ERIC Number: ED423862
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1998-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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An Investigation of PreK-12 Educators' Information Needs and Search Behaviors on the Internet.
Small, Ruth V.; Sutton, Stuart; Eisenberg, Michael; Miwa, Makiko; Urfels, Claire
The Internet contains a vast array of educational resources, ranging from individual activities to whole curricula. This research study used content analyses and an electronic questionnaire to investigate how and why PreK-12 educators use information from the Internet for instructional design purposes in order to inform the design of an Internet-based system that provides one-stop, any-stop access to Internet-based educational materials. Results indicate that lesson plans are the most sought-after instructional resource on the Internet. The data also revealed that, although most respondents use the Internet for instructional planning, they often consult several resources (print, electronic, and/or human) and use or adapt the information to meet their specific instructional needs. Tables and figures present data related to: elements found in instructional resources; requested information in AskERIC questions; specified information in AskERIC questions; content areas represented by questionnaire respondents; sources of information used for instructional planning; top-rated preferred information sources for instructional planning by subject area; amount of Internet use for instructional planning by subject area; critical elements of Internet-based lesson plans; ease of Internet search; amount of relevant information found; and level of satisfaction with Internet search. (Author/AEF)
Descriptors: Access to Information, Computer Uses in Education, Content Analysis, Educational Planning, Educational Resources, Elementary School Teachers, Elementary Secondary Education, Information Seeking, Instructional Design, Instructional Development, Instructional Materials, Internet, Lesson Plans, Preschool Education, Preschool Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Tables (Data), Teacher Surveys, Use Studies, User Needs (Information), User Satisfaction (Information)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
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Language: English
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