Students' Perceptions of the Appropriateness and Usefulness of the Internet for Schoolwork and the Value of School

Abstract

We examined students' perceptions of the appropriateness and usefulness of the Internet for schoolwork and its impact on their views on the value of school learning. We were motivated by the debate in the literature as to whether today's students are different because of the Internet, and consequently whether schools should change. An analysis of questionnaires completed by 262 students in public post-primary schools, with high access to the Internet at home and little opportunity to use it at school, revealed that most of the students use the Internet for schoolwork. In addition, most consider a bricolage-oriented work process to be useful and appropriate, and this perception correlates negatively with statements regarding the value of school learning. These results support the theoretical claim that there is a disconnect between students and schools.

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