POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 1

School, Track and Strand Recommender for High School Students with
Decision Support

A Thesis Proposal
Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree

Master of Science in Information Technology
RSH631 Research Seminar II
1st Sem. SY 2017 – 2018

Submitted to:
Prof. Benilda Eleonor V. Comendador

By:

John Mark O. Olesco

January 2018
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Chapter 1

Introduction
The Problem and Its Background

One of the powerful tools in achieving each and everyone’s dreams is by

finishing or obtaining knowledge and learning, values, beliefs and habit through

education. It is a long process of learning’s, acquiring skills and developing

knowledge that empowers each and individual once people mastered those skills,

knowledge and learning acquired through education. It is one of the important things

to everyone especially to those people who wanted to become great or be someone

in the future.

The Philippine government just recently passed a law which adds two more

years to the basic education of every student which is called k to 12 programs. The k

to 12 program covers 13 years of basic education that adds two more years to every

High School Students before obtaining a college degree. Every student will undergo

Grade 11 and 12 as part of the new education process before obtaining a college

degree. The students who undergo this program will be given the chance to select

which tracks will they be pursuing and for every track it has strands that would guide

them on what will be their career to choose they want to be in the future. The tracks

being offered are namely: Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood or TVL, Sports

and Arts and Design. Each track has its own strands to choose from that correlates to
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 3

what course will they be pursuing once they entered into their college degree

program. One of the sole purposes of this changes is to align the Philippines into the

International Standard of education in which most other countries have 6 year degree

in High School education also with these new education changes, the students will be

given a chance to look for a job as early as they were able to graduate or finish K to

12 programs. This would help them in preparedness in joining the workforce once

completing the program. This would also help the students in skill competency in the

global market that aims to improve Filipino students’ mathematical, scientific, and

linguistic competence.

One of the problem that the Philippine government experience every year is

the increasingly rate of unemployment and one of the contributing factors to this

problem is that newly graduates find it hard to look for a job that suits their graduated

program. According to the employers, mostly the newly graduates lack of skillset to

the following jobs they are applying for. Also, there are some cases that there is no

job available to their program. Most of the students when they are choosing they

career path are not aware of what career path they are getting into. Sometimes they

tend to copy of what their friends choosing in which they have no informed decision

for themselves. Also, having limited information being offered by school about the

tracks and strands information tends to affect students when choosing their career.

Some students are poorly informed about job opportunities, their expectations for the

future are not connected with their own knowledge and abilities, and they do not have

a coherent career plan and encounter major barriers in the career decision process.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 4

With these problems, the researcher comes up with an idea of building an

application that would help the students to guide them in choosing the right track for

them based on an online career examination result. This would help them to assess

or evaluate in choosing want they want to be in the future. The application will

provide thorough information about the system generated result about its track and

strand and it will also suggest on what might be the program or course to choose

from once he or she finishes the k12 program being chose. Also, this application

would help not only the students but also the government in eliminating or to lessen

the career mismatch or job mismatch by creating a foundation in such that the

student can help or seek an advice or decision making through the use of an online

career assessment. Also, the application offers another feature that recommends

what school does the result of the online career examination is being offered. This

feature would provide information not only to the students but also to the parents by

providing information such as the availability of tracks and strands, the cost of the

tracks and strands being offered by the school and others. Through the use of this

application, this would help the students to know or discover their true potentials into

the career that they will choose.

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Theoretical Framework

The development of School, Track and Strand Recommender for High School
student will aid them in choosing the appropriate track and strand for their education.
Student will have an insight and a thorough understanding to the result of what
application has generated. The application provide decision support assistance in
making decision for their career that will enable them to have a better understanding
on what might be their career path would be in the future.

Figure 1 the logical approach of the application for its Theoretical Framework
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Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework serves as the research scheme of this study. It

adopts the system approach otherwise known as the input-process-output model.

The model involves processing inputs into outputs. The figure shows the Input

Process Output model of the study.

Figure 2 Conceptual Framework of School, Track and Strand Recommender for High School Student with Decision
Support Application

The system will allow the students to take an exam and from that, the system

will evaluate and assess the result of the exam and generate a collective information

that will be used or support in decision making of the students in choosing their tracks

and strands for their upcoming senior year. Also, the system allows the students to

input the tracks or strands that the result of the exam displayed and from that the
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system will process the information inputted and will generate collective information

regarding the school information about track and strands availability and the cost of it.

