Enhancing Youth Engagement Through Technology: SK Information Management System Capstone Project Document

As part of our academic journey, my team and I worked on a capstone project titled “Enhancing Youth Engagement: SK Information Management System” for Barangay. This project was a transformative experience that allowed us to tackle a significant challenge faced by our community—the lack of youth engagement in local governance—by leveraging modern technology. In this blog post, I will walk you through our journey, from identifying the problem to implementing a solution and the impact it has made.

 

Understanding the Problem

Youth engagement plays a critical role in shaping the future of any community. However, in Barangay Central Tabao, the youth faced considerable obstacles in participating in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) activities. Insufficient information dissemination, outdated communication methods, and a lack of centralized data management hindered their involvement. As a result, youth members often remained uninformed about events, programs, and opportunities to contribute to community development.

This disconnect presented operational challenges for SK officials. Without a reliable system to store youth profiles, monitor programs, or evaluate initiatives, they struggled with inefficiencies and data retrieval issues. Addressing these problems was crucial to fostering a stronger connection between SK officials and the youth community.

Project Objectives

Our project, “Enhancing Youth Engagement: SK Information Management System (SKIMS),” aimed to create a comprehensive platform tailored to the needs of Barangay Central Tabao’s SK council and youth. Specifically, our objectives included:

  1. Developing Key Functionalities:
    • Storing and managing detailed youth data profiles.
    • Automating event scheduling and notifications.
    • Monitoring and evaluating SK programs and initiatives.
    • Generating comprehensive reports on completed projects.
  2. Ensuring System Usability:
    • Evaluating the system’s usefulness (SYSUSE).
    • Assessing the quality of information provided (INFOQUAL).
    • Enhancing the interface design for an engaging user experience (INTERQUAL).
  3. Supporting Sustainability:
    • Creating a user manual to facilitate adoption.
    • Training SK officials to ensure seamless system usage.

Conceptual Framework

Review of Related System

Our Approach

We adopted the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) with a prototyping model to develop SKIMS. This iterative approach allowed us to collaborate closely with stakeholders, gather feedback, and refine the system at each stage. Here’s an overview of our development process:

1. Requirements Gathering

We interviewed SK officials and youth representatives to identify their needs and pain points. Their input guided us in defining the system’s functionalities and ensuring alignment with user expectations.

2. Quick Design and Prototyping

Using tools like Figma, we designed an intuitive user interface that prioritized ease of navigation. Prototyping enabled us to demonstrate the system’s core features, such as youth data profiles and event schedules, to stakeholders for feedback.

3. Development and Testing

We developed the front end using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to create a responsive and visually appealing interface. The backend was built with PHP and MySQL to ensure secure and efficient data management. Rigorous testing ensured the system’s reliability, usability, and functionality.

4. Deployment and Training

Once the system was finalized, we deployed it to SK officials. We also conducted training sessions to familiarize them with the system’s features and provided a user manual for reference.

Technical Feasibility

Architectural Diagram

Gantt Chart

Cost Benefit Analysis

Key Features of SKIMS

The SK Information Management System stands out due to its comprehensive functionalities designed to address the unique challenges faced by Barangay Central Tabao:

  1. Youth Data Profiles: A centralized database to store and manage youth information, enabling easy retrieval and analysis.
  2. Event Scheduling and Notifications: Automated alerts to keep youth informed about upcoming activities, fostering greater participation.
  3. Program Monitoring and Evaluation: Tools to track the progress and impact of SK initiatives.
  4. Report Generation: Simplified creation of detailed reports on projects and activities.
  5. User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive design that ensures accessibility for both tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy users.

Entity Relationship Diagram

Context Diagram

Data Flow Diagram

Challenges and Solutions

Developing a system that catered to diverse user needs posed several challenges. One of the major hurdles was ensuring the system’s usability for all stakeholders, including those with limited technical expertise. To address this, we:

  • Conducted usability testing with a diverse group of users to identify pain points.
  • Simplified the interface design to make navigation intuitive and user-friendly.
  • Provided detailed training sessions and a user manual to support SK officials in adopting the system.

Another challenge was ensuring data security and privacy. By leveraging PHP and MySQL, we implemented robust authentication and encryption measures to safeguard sensitive information.

Use Case Diagram

Impact and Results

The implementation of SKIMS has significantly improved youth engagement and streamlined SK operations. User feedback gathered through the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ), highlighted the system’s effectiveness:

  • System Usefulness (SYSUSE): Users rated the system highly, with an average score of 1.16 (“Strongly Agree”), reflecting its ability to meet their needs.
  • Information Quality (INFOQUAL): The system’s information was clear and relevant, and it received a score of 1.26 (“Strongly Agree”).
  • Interface Quality (INTERQUAL): The user-friendly design scored 1.16 (“Strongly Agree”), emphasizing the system’s accessibility.
  • Overall Satisfaction Rating: The overall result scored 1.13 (“Strongly Agree”), emphasizing the system has a high satisfaction rate.

SKIMS has empowered SK leaders to focus on strategic initiatives by automating administrative tasks and improving communication with the youth. Youth members, in turn, feel more connected and informed, resulting in higher participation rates.

Interpretation of Data

Lessons Learned

This project was a valuable learning experience for our team. We gained insights into the importance of user-centered design, effective communication, and iterative development. Key takeaways include:

  • The significance of aligning technology with user needs to ensure adoption and success.
  • The value of collaboration with stakeholders in refining and improving the system.
  • The impact of digital tools in fostering community engagement and participation.

Future Directions

While SKIMS has already made a positive impact, there is potential for further enhancement. Future developments could include:

  • Automated SMS and Email Notifications: Expanding communication channels to reach more youth.
  • Integration with Nearby Barangays: Scaling the system to foster collaboration among neighboring communities.
  • Advanced Analytics: Incorporating data visualization tools to provide deeper insights into program performance.

Conclusion

The SK Information Management System has proven to be a game-changer for Barangay, bridging the gap between SK officials and youth. By embracing technology, the community has taken a significant step toward more inclusive and efficient governance. This project has demonstrated the transformative power of innovation in addressing real-world challenges and inspiring change.

As we move forward, we hope SKIMS will serve as a model for other communities, encouraging them to harness technology to strengthen youth engagement and drive community development.