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Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level
Bibliography: leaves 289-318.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC)
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613226172153856 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Weideman, Melius |
| author2 | Underwood, Peter G |
| author_browse | Underwood, Peter G Weideman, Melius |
| author_facet | Underwood, Peter G Weideman, Melius |
| author_sort | Weideman, Melius |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Bibliography: leaves 289-318. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8754 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:46.693Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC) |
| publisherStr | Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC) |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/8754 Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level Weideman, Melius Underwood, Peter G Library and Information Studies Bibliography: leaves 289-318. In this thesis, the author attempted to develop a method to help information Technology/Systems learners find relevant information on the lnternet. The literature indicated that it is essential that learners should be able to retrieve relevant information from electronic sources. However, it was also stated repeatedly that searching on the Internet using standard search engines is not an easy task. It was also noted that a move was taking place away from traditional teaching methods to those with more learner involvement, making use of new computer and communication technologies. Initial experiments were done with IT/IS learners to determine how and where they search on the Internet, and what degree of success they had. The most important data gathered from these experiments was the tack of search strategy displayed by learners; the search engines chosen by them; and their success rate. Only 32.2% of all learners in this study managed to find one piece of relevant information in 30 minutes without any assistance. The data was used to design and later improve a tool to guide them in their searching endeavours. This tool, called "Finder Of information On The Internet" (FOIOTI, at http://www.mwe.co.za), was then extensively tested by measuring searching success, with and without using it. The data was gathered by examining and summarizing the forms completed by the learners during the searching experiments. During this study the author found that most learners had little or no training on Internet usage; often worked on the Internet; could not specify their search properly; used very few of the operators offered by search engines; and had a low success rate in finding relevant data. The two final phases of experiments proved that FOIOTI, as a searching tool, was successful. During these two phases, 71.0% of the participants claimed that they found the specified information when using FOIOTI within 30 minutes. A total of 1109 learners from three continents and 20 institutions took part in the study, spread over 46 sessions. Every session was administered personally by the author. This research project has contributed to the existing body of knowledge on Information Retrieval and education by having developed a tool that enhances learner involvement in the learning process. It enables educators to explore easier alternatives of locating educational resources by drawing on the experience of other website authors in their field. It also entices the average learner to re-skill him/herself on the use of an exciting and promising new technology: Information Retrieval through the Internet. 2014-10-25T18:50:21Z 2014-10-25T18:50:21Z 2001 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8754 eng application/pdf Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC) University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Library and Information Studies Weideman, Melius Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| title_full | Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| title_fullStr | Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| title_short | Internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| title_sort | internet searching as a study aid for information technology and information systems learners at a tertiary level |
| topic | Library and Information Studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8754 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weidemanmelius internetsearchingasastudyaidforinformationtechnologyandinformationsystemslearnersatatertiarylevel |