Statement of the Problem

The main objective of the study is to develop a School, Track and Strand

Recommender for High School Student with Decision Support Application that would

help the students and parents in choosing and guiding what tracks and strands does

students should take based on the result of students career assessment exam into

the application. Specifically the research aims to answer the following:

1. What are the challenges encountered by respondents when choosing tracks

and strands?

2. What do you think is the degree of importance of the use of a career and

school recommender with decision support to the respondents?

3. What are the respondent’s levels of acceptance on the proposed application in

terms of the following?

3.1 Accuracy

3.2 Functionality;

3.3 Usability

3.4 Reliability;

3.5 Adaptability

3.6 User-friendliness;

4. What are the features of the School, Track and Strands Recommender that

you think will help the respondents in finding the right track and strand?
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Scope and Limitations

The research focus on developing a web based application that would guide

and help the students in choosing the right track and strands in preparation for the

Senior High System Education. This application will help them in making decisions.

The system covers the examination of the students that is composed of career

assessment and aptitude tests and an occupational interest inventory and also career

advocacy programs. This would also allow the students to search what school does

the track and strands being offered and whether it is available on that school. Also it

allows the students and most importantly the parents to know how much the cost of

the track and strands being offered on that school.

The tool to use in developing the web based application will be under the .Net

platform back end and open source technologies of JavaScript. Also this application

will be readily made and can be access for mobile phones by making it responsive

that adapts all the screens of mobile phones and take the exam into their phones.

Significance of the Study

The study aims to help the students in choosing the right tracks and strands

for them by taking an online career examination through the web application. It will

provide information that would help them in making decisions for choosing tracks and

strands. This study will provide benefits to the following.

For students, students will be the main beneficiary of the said system. This will help

them to in making decisions about the right tracks and strands that suits for them.
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Also they will have an access to the information of school regarding the tracks and

strands availability.

For the Parents, though the application will not be used by the parents, still parents

will have benefits on this for they will right away know the cost of tuition fee of the

said school that their students chosen in which parents can prepare their budget for

the schooling of their students.

For the Government, every year government face a problem of having job mismatch

on every graduates, to address this issue, the researcher developed an application

that would help and guide the students in choosing their right track and strands. The

application would provide information that would help them in decision making that in

the can help them address what they really want to be in the future and will not add to

those job mismatch or career mismatch problem.

Definition of Terms

 Track – the general category of options of students in choosing their career. It

includes the following

o Academic Tracks - Choosing this track means you are looking forward

to go to college. This track will help you prepare yourself for the subject

specialization of the college course you will take in the future

o Technology-Vocational-Livelihood Track - This track invests

primarily on skills that can gain you requisite COCs (Certificates of

Competency) and NCs (National Certifications) which would be

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essential when looking for better career opportunities in agriculture,

electronics, and trade.

o Sports Track - The Sports Track aims to give you understanding of the

basic principles and techniques in relation to physical education and

recreation.

o Arts and Design Track - The arts & Design track will prepare you as

you wander around the design, performative, and creative industry.

 .Net Platforms – tools in developing applications that is available in Microsoft

company

 Strand – the category of course selection in tracks that students can choose

from.

 Career Assessment - Tests and assessments taken to measure preferences

in jobs and career types based on the individual's assessment of his or her

own personality, character traits and skills.

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Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter reviews related literature which focuses mainly on the school,

tracks and strands with decision support application. These materials present

significant information for the present study.

Introduction to Decision Support Assistance

Nowadays, many businesses rely on different kinds of decision support

system. This kind of approach became popular in the Philippines for it helps them to

grow their business. However, what is a decision support? A decision support system

is a computer program application that analyses business data and presents it so that

users can make business decisions more easily. In addition, Decision Support

Systems (DSS) are popular tools that assist decision-making in an organization

[(Alyoubi 2015)]. Other believes DSS is an interactive and adaptable computer-based

Information System that supports non-structured management problems [(Turban

and Aronson 2000)]. A decision support system (DSS) is a computerized procedure

for choosing among alternative courses of action with or without all the necessary

information and often with uncertain information as well DSS comes in many forms,

and the term refers to computer-aided system that helps the manager and planners

in decision-making[(Zwibelman and Plant)]. For me, decision support is a computer

application that would help the user to identify what decision to take or choose from

that would somehow gain some benefits on following that decision.

