Inside or between devices: The internet in the mind of primary school children

Abstract

Understanding primary school children's mental models of the internet is fundamental to develop sound and effective internet education approaches. In this study we analyze a dataset of 386 drawings of the internet by 4th-graders (8–9 years old) from Southern Switzerland, enriched with socio-demographic data. Analysis identified 4 main clusters of mental models, confirming that the internet, despite being frequently used, is poorly known to children. The internet is represented as something invisible or undefined among or inside mobile devices and is often associated with digital products brands. Some findings differ from previous studies. Mental models of the internet and perceived internet-related risks seem to be independent from socio-demographic characteristics, internet experience and school performance, but seem to be more homogeneous when considering single school classes. Educational implications are discussed.