The method

The project partners who will carry out the field work and develop the outputs are based in Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The partners will invite at least two schools in each country to participate as observation sites, one including primary age pupils (up to 11-12 years) and one secondary age (up to 16-18). More schools may be included if local funding can be identified to cover the costs of field work and if necessary to support school participation. Other schools - children and teachers - will be invited to participate informally, normally by means of electronic communications networks.

 

The project will examine the use in schools, and where possible by school pupils out of school, of

and more generally using the Internet and the World Wide Web.

 

It will be based on an ethnographic approach, observing and recording the collective experiences of direct users of electronic systems of communication in educational contexts. In each school a specific group of learners, usually a class, will be chosen for intensive study. This will take the form of classroom observation and group or individual interviews with children, teachers and other school staff such as librarians. Where possible and relevant, there will also be interviews with parents or others associated with the school. The field work will be undertaken by project personnel, although where feasible teachers and children will be asked to record information, for example by keeping simple diaries on their experience. Any in-school activity will be by negotiation with heads, staff and pupils.

 

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last update: 15.5.97; pdf