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Decision Support uses in different kinds of businesses for it promotes a better way in

projection, management and analysis. Many businesses rely on it for they believe

that this is a combination of the power of human thoughts with the power of modelling

system to get optimal, informed decision. In addition, businesses, automatically

viewed decision support system as key support functions, as they enable knowledge

operatives and decision-makers to make well-informed decisions through effective

study of semi- and ill-structured variables in the external environmental factors

[(Alyoubi 2015)]. Some business like food chain companies rely on it for they can use

it in their large stocks of inventory wherein it provides guidance one establishing

supply chain movement that works for their business. Also, it is used this in a sales

process wherein decision support system is a crystal ball that helps managers to

formulate a theory on how change will affect the results. Others applied decision

support in an industry specific system in accordance to their business. Agriculture,

Cyber Security, Strategic Planning and Education are some of the fields wherein

decision support is applied. This industry has their own specific criteria that allow

them to manipulate their data model, formulate, and process their formula that would

generate results that would help them in decision-making.

The flexibility of the decision support system is extremely beneficial for

customers and companies businesses. These provide them a better way of

identifying what suits to their business. Generally, the benefit of a DSS is better

decisions, a better decision-making process [(Rose 2016)] wherein decision support

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system provides information and presents this information in a manner of comparing

the previous and current status of their business.

Using decision support system in different fields provides advantages. One of

the advantages using this system is, it promotes time saving for reduced decision

cycle time, increased employee productivity and timelier information for decision-

making. In addition, it helps to enhance effectiveness improved decision-making

effectiveness and better decisions and it helps to reduce the cost of their business

expenses. In Addition, the most beneficial and advantages that the decision support

system provides is it promotes competitive advantage wherein their business gain

more than others do.

Application of Decision Support in Different Fields

Decision support system is not only limited to business. It also used in different

kinds of fields like Agriculture, Cyber Security, Strategic Planning, Education and

many more. With the help of this technology, it provides them a better way of

choosing the right decision.

In agriculture, Decision support tools, usually considered to be software-

based, may be an important part of the quest for evidence-based decision-making in

agriculture to improve productivity and environmental outputs. These tools can lead

users through clear steps and suggest optimal decision paths or may act more as

information sources to improve the evidence base for decisions [(Rose 2016)].

In Data Mining, extend the possibilities for decision support by discovering

patterns and relationships hidden in the data and therefore enabling an inductive
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approach to data analysis. The use of DM to facilitate decision support enables new

approaches to problem solving by discovering patterns and relationships hidden in

data and therefore enabling an inductive approach to DSS. In addition, the decision

to collaborate DM and DSS is also based on the fact that the traditional use of DM

through its software tools does not bring it closer to business users due to the

complexity of DM tools. The tools are very complex and needs expertise in DM

technology [(Pick 2013)].

In Cybersecurity, when investing in cyber security resources, information

security managers have to follow effective decision making strategies. We refer to

this as the cyber security investment challenge. In this paper, we consider three

possible decision support methodologies for security managers to tackle this

challenge. We consider methods based on game theory, combinatorial optimisation,

and a hybrid of the two. Our modeling starts by building a framework where we can

investigate the effectiveness of a cyber security control regarding the protection of

different assets seen as targets in presence of commodity threats. As game theory

captures the interaction between the endogenous organization’s and attackers’

decisions, we consider a 2-person control game between the security manager who

has to choose among different implementation levels of a cybersecurity control, and a

commodity attacker who chooses among different targets to attack[(Fieldera, 2016)].

In Production Scheduling, they applied framework for knowledge management

in a Decision Support System (DSS) for use in production scheduling. According to

[Shen S., 1987], there are two types of decision situation related to a DSS – (1) the
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cognitive approach which examined the nature and different types of decision

situations related to a DSS, and (2) the functional approach investigated tools,

components, and technologies required by DSS.

Application of Decision Support in Education Field

Technology is everywhere. It can be incorporate or associate into different

things. One of it is the education wherein the application of technology is abundant.

Many schools incorporated technology into the way they present, lesson, and teach

and many others. One of the technologies that attached in education is the decision

support system. Many school uses decision support system in support and purpose

of getting the best decision to choose in order to gain competitive advantage.

