a detrimental effect on English performance of the learners. Hence, the
parent’s guidance to their children is a must. It can be concluded that usage to technological devices can
significantly affect performance. As resulted, using to technological devices has a detrimental effect on
English performance. The use of television, cellphones, tablets and computers at a regular basis affects the
academic performance of the learners. The more they are using technological devices, the more their
academics are negatively affected. Hence, parents or guardian of the learners should be watchful to their
children so that they can guide and discipline them in using technological devices to evade bane result from
these devices.

Keywords: technology, academic performance, grade school, English

Suggested citation:
Sarip, N. A. & De la Cruz. M. (2022). Technological Devices: Boon or Bane? Universal Journal of Educational
Research. 1(2), 27-34

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
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INTRODUCTION

Technology has always flourished for the gain of mankind. The major achievements of technology
have left man spell-bound and every part of the world today is enjoying the comforts provided by
technology. People are interlinked and live in a global village. Technological devices have greatly improved
people's lives especially in education. Technological devices have been proven to be useful in education.
Children can access the web and get the detailed knowledge about any topic. The educational games help
them to perform well in academics. Almost all kids like to play video games and playing such games with
their friends and relatives, they learn the competition skills that help them compete with others in the real
world (Shyera 2018). Unfortunately, at times children become addicted to such games and devices.
Hosale (2013) in his study found out technological devices addiction can lead to social isolation
which is characterized by a lack of contact with other people in the workplace, with friends and in social
activities. Moreover, learners are less likely to interact with each other face to face. Additionally, learners
become inseparable from their phones because they are so dependent on them and their academic
performance will be ignored as they become busy with their gadgets. Technology has been found to have
its negative impact on academic performance on most of children. There are many technological devices to
which children are addicted. They waste their valuable time on these silly gadgets without worrying about
the studies. This has resulted in poor academic performance and has become one of the biggest problems
related to technology. Conversely, due to increasing technology, children have been found going away from
their moral values. Internet is working as curse for children’s character rather than useful for productive
manner. Out of the nutshell, some children use it as source of adult content.
There are many possible effects on using technological devices (Kidslox, 2018). Technological
devices have become a great tool for learning. One can google any information or attend the course online
without leaving home. Yet, technological involvement does not always guarantee the quality of education.
Children sometimes overuse technological deviceshttps://kidslox.com/blog/technology-overuse-social-
media-addiction/ which affects the learning process in a negative way. Plagiarism and cheating have
increased while analysis and critical thinking have declined. This puts the young generation’s thinking
abilities in jeopardy. Various studies claim that the more students use entertainment technologies like games
or social media, the less they perform academically. Instead of reading and doing homework, modern kids
indulge in entertainment. A similar situation goes for the Internet: using the Web to search information is
linked to higher grades while online gaming or socializing is associated with lower exam results. The reason
for it is the distraction caused by games, messages, and videos. Young people have a hard time focusing
attention at the lessons and resisting impulsive behavior.
The aforementioned studies reveal that technology is neither all good nor bad in itself. It has a two-edged
sword and have to see the relationship between the level of usage on technological devices and the academic
performance of the learners and it depends only the way of the users to use it. They have to know how to
use it for their benefit and should be responsible in their use of the technological devices. It should be
properly used rather than rely on it totally. These problems inspired the researcher to conduct a study about
technological devices. The researcher focused on the relationship between the level of usage to
technological devices and the academic performance of the learners. With this assumption, the researcher
would like to propose an awareness program for the parents on the effects of technological devices in the
learners’ performance.

Research Questions
The main purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between the level of usage to
technological devices and the academic performance of Grade II learners in selected Multigrade School in
Hilongos South District, Hilongos Leyte S.Y. 2019-2020.
Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions:
1. What is the level of usage of the Grade II learners?

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2. What is the level of academic performance in English of the Grade II learners in terms of MPS
in quarterly assessment?
3. Is there a significant relationship between the level of usage to technological devices and the
level of learner’s academic performance?
4. How do technological devices help the learners in learning English?
5. Based on the findings of the study, what output/s can be proposed?

