How Do You Like To Learn? Comparing User Preferences and Visit Length of Educational Web Sites

This paper reports results of a study designed to determine people's preferences for different types of Web-based educational activity. The primary research question was: How do people's preferences vary among types of Web-based learning activity? Six activity types were identified for com...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors Schaller, David T, Allison-Bunnell, Steven, Borun, Minda, Chambers, Margaret B
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published For full text: http://www 01.04.2002
Subjects
Adult Learning
Children
Comparative Analysis
Instructional Design
Museums
Use Studies
User Needs (Information)
User Preferences
User Satisfaction (Information)
Web Based Instruction
Web Site Design
Web Sites
World Wide Web
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Summary:This paper reports results of a study designed to determine people's preferences for different types of Web-based educational activity. The primary research question was: How do people's preferences vary among types of Web-based learning activity? Six activity types were identified for comparison: Creative Play, Guided Tour, Interactive Reference, Puzzle/Interactive Mystery, Role-playing Story, and Simulation. A team of Web developers who work with museums and other learning sites collaborated with a team of educational researchers who work primarily with museums to conduct a survey of visitors to five different types of educational Web site. Two kinds of data were collected: user exit surveys, eliciting an evaluation of the study site and preferred genre or type of learning activity; and server statistics indicating the duration of stay. Results indicated that there are clear differences in the type of Web-based learning activity preferred by adults and children. Adults are more likely to select Interactive Reference or Simulation whereas children prefer Creative Play and Role-playing Stories. The adult sites yield more straightforward cognitive information, while the sites preferred by children allow more personal choice and interaction. Apparently, adults bring an intrinsic motivation to the learning experience. They know what they want to learn, and they want to learn it in the most direct way. Children, on the other hand, need to be motivated. They respond positively to the opportunity for interaction and choice within a goal-based environment that offers them an extrinsic purpose. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/MES)