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are recognized in higher education for

manifold reasons, for instance to conjugate data and intelligence, to pull off the

unsurpassed and likely elucidations, and to fine-tune decisions under hesitation.

Numerous issues has been pointed out here in decision support and decision support

systems (DSS), best in class investigate in these fields, moreover their own specific

studies in arranging a propelled higher education decision support system. In this

research article we have described some of the past dedications in representing the

modules of the DSS, taking in the present systems and databases of some institute,

results and activities having a spot with its instructing/teaching and examination or

research staff, students to help decisions for all the performing craftsmen caught in

the procedures, in diverse explicit circumstances or settings [(Fakeeh, 2016)].

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Career decision making is the most important process of individual’s career

development. Today, for right career choice students and their parents go to the

councilors or academicians for getting their help by the experiences. Sometime this

strategy may be helpful but most of the time due to lack of knowledge and ability

about the student, right career option cannot be suggested. However, the wrong

career choice or the inappropriate career choice affects the future of students and as

well as the development of the nation [(Mundra, Soni etal)]. Some students are poorly

informed about job opportunities, their expectations for the future are not connected

with their own knowledge and abilities, they do not have a coherent career plan and

encounter major barriers in the career decision process[(Crişan,Pavelea and

Ghimbuluț)].

Synthesis

Following most of the results and suggestions in the studies that was

reviewed, communication and collaboration are key essentials in the implementation

of the School, Track and Strand Recommender for High School Students with

Decision Support System. Based on the studies reviewed most of the previous

education decision support fell off on the collaboration category. The application to be

developed will help the students, parents and government in their respective

problem.
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Chapter 3

Research Methodology
This chapter presents the research method, population, sample size and

sampling technique, description of respondents, research instrument, data gathering

procedure and statistical treatment of data to be used by the researcher in

conducting the study.

Method of Research

The researcher will use descriptive-developmental research and research

methodology in implementing the design. Descriptive research will be used to gather

data concerning the current status of the concerned event enabling statistical

analysis to be made. Then after the developmental phase of the tool it will again be

evaluated by the respondents.

Population, Sample Size and Sampling Technique

The target population for the research proposal will be the Grade 10 Students

and those who will be taking their K12 program. The data will be collected through

the students by taking an exam to the online application and then it will store into

database for processing collective information about their track and strand. A number

of 40 respondents will be chosen using random sampling in different school and

different section to know the accuracy and efficiency of the application and to have

an unbiased representation of data.

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Research Instrument

The researcher will develop a computer web application through the use of

.net technology platform and some programming scripts. The accuracy and efficiency

of the web application will be evaluated using the post-survey to be filled out by the

respondents.

Data- Gathering Procedure

The researcher aims to use research, interviews, and questionnaires in order

to collect data. The researcher will provide an initial questionnaire containing inquiries

regarding the dilemma of every student in choosing the right track and strand for

them. The questionnaire answers will be weighted in scores of 1 to 5 with 5 being the

highest value both in terms of level of agreement questions and degree of importance

questions. Data will be collected again after the usage of the tool in order to evaluate

it in terms of the specifications outlined in the statement of the problem.

Table 1
Level of Acceptance Numerical Rating

Numerical Rating Level of Acceptance

5 Strongly Acceptable

4 Moderately

3 Acceptable
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2 Slightly

1 Not Acceptable

Table 2

Degree of Importance Numerical Rating

Numerical Rating Degree of Importance

5 Very Important

4 Fairly Important

3 Important

2 Slightly Important

1 Not Important
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System Architecture

The application will be develop in a multi layered architecture providing that

this would help the developer to fast track the development. The application will be

composed of an application, database server with multiple repositories and a mobile

accessibility for portability usage,

The process starts with student wherein the student send request to the

application that will handle by the user interface layer wherein, in this phase the

student will undergo an examination upon submitting it, it will be handle by the data

model layer wherein the process involve in identifying what might be the result for the

exam. Then right after that layer this is where the decision support will follow wherein

it will send response to the user on what tracks and strands does him or she needed

to take.
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Figure 3 School, Track and Strand Recommender for High School Students with Decision Support Assistance
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References

Bader.A.Alyoubi, P. (2015). Decision Support System and Knowledge-Based

Strategic Management. International Conference on Communication, Management
and Information Technology, 278 - 284.