RESEARCH METHOD

Research Design
The study used descriptive survey design since the researcher used checklist to determine the
learner’s level of usage to technological devices and survey it used open-ended question to determine how
technological devices help the learners in learning. More so, both qualitative and quantitative data were
being gathered for the further validation of the quantitative data of the study.

Participants
There are 5 selected Multigrade Schools of Hilongos South District where the study was conducted
namely: Bantigue Elementary School, Cantandog I Elementary School, Manaul Elementary School, San
Isidro Elementary School and San Roque Elementary School. There were 40 learners as respondents. They
were chosen purposively with the inclusion that these schools were located in different locations, one along
the road, near the poblacion and others in far flung areas with the assumption that lesser access to internet
would have better lesser effect on the learners’ academic performance.

Data Analysis
It presents the data gathered from the elicited responses of the respondents and data retrieved from
the data gathered were carefully tabulated, statistically treated and analyzed and has been used as bases for
interpretation. Statistical procedure and formula were used to arrive at a reliable conclusion. The statistical
tools used in the study are the following:
• Average Weighted Mean (AWM) was used to determine the level of usage to technological devices
of the learners.
• Mean Percentage Score which was used to determine the level of academic performance in English
of the learners on their third quarterly assessment.
• Pearson’s (r) was used to establish relationship between the learners’ level of usage to technological
devices and academic performance.
• t-test was used to test the significance of the relationship between the level of usage to technological
devices and the level of learner’s academic performance in English.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Results
Level of Usage to Technological Devices. The level of usage of the learners to technological devices
was determined using a 20 - item questionnaire. The questionnaires were written using Sinugbuanong
Binisaya for the learners to understand. The researcher and teachers concerned then assisted the
respondents in case inquiries arise from the learners. The students were asked to rate themselves using a
four point Likert Scale based on the frequency of their usage of the devices for specific purpose.

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Table 2. Average Weighted Mean of the Frequency of Learners’ Usage to Technological

Devices.
Item Indicators Average Rank Description
No. Weighted
Mean
1 Mag-gahin og dako nga oras sa pagduwa o pagtan-aw gamit ang 2.30 3.5
technological devices.
2 Makiglalis og ipugos imong gustong buhaton sa maong duwa sa 1.98 14
technological devices.
3 Mobalibad sa imong mga higala sa pagduwa sa gawas kay gusto 1.93 15.5
nimong magduwa o magtan-aw gamit ang technological devices.
4 Kanunay dili mosunod sa mando sa pamilya kay dili ka gustong 2.33 2
malangan sa imong pagduwa o pagtan-aw gamit ang technological
devices.
5 Mangilad nga wala nagduwa o nagtan-aw gamit ang technological 2.03 12
devices.
6 Wala nagtagad sa mga buluhaton sa eskuylahan sama sa 2.00 13
assignment og project ug uban pa kay sige ka og gamit og
technological devices.
7 Maglagot ug magbagotbot kon limitahan sa ginikanan sa paggamit 2.18 5.5
og technological devices.
8 Dili magtagad sa isigkatawo ug pamilya kay nalingaw ka og sige 1.88 18
og gamit sa technological devices.
9 Makahuna-huna og magduwa o magtan-aw gamit ang 1.90 17
technological devices kon walay gibuhat. NU
10 Masulub-on kon dili makagamit o makatan-aw gamit ang 1.65 20 Normal
technological devuces. User
11 Dugay matog o dili matog kay nagtan-aw paka og tv o nagduwa 2.08 9
gamit ang technological devices.
12 Wala nakay pakialam sa imong kaugalingon kay gusto pa motan- 2.30 3.5
aw og salida o magduwa sa imong technological devcices.
13 Magsuway og limit sa paggamit og technological devices pero dili 1.80 19
nimo kayang buhaton.
14 Ang imong pamilya og mga higala ning reklamo nga sige ka gamit 2.18 5.5
sa technological devices.
15 Padayon gihapon sa sobrang paggamit sa technological devices 1.93 15.5
bisan dili maayo ang makuha niini.
16 Magmalipayon ka kon magduwa ka gamit ang technological 2.10 8
devices.
17 Magduwa kauban ang mga higala gamit ang technological devices. 2.15 7
18 Magsige og duwa bisan sobra na sa oras gamit ang technological 2.43 1
devices.
19 Mo-ikyas sa eskuylahan kay magduwa og mga online games. 2.05 10.5
20 Molimod nga walay problema bisan og naa tungod sa sobrang 2.05 10.5
paggamit sa technological devices.
Overall Weighted Mean 2.06
Legend: n = 40
Rating Scale Description
3.25 – 4.00 Very Frequent User (VFU)
2.50 – 3.24 Frequent User (FU)
1.75 – 2.49 Normal User (NU)
1.00 – 1.74 User (U)

As shown in Table 2, the learner’s level of usage is at normal level as indicated by the overall
average weighted mean. This means that they have normal usage to their technological devices and on how
they use them for specific purposes. From the various indicators used, the eighteenth (18th) indicator had

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the highest average weighted mean and followed by the fourth (4th) indicator. These indicated that the
learners are in high level of usage to technological devices for playing games without definite number of
hours or schedule and that these impede them from doing better things as most of them refuse to do chores
for their respective families especially when they are on a game. This outcome implies that playing games
are the popular choice of usage of technological devices among pupils and that this result to disobedience
of these learners to their respective parents’ command.

On the other hand, the indicators with the lowest average weighted was the tenth (10th) indicator
and followed by the thirteenth (13th) indicator which had the next lowest average weighted mean. This
outcome show that the respondents could not keep themselves from not using any device in a day. The use
of technological devices is at its highest level to date and expected to continue to increase as technology
becomes more accessible (Poushter, 2016). Moreover, this shows that today’s generation of learners are at
high level of usage to technological devices that they are used in a day-to-day basis.

The Learners’ Level of Academic Performance in English. The academic performance on quarterly
assessment of the Grade II learners of identified schools were determined using the standardized unified
quarterly assessment for the third quarter of school year 2019- 2020. It was a 30-item multiple choice test.
The papers were checked, scored and the mean percentage score were computed for each school.

Table 3. Mean Percentage Scores in English Quarterly Assessment of the Learners

School Number of Mean Percentage Standard Deviation Description
Cases Scores
Manaul ES 8 82.92 8.986 M
Bantigue ES 8 81.25 10.974 M
Cantandog I ES 8 67.50 18.495 CAM
San Roque ES 7 73.33 21.943 CAM
San Isidro ES 9 76.25 22.070 CAM
Overall 40 75.50 17.824 CAM
Legend: n = 40
Rating Description
80.00 – 100.00 Mastered (M)
60.00 – 79.99 Closely Approaching Mastery (CAM)
40.00 – 59.99 Moving Towards Mastery (MTM)
20.00 – 39.99 Average Mastery (AM)
0.00 – 19.99 Low Mastery (LM)

The table above shows the mean percentage scores (MPS) of the school included in the study.
Overall, the result as projected in the table signifies that the learners are at Closely Approaching Mastery
with scattered scores as shown in its high standard deviation value. The result could mean that if the learners
are at high level of usage to technological devices their academic performance will be negatively affected
as what is shown in table 3 that the learners belong to the Normal Users of the said devices and the overall
MPS garnered was 75.50 which belongs to the passing percentage. According to an article established this
year 2020 with the title “Negative Effects of Technology in Education” stated that students are not
studying using the technological devices, they are interested in checking the posts and status updates of
their near and dear ones and having games. This is how technology is becoming a huge distraction for
the learners. In this case technological devices are bane to the academic performance of the learners.

