Problems with Internet and Library Usage for Secondary School Children

This research consisted of investigating seven hypotheses using the following components: 1. Observation of forty-three secondary school children using the Internet and the library to complete five tasks. 2. An interview was held with all the participants in the study that was audio taped and subsequently transcribed. 3. An on-line form was constructed so that the students could nominate their favourite educational web sites for each class subject. The participants were given five tasks and had to find the answers using two of the most common forms of information retrieval found in Irish schools, the Internet and the school library. Subsequently they were asked twenty questions about their opinions on aspects of the library and the Internet. Points of interest here included that the majority of participants felt that the Internet is faster, easier to use, and better overall than the library, even though it was proven not to be the case. It was also found that the participants nominated sites by domain name without actually investigating if the domain name had any reference to the subject in question. The observation, interview and voting data was then analysed using SPSS to investigate the seven hypotheses. These findings were then reported, discussed and ideas for future study were recommended. Proposed technical and teaching solutions to problems uncovered in this research are also outlined. The above findings have implications for search engine design, the curriculum of the Irish education system, and for teachers in how they use both the Internet and the library to their full potential

Investigating youth learning and data: Contexts, concepts, and connections

This panel presents research that has explored young people in relation to data traces in digital, networked platforms supported and made accessible through Internet connected devices, applications, and platforms, asking the question: how might we help youth, as data subjects, gain a sophisticated understanding of data, including the processes involved in data creation, collection, curation, and aggregation with networked devices, platforms, and information services? Panelists will convene around the impact of these new technologies in youths’ lives by presenting a range of empirical research on search engines, identity‐based gaming, literacy groupware for children, and data literacy programming for youth in public libraries.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147832/1/pra214505501069.pd

Youth and Digital Media: From Credibility to Information Quality

Building upon a process-and context-oriented information quality framework, this paper seeks to map and explore what we know about the ways in which young users of age 18 and under search for information online, how they evaluate information, and how their related practices of content creation, levels of new literacies, general digital media usage, and social patterns affect these activities. A review of selected literature at the intersection of digital media, youth, and information quality -- primarily works from library and information science, sociology, education, and selected ethnographic studies -- reveals patterns in youth's information-seeking behavior, but also highlights the importance of contextual and demographic factors both for search and evaluation. Looking at the phenomenon from an information-learning and educational perspective, the literature shows that youth develop competencies for personal goals that sometimes do not transfer to school, and are sometimes not appropriate for school. Thus far, educational initiatives to educate youth about search, evaluation, or creation have depended greatly on the local circumstances for their success or failure

Mapping and analysis of the current self- and co- regulatory framework of commercial communication aimed at minors

As the advertising sector has been very active in self-regulating commercial communication aimed at children, a patchwork of different rules and instruments exist, drafted by different self-regulatory organisations at international, European and national level. In order to determine the scope and contents of these rules, and hence, the actual level of protection of children, a structured mapping of these rules is needed. As such, this report aims to provide an overview of different categories of Alternative Regulatory Instruments(ARIs,such as self- and co-regulation regarding (new) advertising formats aimed at children. This report complements the first legal AdLit research report, which provided an overview of the legislative provisions in this domain.status: publishe

DESIGN WITH EMOTION: IMPROVING WEB SEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR OLDER ADULTS

Research indicates that older adults search for information all together about 15% less than younger adults prior to making decisions. Prior research findings associated such behavior mainly with age-related cognitive difficulties. However, recent studies indicate that emotion is linked to influence search decision quality. This research approaches questions about why older adults search less and how this search behavior could be improved. The research is motivated by the broader issues of older users\u27 search behavior, while focusing on the emotional usability of search engine user interfaces. Therefore, this research attempts to accomplish the following three objectives: a) to explore the usage of low level design elements as emotion manipulation tools b) to seamlessly integrate these design elements into currently existing search engine interfaces, and finally c) to evaluate the impact of emotional design elements on search performance and user satisfaction. To achieve these objectives, two usability studies were conducted. The aim of the first study was to explore emotion induction capabilities of colors, shapes, and combination of both. The study was required to determine if the proposed design elements have strong mood induction capabilities. The results demonstrated that low level design elements such as color and shape have high visceral effects that could be used as potentially viable alternatives to induce the emotional states of users without the users having knowledge of their presence. The purpose of the second study was to evaluate alternative search engine user interfaces, derived from this research, for search thoroughness and user preference. In general, search based performance variables showed that participants searched more thoroughly using interface types that integrate angular shape features. In addition, user preference variables also indicated that participants seemed to enjoy search tasks using search engine interfaces that used color/shape combinations. Overall, the results indicated that seamless integration of low level emotional design elements into currently existing search engine interfaces could potentially improve web search experience

Using social media to widen young people’s participation in social work education: final report for Nominettrust

Using a systematic review approach, this study set out to identify social media resources currently used by service users to share knowledge and experience, in order that they could be used to widen young people’s participation in social work education. Resources found were included in a database available to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support and promote the use of these sites. The review was undertaken in partnership with young service users. The Review question was: • How do interventions/services using new social and other digital media technologies promote children and young people’s participation? Sub-questions were: • How do such interventions/services conceptualise participation? • What are the perceived facilitators and barriers of participation? • What are the implications for engaging young service users in social work education? A review of published literature provides a foundation to understand how and in what ways social media is currently being used and suggest ways in which it might be used in the future. In addition to academic studies, this project reviews social media, e.g. social networks, blogs, video conferencing, used by users of personal services to share experiences and contribute to knowledge. Social media resources identified are presented in tabular form and are also made accessible though the inclusion of hyperlinks to a range of digital material. Finding of this study suggest that social media is currently being used by adults for two purposes, to promote civic participation or to socialise young people. Consequently the potential biases and shortcomings of face-to-face communication between service providers and service users can be reproduced in online forms of communication. Conclusions drawn include: • Genuine engagement with young people requires digital technologies to provide complementary, more empowering public spaces and channels for expression which may lead to social change. • There is a need to consider ways group membership is constructed and established, both in terms of involvement in social work education in general, and in providing mechanisms that support the use of social media to facilitate this. The report concludes by making recommendations for future actio

Propaganda in an Age of Algorithmic Personalization: Expanding Literacy Research and Practice

In this commentary, the author considers the rise of algorithmic personalization and the power of propaganda as they shift the dynamic landscape of 21st‐century literacy research and practice. Algorithmic personalization uses data from the behaviors, beliefs, interests, and emotions of the target audience to provide filtered digital content, targeted advertising, and differential product pricing to online users. As persuasive genres, advertising and propaganda may demand different types of reading practices than texts whose purpose is primarily informational or argumentative. Understanding the propaganda function of algorithmic personalization may lead to a deeper consideration of texts that activate emotion and tap into audience values for aesthetic, commercial, and political purposes. Increased attention to algorithmic personalization, propaganda, and persuasion in the context of K–12 literacy education may also help people cope with sponsored content, bots, and other forms of propaganda and persuasion that now circulate online

Revisiting Cybersecurity Awareness in the Midst of Disruptions

The awareness of cybersecurity and knowledge about risks from a variety of threats, which present harm or steal private information in internetworking could help in mitigation of vulnerabilities to risks of threats in safeguarding information from malware and bots. Revisiting cybersecurity awareness of every member and evaluation of organization’s posture might help to protect sensitive or private information from a network of computers, working together and forming into botnets. The purpose of the qualitative case study narrative was to explore prospects for integrating cybersecurity education into elementary school children’s curriculum through interviews of elementary schoolteachers, IT experts, and parents to gain feedback about perceptions on cybersecurity knowledge and awareness. The analysis of schools’ organizational security postures related to all levels of education, recommending in raising awareness of the underlying and unprecedented security vulnerabilities. One area of greatest need is in protecting the wellbeing of people in securing private or protected assets and sensitive information, most valuable and vulnerable amid disruption. The possible lack of cybersecurity awareness in online settings could increase an organizational vulnerability to risks of threats and outsider attempts to install malware during a variety of cyber-attacks. Organizations with online ambiguity face a threat from botnets to infect networks. This qualitative exploratory single case-study into perceptions of teachers and leaders, information technology (IT) experts, and parents of elementary school children about cybersecurity awareness level of children in elementary schools helped to reinforce the important role of education in building foundational cyber-safety practices