Teacher’s selection and use of Internet-based resources and tools to facilitate learning in primary classrooms

This chapter discusses how primary school teachers make use of Internet resources and tools in an interdisciplinary subject. The research looks into 12 cases involving Grade 4 to Grade 6 teachers. The teaching designs developed are carefully analysed to identify teachers’ choices of Internet resources and tools. Semi-structured interviews with teachers are conducted to gain a greater understanding of the rationale behind their choices. Analyses of the teaching designs show that the use of videos is the most prevalent, followed by integrated websites and photographs, which are non-interactive resources. It also appears that the use of Internet tools in primary classrooms is an uncommon practice and the teachers are relying heavily on printed worksheets. Results from the interviews suggest that the teachers’ selection and use of Internet resources and tools is mostly governed by their availability, and hindered by students’ limited communication and information technology (ICT) skills. The findings raise concerns regarding both the availability and diversity of Internet materials as well as the ICT capability of primary level students. Copyright © FORMATEX 2011.