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Internet navigation and information search strategies: how do children are influenced by their participation in an intensive ICT project

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the involvement showed by 190 students who participated in an introduction to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) project, in public schools from Spain. By means of an Internet browsing test, access and information selection processes were afforded. The purpose of the study was to explore whether students who usually worked with ICT in their classrooms, had better knowledge and management with computing tools, and if they are better prepared to research and select information. Results show that students of elementary and secondary education, who have a greater contact with ICT, but not specifically introduced to searching for information on the Internet, know how to use the technology. All these students show better knowledge and control of the computer as well as presenting better Web literacy skills. Although they found, organized, used and assessed the information better their literacy in Web information is missing key skills, especially in analyzing, assessing and summarizing information.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Social Pedagogy and Information and Communication Technologies research group (PSITIC) recognized by the Catalan Government (2009-SGR-482) and to the Innovation, Universities and Enterprise. Department’s Committee for Research of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Social Fund by awarding a scholarship (Ref. 2010FI-B1 00224 and 2010FI-B100065). Thanks to the Amancio Ortega Foundation, and students of the schools who participated in the Ponte dos Brozos Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Císter Street 34, 08022, Barcelona, Spain

    María Graciela Badilla Quintana, Meritxell Cortada Pujol & Jordi Riera Romaní

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  1. María Graciela Badilla Quintana
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  2. Meritxell Cortada Pujol
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  3. Jordi Riera Romaní
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Correspondence to María Graciela Badilla Quintana.

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María Graciela Badilla Quintana, Meritxell Cortada Pujol and Jordi Riera Romaní—Members of the PSITIC Social Pedagogy and Information and Communication Technologies Investigation Group.

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Badilla Quintana, M.G., Cortada Pujol, M. & Riera Romaní, J. Internet navigation and information search strategies: how do children are influenced by their participation in an intensive ICT project. Int J Technol Des Educ 22, 513–529 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-011-9158-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-011-9158-4

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