Information handling and adaptive expertise

Abstract

This purpose of this paper is to argue the case for investigating the culture of information in primary schools. Recent technological change has altered the relationship between the individual and information, yet this change appears not to be reflected in the culture of schools, especially primary schools. To this end the area of the primary ICT curriculum which is categorised as "information handling" is examined, to investigate the current likely manifestation of this culture in schools. Using Hatano's concept of Adaptive Expertise as its theoretical perspective, the curriculum is analysed from the point of view of how well it is likely to prepare children for a life in which the ability to evaluate information will become a generically crucial skill needing to be applied in many varied and unforeseeable circumstances. Educational researchers have argued the case for change in the way we teach children to deal with information in schools; however this paper suggests that the existing culture of schools needs to be understood and opportunities for change identified if these skills are successfully to be introduced.