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Training young adults with intellectual disability to read critically on the internet
Author(s) -
Delgado Pablo,
Ávila Vicenta,
Fajardo Inmaculada,
Salmerón Ladislao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12562
Subject(s) - intellectual disability , the internet , trustworthiness , psychology , medical education , medicine , social psychology , world wide web , computer science , psychiatry
Background Young people with intellectual disability (ID) are becoming frequent Internet users, but they present difficulties selecting reliable Internet sources. Methods The present authors tested an instructional programme aimed at increasing skills to evaluate information from the Internet of 33 young adult students with intellectual disability enrolled in special needs education (19.4 years). The programme was composed of different web pages that provided conflicting views on a controversial topic. Students participated in small group discussions supported with Wh‐question graphic organizers and contrasting cases during seven sessions. Results Differences between pre‐ and post‐tests indicated that the programme is effective in increasing students’ ability to select trustworthy web pages, and to use source characteristics to justify such selection by means of supervised instruction. Conclusion Promoting Internet use in a safe way might increase the opportunities of young people with intellectual disability to make choices and self‐determined decisions about their life (Handbook of research‐based practices for educating students with intellectual disability, 2016, New York, NY: Taylor & Francis).