What Factors Impact on Primary Students Using the Internet and Media for Learning and Entertainment at Home?

• In Event: Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: Digital and Media Contexts of Language and Literacy

Abstract

Informed by the difference of children’s Internet use in formal and informal context, this study examines how children use Internet at home, and what factors impact their online behavior in such contexts. Students from grade 3 to grade 6 from two schools in a medium size city in China participated in the study. The data reveals that children use Internet for both entertainment and learning purposes and these two factors are correlated. However, factors influencing the Internet use for the two purposes are to some extent different. The study suggests that there is a need to zoom in and analyze children’s Internet use in informal contexts to inform policy makers and educators on bridging the home and school ICT use.

Authors

• Jingyan Lu, The University of Hong Kong

• Qiang Hao, University of Georgia