Challenges of Implementing an E-Learning Platform in an Internet Struggling Province in the Philippines

Niel Francis B Casillano

doi:10.17485/ijst/2019/v12i10/137594

Abstract

Objectives: The recent improvements in the Philippine internet infrastructure by top internet service providers prompted the researcher to investigate the challenges and determine the level of acceptability in the implementation of an e-learning platform in the College of Computer Studies, Eastern Samar State University, Philippines. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Rapid Application Development model was used to develop and improve the e-learning platform. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze its over-all acceptability and a focused group discussion was done to determine the challenges they faced during implementation. Findings: Acceptability resulted in a grand mean of 4.67, interpreted as strongly acceptable. The result implies that the platform adhered to ISO standards in terms of its maintainability, efficiency, reliability, functionality, portability, and usability but a negative finding during the focused group interview was discovered. The interview indicated that a minimal number of students have internet access which impeded them from accessing the platform. Although an alternative locally hosted platform was provided, only a few number of the students can afford to buy devices that are needed to access the system. Application/Improvements: The e-learning platform can be utilized as an alternative learning platform. The system can also make the classroom more flexible by providing students remote access to learning materials Keywords: e-learning, Internet Infrastructure, Struggling

Highlights

Eastern Samar is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, this is primarily caused by the very low economic activities in the province
The provinces internet connectivity has improved from 2G to 3G and even 4G in other places, this is primarily due to the improvements made by the top internet service providers of the country[2]
These improvements prompted the researcher to implement an E-learning site that can be accessed by students with or without an internet connection and assess the challenges the students encountered during the implementation of the e-learning platform thru a focused group interview

Summary

Introduction

Eastern Samar is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, this is primarily caused by the very low economic activities in the province. An average student accesses the internet from an internet café located in various places in the provinces’ capital city, Borongan City. The provinces internet connectivity has improved from 2G to 3G and even 4G in other places, this is primarily due to the improvements made by the top internet service providers of the country[2]. These improvements prompted the researcher to implement an E-learning site that can be accessed by students with or without an internet connection and assess the challenges the students encountered during the implementation of the e-learning platform thru a focused group interview. E-learning is the application of digital technology and communication to improve the teaching –learning process[3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion