信息收集是一個建構知識的程序。網路學習者依他們原有的知識為他們自己設計一個資訊採集計劃。該計劃是通過建構不斷吸收的新信息和收集來自不同網頁的新信息。這個過程中，學習者必須保持許多搜索結果供以後使用而且需協調不同的主題和不同的記憶工具之間的資訊。然而，目前廣泛使用的Web瀏覽器並不能提供有效率的支援。學習者經常遇到，迷失方向，認知負荷，從而妨礙學習。 本研究提出一個創新的Web瀏覽器界面稱為 TopicBrowser，學習者可以在其中以階層式概念圖的方式，進行信息收集計劃。使用概念圖的方式來改善他們的信息收集過程。他們可以搜索信息，打開網頁記錄到相關的主題裡，或從網頁提取信息組織到概念圖的主題裡。Information Gathering is a knowledge construction process. Web learners make a plan for their Information Gathering task based on their prior knowledge. The plan is evolved with new information encountered and their mental model is constructed through continuously assimilating and accommodating new information gathered from different Web pages. In the process, learners have to maintain many search results for later use and coordinate information between different topics and different memory aids for understanding. However, currently widely-used Web browsers provide ineffective support for the process. Learners frequently encounter these problems, disorientation and cognitive load, and thus impede their learning. This study proposes an innovative Web browser interface called TopicBrowser, in which learners can make an Information Gathering plan with a hierarchical concept map. Based on the map, they can search information, group open Web pages into associated topics, extract information from within Web pages and organize it, and evaluate their Information Gathering process. An experiment with thirty participants was conducted to compare TopicBrowser interface with conventional tabbed browser interface. Experimental results show that TopicBrowser can lower the degree of disorientation, increase learners’ retention, and increase the efficiency in completing an Information Gathering task. These results suggest that Web browser interfaces should provide effective ways of extracting and organizing search results. The well-organized information can significantly reduce disorientation and cognitive load and thus can improve learners’ learning during Information Gathering processes.