David C. Rose a, .. J. (2016). Decision support tools for agriculture: Towards

effective design and delivery. Agricultural Systems, 165 - 174.

Pick, R. A. (n.d.). Benefits of Decision Support System.

Shakiba Khademolqorania*, A. Z. (2013). An Adjusted Decision Support System
through Data Mining and Multiple Criteria Decision Making. The 2nd International
Conference on Integrated Information, 388 - 395.

Andrew Fieldera, E. P. (2016). Decision support approaches for cyber security

investment. Decision Support Systems, 13-23.

Khalid A. Fakeeh, Decision Support Systems (DSS) in Higher Education

System, 2016, 52-60

Ankit Mundra, A. S. (2014). Decision Support System for Determining:Right

Education Career Choice.

David C. Rose a, .. J. (2016). Decision support tools for agriculture: Towards

effective design and delivery. Agricultural Systems, 165 - 174.

Claudia Crişana, A. P. (7th - 9th November 2014). A Need Assessment on

Students’ Career Guidance. The 6th International Conference Edu World 2014
“Education Facing Contemporary World, 1022 - 1029.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 23

Plant, B. B. (1994). Choosing a College Major: A Prototype Decision Support

System. Computers in Human Behavior, Number 3, PG. 231-242.

Vassilis Kostoglou1, N. P. (24 (2014)). ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF A WEB-

BASED DECISION. Yugoslav Journal of Operations Research, Number 3, 399-414.

Vassilis Kostoglou1, N. P. (24 (2014)). ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF A WEB-

BASED DECISION. Yugoslav Journal of Operations Research, Number 3, 399-414.

Jaruwan Chanwijit, W. L. (25 July 2016). Decision Support System for

Targeting Higher Education. Student Project Conference (ICT-ISPC), 2016 Fifth ICT
International.

Andrew Fieldera, E. P. (2016). Decision support approaches for cyber security

investment. Decision Support Systems, 13-23.
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Appendix 1

Survey Questionnaire

About the survey

The School, Track and Strands Recommender for High School Student with
Decision Support Assistance is a software tool that would help the students in Grade
10 in choosing the right track and strand based on the result of the exam that the
students take. The researcher is conducting this survey to determine the said
functionalities in a software based solution. Please answer the following questions
by providing a check mark on the box provided or by providing an answer to the
blanks.

1. What are the respondent challenges encountered when choosing tracks and

strands?

Highly Slightly
Acceptabl Acceptabl Not
e Acceptable Neutral e Disagree
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Lack of
awareness
on tracks and
strands being
offered

Lack of
information
being offered
by school

Lack of
professional
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guidance

No informed
decision

Lack of
financial
resources

Lack of
access to
good
institutions

2. What do you think is the degree of importance of the use a career and school

recommender with decision support to the respondents?

Very Fairly Slightly

Importan Importan Importan Not
t t Important t Important
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Information
about the track
and strands are
important that
the system were
demonstrated
upon taking
exam

The Professional
Guidance is
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provided by the
application

Information
about school
offering
regarding tracks
and strands
availability, cost
and other are
informative

3. What are the respondent’s levels of acceptance on the proposed application in

terms of the following?

3.7 Accuracy and Functionality;

3.8 Usability and Reliability;

3.9 Adaptability

3.10 User-friendliness;

Strongly Strongly
Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Disagree
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Accuracy

The web application

modules provide the
expected output

The web application

modules prevent
unauthorized access
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The performance of
the web application
module is fast and
accurate

Functionality

The web application

modules perform the
tasks required

The application
provide the right
information

Usability

The web application

modules resume
normal operation
after encountering
errors

The web application

modules handle or
detect operation
errors efficiently?
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 28

Reliability

The web application

modules can be
easily understood

The web applications

provide reliable
information

Adaptability

The user of the web

app can easily adapt
in terms of usage

The users can learn

from the system

User-friendliness

The user can

navigate the modules
easily

The modules be use

easily

The web application

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 29

module interfaces
look good and
accessible

4. What are the features of the School, Track and Strands Recommender that

you think will help the respondents in finding the right track and strand? Check

that you think suits your answer.

 Information on Tracks and Strand

 Track and Strand Search Functionality

 Decision Support Assistance

 Questions being asked

 Portability and Accessibility of Application

 School Information being provided

 School Search Functionality