CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Though 75% of non-traditional or adult learners enrol in a colleges or

universities in the United States, only 33.7% complete college with a degree

or certificate (New, 2014). The US Department of Education (2002) defines

non-traditional students as learners over the age of 24 who are not only

balancing work, life, and family but also returning to school after a pause in

educational pursuit. A study of 4.5 million non-first-time students conducted by

the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre reported only a third of

non-traditional students completed college compared to 60.7% of traditional

learners (New, 2014). Finding instructional strategies that engage, motivate,

and retain non-traditional learners are not only critical to the academic

success of this population of students, but also to the continued development

of workforce talent in the United States.

Digital game-based learning is an instructional method that has shown

promise in adult education and learning (Anderson, Anderson, &

Taylor, 2009). Digital game-based learning combines educational content with

the use of video games. The digital games are explicitly designed for

educational purposes and have the capability to engage a diverse of learning

styles and behaviours. Learning can take place in both formal and informal

environments, one-on-one or in groups. Game-based learning has shown to

increase various abilities related to cognition such as perception, reasoning,

critical-thinking, spatial navigation, and memory retention (Granic &

Lobel, 2013).

Having an online gaming experience typically requires a high-speed

internet connection. Proper hardware will be needed whether it is a computer

or a gaming console, such as Xbox or Play station that’s connected to the

internet. Some online games need a specific piece of controlling hardware

such as a joystick or a game controller, but these days, gaming technology

has progressed to an extreme extent. Things like streaming 3-D animation

graphics with superb surround sound stereo now can make all addicted to

gaming. Regarding video games, online gaming is growing in popularity for a

variety of reasons. Gamers can easily find opponents of a similar skill level

when playing a head-to-head game over the internet.

Players also can compete in massively multiplayer games, where

dozens of players play an ongoing game in a virtual world. Some online

games change a monthly fee for access to video game software. Moreover,

despite its inherent advantages, the Internet also has its drawbacks.

Increasing numbers of individuals are getting hooked on this technology and

even to the point of being addicted. Thus, it is on this premise that this study

conducted among BS Information Technology Students of Leyte Normal

University, Tacloban City during the second semester of the academic year

2017-2018 to determine its implications towards academic performance.

 STO.TOMAS, Davao del Norte academic institutions here have raised

a red flag after they reported that the number of minors- of which majority are

either elementary pupil or secondary student addicted in massive multi-user

online role playing games (MMORPGs) continuously rising as manifested in

the low turned out attendance in school. In public hearing Thursday held at

the municipal gymnasium, school administrators of both public and private

schools echoed the same dilemma, saying that “more and more minor

students skipped classes in schools and preferred to stay in various internet

cafes to play online games.”

“The internet has had negative ramifications especially to our minor

students who have been lured intensely in online games. The concept of

”online gaming addiction” has been proposed as an explanation for

uncontrollable, damaging use of technology,” Ramon Lanzaderas, a public

school principal, said during the public hearing.

Online gaming has emerged as a popular and successful source

of entertainment and play for people of all ages, especially for the students. It

refers to the games that are played over some forms of computer network,

typically on the internet. These games are played online, in which you can

connect with multiple players. It is normally platform independent, relying on

the web browser and appropriate plug-in.