Articles

Public Speaking Anxiety among College Students at St. Paul University Surigao

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Public speaking is the act of making speeches in public or the art of effective oral communication with an audience. Fear of public speaking is common among students and the general population. The National Institute of Mental Health Report stated that public speaking anxiety is considered a social anxiety disorder (Brewer, 2001). This research aimed to find out the public speaking anxiety among college students of St. Paul University Surigao. It sought to answer the participants’ anxiety levels as Trait Anxiety, Context Anxiety, Audience Anxiety, and Situation Anxiety. The data were tested for the significant difference when grouped according to their profile. The researchers utilized the quantitative descriptive survey design using a researcher-made questionnaire that was subjected for validity and reliability checking and was administered to 81 education students. The findings revealed that students experienced very high Audience Anxiety while only high Trait, Context and Situation Anxieties. Furthermore, the findings found no significant difference in the participants’ level of anxiety when grouped according to profile. This means that anxiety level remains the same regardless of age, sex, and year level. Hence, it is recommended that public speaking should be offered as a subject to all degree programs at the tertiary level especially for teacher education programs. Also, the school administrators should encourage more public speaking activities in and out of the school where students would participate in such public speaking events to hone skills, thus, minimizing public speaking anxieties.

Design and Development of ER MineTracer: A Mobile Emergency Response Application for Mining Industry

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Most of the industries, especially mining companies, are facing nowadays an exciting future with growing demand as well as severe challenges. Several innovations in technology as well as in the organizational process and methods are developed in order to cope with the continuously advancing technologically-driven society and to address pressing issues that industries are facing, including emergency response-related problems. This study aimed to improve information access by developing ER MineTracer mobile emergency response application which combines web and mobile applications designed for reporters and rescuers in responding to employees’ emergency requests. It uses GPS to determine an employee’s current position and communicates the user’s name and present location straight to a web application installed in a command center for quick dispatching of emergency units. Descriptive-developmental research was employed in the study utilizing an object-oriented modeling tool in designing the ER MineTracer mobile application. Thirty (30) participants were purposefully chosen to assess the performance of the system and it was revealed that the developed ER MineTracer mobile application was efficient in terms of accessibility, accuracy, and usability. Hence, it is recommended to utilize ER MineTracer and optimize smartphones to assist individuals in saving lives during emergencies and accidents, especially in mining industries.

Political Knowledge and Involvement in Public Affairs of College Students at St. Paul University Surigao, Philippines

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The study is aimed to assess College Students’ Political Knowledge and their Political Involvement in Public Affairs. It was conducted to the 320 college students across all college departments at St. Paul University Surigao, Surigao City, during the second semester of AY 2021-2022.  The study employed a descriptive quantitative survey method. The findings revealed that there is no significant degree of relationship between the students’ Political Knowledge and their Political Involvement which means that the student’s level of political involvement is not dependent on the level of their political knowledge.  Political knowledge in this study is measured according to public policies, political leaders, political processes, and political issues while political involvement is measured from the perspective of voting, public forums, and political activism. Students were rated highly knowledgeable in all dimensions; however, they were rated seldom and not involved in voting, public forum, and political activism.

Students’ Knowledge in Citing Sources at St. Paul University

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This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of college students on citing sources at St. Paul University. Citing sources can solidify claims and make a research paper credible. Failing to credit the ideas of others is a form of plagiarism, which was a common problem among students in the past until today. A descriptive quantitative survey method was used in this study wherein one hundred sixty (160) college students at St. Paul University participated in a test comprising a researcher-made questionnaire based on the 7th edition of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Manual. The findings revealed that the students were proficient in both in-text citations and referencing assessments. Thus, the students have gained learning and knowledge in the activities conducted by the University’s Library and Research departments pertaining on how to correctly cite sources following the APA 7th edition style. It is recommended to library and information science practitioners to sustain initiatives that enhance the students’ knowledge in crediting sources by providing them with series of orientations and training workshops on APA 7th edition. Moreover, collaboration between the library and research offices of educational institutions is encouraged to improve students’ citation and referencing skills. It is anticipated that the outcome of this collaboration will reduce errors on proper citations and rather promote respect to others’ intellectual properties and contribution. Practitioners should also integrate the fundamental concept of crediting sources into classes to ensure that students understand the significance of acknowledging works as they support their own ideas.

Graduate Tracer Study of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) of St. Paul University Surigao College of Teacher Education 2013-2017

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This tracer study aimed to determine the employability and graduates’ rating of their academic program from 2013 to 2017. It is a descriptive-quantitative survey utilizing the modified Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Graduate Tracer Study Questionnaire. Out of 95 Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) graduates from 2013 to 2017, there were 76 who participated. The findings revealed that the graduates of BSEd have high employability, and most of them landed in the profession related to their undergraduate studies. Further, the results also showed that St. Paul University Surigao BSEd program was very effective in terms of quality teaching, student activities engagement, learning environment, and student support services. It signified that indicators were recognized and practiced in the institution to enhance the facilitation of the graduates’ learning experience that is holistically and concretely responsive. This study recommended that the school continuously emphasize effective school leadership, academic program dynamic review, and professional development of the teachers that are pivotal in effective academic program implementation.

Determining the Research Capability of the Higher Education Institutions in One Province in the Philippines

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This descriptive study aimed to determine the research capability of the private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in one of the provinces in the Philippines.  The inputs were derived from the profile of the schools, their research engagements, and the challenges they encountered in doing research. The survey, interview, and FGD methods were employed to gather data from among the agency heads of the four PHEIs in the province. The findings revealed that these schools are composed of middle-aged, permanent faculty, who are Bachelor’s degree holders and are still new in the service. These schools offer courses that are almost similar and have recorded fluctuating annual enrolment rates. All the PHEIs showed to have a low capability in terms of research generation, let alone paper presentations and publication. Considering that HEIs are expected to do research, these results suggest that these schools should take initiative to enhance the capability of their personnel and eventually their research capability. They may collaborate with other research institutions and seek technical assistance like trainings on research writing or mentorship.

Mitigation Practices of Local Water Districts (LWDs) in the Philippines during Covid-19 Pandemic

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This paper discussed the mitigation practices and challenges faced by Local Water Districts (LWDs) during the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of collection, consumption, water resource, human resource and accessibility of its services to continue promoting better service. The researchers applied phenomenological approach and utilized qualitative data gathering through digital forms and follow up interviews to the representative participants from the local water districts in the Philippines. This study is a joint effort in relation to the academe’s function in terms of research to the industry. Its framework was anchored on the theory of change, vital to program success where managers can be better assured that their programs deliver the right activities toward the desired outcomes. Findings revealed that the LWDs have faced varied challenges where they fit their innovative practices. The use of technology is considered both a great help and challenge, depending on the category level of the water district. The researchers concluded that the LWDs focused on the welfare of their concessionaires, employees and upgraded their facilities, regardless of their financial capabilities. It was recommended that the management need to adapt technology, provide further innovative practices, and continue with information dissemination to the concessionaires.