The Relationship of the Learners’ Level of Usage to Technological Devices and Level of English
Performance. The following table presents the correlation of the learners’ level of usage to technological
devices and their English performance using the statistical tool Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The
presentation considers the level of usage per school and the performance per school of the purposively
chosen respondents of the study.

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Table 4. Pearson r of the Learners’ Level of Usage to Technological Devices and Level of English
Performance
School Pearson, r Strength of Relationship p - value Decision
Manaul ES -0.301 Weak Negative 0.469 Not Significant
Bantigue ES -0.710 Strong Negative 0.048 Significant
Cantandog I ES -0.795 Strong Negative 0.018 Significant
San Roque ES -0.843 Strong Negative 0.017 Significant
San Isidro ES -.0922 Very Strong Negative 0.000 Significant
Overall -0.774 Strong Negative 0.000 Significant
n = 40

Table 4 shows the results of the analysis of the relationship of the variables being studied. It
illustrates that there is a significant relationship between the learners’ level of usage to technological devices
and their level of academic performance in English.
Overall result showed that there is exist strong negative correlation which means the level of usage
to technological devices is related to the level of learners’ academic performance. Therefore, higher level
of usage to technological devices can decrease academic performance of learners. This negates to the result
of the study of Alzate (2018) which had established that the use of technological devices could not affect
performance but can improve participation among learners. It can be inferred that other factors may have
affected their performance as the result showed that Manaul Elementary School has no significant
relationship. For the rest of the schools studied, using of technological devices can be used as a predictor
of their performance. This result affirms the established result of the study of Lumarda (2015) indicating
that exposure to technology can affect performance.

The Significance of Technological Devices. Despite of the bane result of technological devices in
this study, it cannot be denied that there are also good things or boon of using technological devices. In
fact, today's learners, technological devices have helped them in their schoolwork, they can have easy
access to research their assignment and lessons, doing projects using the devices and many more.
This was gathered through an open-ended question to the learner’s respondents. Most of the
learners answered that “Makatabang ang technological devices sa pag-answer sa among buluhaton sa
balay kay magsearch man me kay lisod man anseran ang English.” There are some learners also answered
that “Makatigo me og basa kay naa may video sa youtube”. Few of them answered that “Makatabang kay
naa may dictionary sa among cellphone”. Some of the answers were already personal reasons of the
learners like “Makatabang ang technological devices kay malingaw me og tan-aw og mga videos”.
Other response from the respondents were personal usage like “Gamiton ang cellphone para
makatawag sa ahong mga ginikanan”, “Makalingaw ang cellphone kay daghan og duwa” and “Makavideo
call sa mga tiya ug tiyo sa laing nasod”.
There were 80% of the learners’ respondent answered that technological devices could help them
in learning English and 20% of the learners’ respondent answered not because they are not using their
devices for their school works.
Therefore, technological devices help learners in many ways to learn but the supervision of their
teachers and guardians are very necessary so that they can use it properly and not abusively.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

From the outcome of the study, it can be concluded that usage to technological devices can
significantly affect performance. As resulted, using to technological devices has a detrimental effect on
English performance. The use of television, cellphones, tablets and computers at a regular basis affects the
academic performance of the learners. The more they are using technological devices, the more their
academics are negatively affected. Hence, parents or guardian of the learners should be watchful to their

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children so that they can guide and discipline them in using technological devices to evade bane result from
these devices.

Recommendations
As a consequence of the analysis of the gathered data, the following recommendations are
suggested:
1. Parents may be informed of the result of this study through PTA assembly to foster among them
awareness and their children of the boon result of using of technological devices among the
learners.
2. The school may formulate and implement an awareness program for parents on the effects of
technological devices on the academic performance of the learners.
3. Teachers may discuss the advantages and disadvantages of technological devices and implement
firm rules in the class of properly using them.
4. For future researchers, they make conduct another study that shall tackle the difference of academic
performance and the level of usage of the learners to technological devices from rural and urban
areas

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Published by
SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE
Maasin City, Southern Leyte
Philippines

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