The study aimed to investigate the effect of core information competence and information literacy on students’ information competence in the sixth graders of elementary school in Taiping City. Moreover, the study was to analyze differences in the students’ core information competence and information literacy in terms of their gender and their learning performance. The findings will shed light on teacher’ teaching methodology and curriculum design.
The participants were the sixth graders from two elementary schools in Taiping City. They were divided into three groups based on their learning performance including high level, middle level and low level groups. Participants were given the questionnaire and the information competence test in this study. Data was analyzed with SPSS 12.0 software.
The findings of this study reveal (1) there is no significant difference on students’ information competence test among all participants from two schools, (2) all participants from two schools performance better on Internet usages and information techniques than that on Information process and application, (3) the male students in a higher level group performed better on the information competence test than the female students do in A elementary school, (4) scores on the information competence test from the female students in a low level group outperform than those of male students in B elementary school, (5) the flexibility and accessibility of using computer and Internet for participants is limited, (6) most computer literacy learned and sources acquired come from schools for participants, (7) participants use computer mainly for searching, listening to music, playing computer games and watching movies.
