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Examining information-seeking behaviour in a geography web-based constructivist learning activity
Citation
Chang, C. H., & Williams, M. D. (2003). Examining information-seeking behaviour in a geography web-based constructivist learning activity. In Research in and on the classroom: ERAS Conference 2003 Proceedings (pp. 166-175). Educational Research Association of Singapore.
Abstract
In the official launch of Singapore’s “IT Masterplan 2” on 24 July 2002, the Ministry of Education has announced that the efforts in implementing Information Technology into Education should move beyond providing and sustaining Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure into effective pedagogical practices using ICT. It is how these ICTs are used rather than what is used that is important. Indeed, one such aspect of ICT use within Geography education – information seeking within web-based learning will be examined in this paper. Much of current literature on web- based learning highlights the flexibility of the web in providing information and enabling students to perform self-guided exploratory learning (Scott 1996 and Kahn 1998). Little empirical research has been done on the actual information-seeking behaviour in web–based learning, especially in Singapore. This paper examines the interactions between the learner and the web through the browsing behaviours of 16 Secondary 3 students when given a task that requires them to search for information on the web to solve a problem. One of the major conclusions from the data analysis is that the students tend to be engaged in rudimentary information-seeking behaviour that does not extend beyond simple keywords searches and following sequential links from search results.
Date Issued
November 2003
Description
This paper was published in the Proceedings of ERAS Conference held in Singapore from 19-21 November 2003