Literacy Learning on the Net: An Exploratory Study

The rapid infusion of the Internet into public schools makes it possible for students and teachers to participate in a range of literacy events as well as access reading resources previously unavailable to them in the classroom. This report outlines a study which explored literacy researchers and lead teachers' thinking about the benefits of Internet-based curricular activities and instructional practices used to enhance students' literacy. The report cites the primary questions that guided the inquiry: What are the literacy skills students need to use the Internet within curriculum?; How are these literacy skills the same as for using printed books and paper-based writing and how are they different?; and What literacy guidelines would help teachers prepare their students to use the Internet effectively? It states that the specific strategies investigated relate to several of the English language arts standards and National Educational Technology Standards for students and teachers. It explains that three sources of data were used in forming the report: (1) five outstanding researchers in technology and literacy were interviewed by telephone; (2) 13 teachers who use the Internet extensively for literacy learning were interviewed; and (3) an online survey of teachers and staff developers was conducted to gather descriptive information about Internet-based literacy learning in the classroom. The report finds that researchers and teachers indicate a number of educational benefits of Internet-based curricular activities. Contains 11 notes, 5 tables of data, and 51 references. (NKA)