Learning in an Internet Environment during Early Childhood

The present study focuses on the Internet activity of young children in order to examine how these children utilized the Internet and their potential in the uses of the Internet. The study sample consisted of 20 children, from both compulsory and pre-compulsory kindergarten. Two Internet learning environments were examined: (1) the ‘universal’ environment of the Web, where a search engine was used for navigation; and (2) the ‘modified’ Web environment, which was created in accordance with the abilities and level of young children. It was shown that young children who operated in a ‘modified’ Internet environment manifested better control of the uses of Internet interfaces and were better oriented in the Internet environment when compared with their activity in the ‘universal’ Internet environment. Another finding was that not all of the Internet uses constitute a meaningful learning environment for young children. In order for the environment to be advantageous for children, Internet uses must be structured in accordance with the children's levels of development and needs, with the emphasis on the use of the Internet as a source of information in parallel with concrete activity and teacher/adult mediation in the children's Internet activity.