Students Text-Production Methods when Learning with the Internet

The increasing use of multimedia in education makes text-production with computers important for students. What kind of role does the Internet play here as an external source of information? In an exploratory study the focus was on how 17year-old students used sources of the Internet to write an essay about a topic in physics. Data of 45 students were analyzed by using log files that recorded every single key stroke of students' computer use. Results were related to learning outcomes. Two different approaches with respect to the ways information from the Web was used were found in students' work strategies: "compiling" and "authoring". "Compilers" usually copied Web text into their own essays, whereas "Authors" formulated their individual texts. "Authors" scored significantly higher in physics post tests, and "Compilers" created longer texts. In order to validate the gained results a follow-up study with 100 partici...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: IADIS
• Authors: Burkhard Priemer, Maria Ploog
• Keywords: Education Makes Text-production, IADIS 2004, IADIS 2008, Single Key Stroke, Students Used Sources