Developing the information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to develop a standardized and reliable measurement tool for assessing information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students.Design/methodology/approach: Based on information literacy and information-seeking behavior theories, expert advice and students' interview, items of undergraduates' informationseeking behavior indicators were selected. With the analysis of homogeneity reliability, item analysis and factor analysis, this study constructs an assessment system to evaluate reliability and validity of the scale.Findings: The information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has divided undergraduates' information-seeking behavior into seven dimensions, which include 46 items. The reliability analysis of Cronbach's α was 0.910, and the coefficient of split-half reliability was0.817. The results of factor analysis showed that Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin(KMO) was 0.864,which indicates 55.536% of the total variation could be explained by the above seven dimensions.Research limitations: Due to a small sample size and limited sample distribution, further research need be conducted in an expanded sample size in order to explore the application scope of this evaluation system; in addition, the stability of the scale also need be confirmed.Practical implications: The paper sets up an information-seeking behavior evaluation system for undergraduates and explores the characteristics of their information-seeking behavior.This study provides guidance for the development of future information literacy education and the improvement of the information literacy level of undergraduates.Originality/value: An information-seeking behavior scale for undergraduates has been developed, which comprehensively covers information need, information source, information evaluation, information retrieval, information management, information utilization and information morality. The scale is proved to have good reliability, validity, popularity anddiscrimination that it is qualified to be an assessment tool of information-seeking behavior for Chinese undergraduates.

Developing Pre-service Teachers’ICT Teaching Competency:Supporting Elements,Major Issues,and Possible Paths-Analysis Based on the Survey of 20 Normal Universities and Colleges

Based on the increasingly prominent power of information technology in the innovative development of education,people pay more attention to the information and communications technology(ICT)teaching competency of pre-service teachers.In order to explore the supporting elements,key issues,and possible paths of current normal universities and colleges in cultivating pre-service teachers’ICT teaching competency,this study collects the survey data of graduates from 20 normal universities and colleges at provincial&ministerial,local,and junior levels.Based on the total quality management theory,technology acceptance model,and pre-service teachers’ICT teaching competency framework,it carries out the survey and analysis from three aspects:supporting elements,supporting effects,and ability development.The study finds that the support of personnel,facilities,curriculum,mechanism,and environment provided by normal universities and colleges does not play a full role in improving the ICT teaching competency of pre-service teachers.There are still great differences among different levels of universities and colleges.Among them,the influence of personnel support and curriculum support should be greatly strengthened,and facility support is even more inhibited.Based on these findings,it puts forward some strategies that are conducive to better cultivating the ICT teaching competency of pre-service teachers in the pre-service education stage,to make them adapt to the new standards and requirements for teachers in the new era.