Teaching Internet Search Skills: Some Evidence-Based Lessons

Recent studies at the University of Sheffield have looked at the Web searching behaviour of children, and of the general public, One looked at the range of information resources used by school children, and included an in-depth, qualitative analysis of searches by children aged from 12 to 15. It also included interviews with teachers and educationists. The second study involved qualitative and quantitative studies of searches by members of the Sheffield public. A comparison of the findings of these studies has provided useful guidance on the question of how best to teach Web search skills. Some of the key points are presented here Observations of children and interviews with their teachers suggested that they needed little training in the technicalities of Web searching, but would benefit from a greater understanding of issues relating to the evaluation of Web-based material and its appropriateness to their needs. Many members of the general public were hampered by detailed, but inappropriate technical knowledge. Their approach to searching was often too mechanistic, and they needed to develop a more strategic, metacognitive approach to the use of search engines. In teaching Web search skills, it is proposed that lessons be developed around three foci: training in technology, evaluation of information, and understanding of the on-line environment.