The Coherence of the Inchoate: Children and the Internet

This book examines and compares the in-school and out-of-school use of the internet by children. Previous research and recent writings on this topic are examined and a theoretical framework is formed that eclectically draws on a number of sources, including postmodern authors.

Through the use of a mixed methodology, it was found that informal learning using the internet often appears as self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership both of content creation and social networking. It is often generated by a real, purposeful need by the children themselves, often with the assistance of their peers.

Schools should be places where literacy in new media can be developed. The concern is that school and home practices may diverge to the point where school use becomes increasingly irrelevant to children’s lives.