Page 10 - R_EdQuire White Paper Nov 2017 v3.4

EdQuire White Paper: Computer learning behaviour in K-12
Nov 2017 V3.4
Page 10 of 15

2.7 Distractibility by year grade

Method
FIC calculated the average distractibility index (DI) for each student per lesson, ranging from 0 to 1
(1=completely distracted). The formula of DI is presented in Appendix 1.

Result
Figure 7 shows the averaged DI by grade for all schools. Distractibility was similar across year grades 7 to 10
with a dramatic drop in distractibility in years 11 and 12. This pattern, noted earlier in the study, persisted
with the complete data set, suggesting a robust result.

Figure 7. Distractibility index by year grade. The higher the score means the greater the distractibility.

Discussion:
This DI index combines Off-Task time and task switching and is a promising, though yet to be validated,
measure. Regardless, the improvement in student arrangement in years 11 and 12 is clear and has been
confirmed in simple Off-Task times and number of switches which looked similar (not shown). We can
speculate that students in years 11 and 12 start focusing on their HSC or its equivalent, and dramatically
improve their self-regulation on their computers. Further data collection and analysis of the nature of
activities will be needed to confirm this interpretation.

2.8 Internet search skill assessment

Method
We investigated the Internet searching behaviour of students. First, we analysed which search engines
students used, and then their use of available search tools such as the boolean AND, OR, NOT, quotation
marks and others (such as +, -, ~, :, or, and, site, etc) to refine their search. Extensive analysis of student
search skills including search trails is underway but beyond the scope of this study.

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