Assessment of Basic Computer Skills of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Learners

Abstract

Lack of instructional materials like computers was determined as one of the problems the ALS itself has faced therefore, this study objectified the basic computer skills among Alternative Learning System (ALS) Learners in San Jose, Dinagat Islands. 51 ALS learners comprised the respondents’ group and the assessment was conducted at Sta. Cruz, San Jose, Dinagat Islands. Results revealed that majority of the ALS learners had good knowledge of operating Windows, while a large percentage of them cannot effectively operate the Microsoft Word software with little to no knowledge of creating and editing documents. On the other hand, learners were determined to be beginners whose knowledge of operating emails and the internet were insufficient and were less exposed to learning Excel as this has found more complicated to use. However, ALS learners showed positive personal interest in learning computers despite their inability to own one due to socioeconomic or situational. Thus, it may recommend that the government must support the ALS program by providing an adequate number of computer facilities to cater to all the ALS learners and better enhance their level of basic computer skills, particularly in areas of General Windows, Microsoft Word, MS Excel or Spreadsheet and Internet/E-mail. Significantly, the DepEd needs to closely monitor the ALS program as its parallel learning system, so that out-of-school youth are provided with improved learning opportunities in all areas, especially in ICT.