Pupils' “representations” of ICT. A preliminary study in six European countries

A co-ordinated empirical European work (Project REPRESENTATION, MM 1045) has been led in six countries, with the aim of getting an insight of pupils’representations regarding ICT. A common protocol was defined. According to it, the pupils of one classroom in each country (fourth and fifth graders) were asked to draw a computer, to label its parts and to write short texts about computer uses. Representations are at the same time rather similar (children tend to focus on the external parts of computers) and rather contrasted. representations seems to be much affected by the task proposed to pupils. the school context, the use of a computer at home and in school and, probably, the gender.