:Kiwi
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus:Searching for information on the internet.  
Resources: Laptop computer with simulation of part of the world wide web, question card, recording book
1.2MB


(click for enlargement)

Questions/instructions
Click the Kiwi button.

Ask the student to fill in the questionnaire, then click Done.

You are doing a study about birds called kiwi. You need to find the answers to these questions.

Give student question card.

Use the internet on the computer to search for information about birds called kiwi.
The computer shows a search engine. Use key words for your search, not web addresses.

Several different web pages provided a range of correct answers.
 
% responses
y4
y8
1. How did the kiwi get the name “kiwi”?
Use the internet to find out and tell me.
sound of cry (kee-wee-kee-wee)
23
72
2. There are five kinds of kiwi in New Zealand.
Find the names of three kinds of kiwi. [not year 4]
3 of:

Spotted (little, great)
–
67
Brown (Okarito, North Island,
South Island)
Tokoeka (Haast, Southern)
3. Kiwi make their nests in different places.
Find one place where kiwi might make their nests. [not year 4]
Any of:
hollow logs; under tree roots,
natural holes, burrows, dens
–
48
Search strategies:    
used combinations of keywords
60
64
read provided summaries to decide which sites to open
63
85
attempted to use search buttons within sites
36
36
(Click for enlargements of screens and examples)
Search screen
Search results screen

(Link headings only from 2 other searches. One of the possible result screens, showing 3 scrolling moves needed to find the answer)
Example of search results

(Search results visible on screen without scrolling, showing details)
Examples of hyperlink headings

(Hyperlink headings: 2 items with their details and the title fo the third were visible without scrolling)
  
% responses
y4
y8
y4
y8
at school?
at home?
Survey responses How often do you search the internet on a computer?
most days
7
6
20
32
more than once a week
7
14
16
20
less than once a week
32
47
18
18
never
54
33
46
30
Commentary
This simulated internet seaching task showed quite high success among the year 8 students, but year 4 students enjoyed much less success. The survey responses show that about 14 percent of year 4 students and 20 percent of year 8 students said that they searched the internet at school more than once a week. At home, these percentages rose to 36 and 52 percent. 
 
Chapter Graphic
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