Filtered Learning: How Content Filters Affect Adolescent Search Strategies on Science-Focused Inquiry Tasks

• In Event: Roundtable Session 48
  In Roundtable Session: Media, Culture, and Learning SIG Roundtable: Exploring Multiple Perspectives in Different Media Spaces

Abstract

Although the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) has been in place for nearly 15 years, much of what we know about how content filters affect learning is anecdotal. This paper examines a case of students encountering an Internet search barrier while engaging in a science inquiry task. Through mixed methods analysis, informed by reactance theory, the paper illustrates how the filter affected student search strategies and learning outcomes, even if it did not limit their access to high quality information on the research topic. This study suggests that more attention should paid to students' online search and comprehension strategies. Futhermore, the role of filters in educational contexts should be reconsidered in light of student behaviors.

Author

• Eric Meyers, The University of British Columbia