Notes:
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Early research on using web information indicates that secondary students fail to
explore much web tools, use them naively and have serious difficulties to
understand and integrate web information. In response to these challenges, the
main goal of this research has been to design, implement and evaluate an
instructional approach that helps students learn from web information. We have
developed on-line learning materials which focus on specific curricular contents
and provide specific scaffolds to help students accomplish web-based tasks and
develop specific information problem-solving competencies. These scaffolds have
intended to give support to students involved in information-seeking activities as
they were asked questions, searched for information, organised and assessed their
findings, and created rich representations of their newly-constructed
understandings. We have designed a one year long study to investigate the depth
and accuracy of 127 secondary students, as regards their content understanding as
well as their development of information problem-solving competencies when
using on-line resources to solve instructional tasks. Our research demonstrates that
the experimental group performed computer-based activities statistically better
than the control group. Our findings also suggest that students were able to
develop accurate and in-depth understanding from web information if they could
appropriately use search and managerial strategies. This research lends evidence
to questions regarding the value of students engaging in on-line inquiry web-based
learning to enhance content understanding and to develop more efficient
information problem-solving competencies in secondary education. |