Project-based learning with the world wide web: A qualitative study of resource integration

The purpose of this study was to investigate the process used by learners t o seek, locate, and integrate information resources for use in a project-ba sed environment. Four cases (n=9) were analyzed from an introductory educat ional technology course during a unit on telecommunications. Participants w ere asked to generate projects for integrating the Internet into the curric ulum. Within this project-based context, learners searched for information resources that would accompany their project ideas. Three major findings re lated to use of hypermedia systems during project-based learning are discus sed. (a) progressing from data-driven to goal-driven approaches was critica l to developing coherent project ideas; (b) consolidation of information re sources with project methods and rationales was challenging for learners, o ften resulting in topic "drifts" or idea simplification; and (c) metacognit ive, domain, and system knowledge appeared critical to achieving coherence in project development. Implications related to the role of instructional s caffolding in Encouraging goal-driven and metacognitive processing during o pen-ended learning are considered.