INTRODUCTION
Education
is one of the factors that will help an economy to develop. There are several
economies in the world that have developed because of the improvement in the
education facilities that are available. One of the most important factors that
has played a role in the improvement of education is the availability of
internet. Remote learning, online learning are some of the common terms that
are used these days. This is because the reach of education has increased
considerably and education is able to reach almost all the nooks and corners of
the world. There are several sites that are promoting online education. There
are many nongovernmental organizations that are helping to fund the education
initiative so that it will help to reach more parts of the world.
There
are several advantages of this method of learning though the internet. The most
common advantage is that there is a very less cost that will be incurred in
education of many people. In classroom teaching, there is a lot of
infrastructure that is required. Other than the infrastructure, the payment of
salary for the teachers and various other recurring expenses are present.
The use of internet, where a
particular module that has been used for teaching is used again and again with
minor updates has made it very cost effective. This is just one of the
advantages of using internet in education.
Interactive
sessions are also possible through the internet. The remote learning has a
teacher in one part of the world and students from various other parts of the
world learning at the same time. The students can ask questions to the teacher
and the teacher can answer it all on the internet. This interaction clears the
questions and doubts that a student may have making the learning session more
meaningful.
ROLES OF
THE INTERNET IN EDUCATION
The Internet offers a world of information in one place. It
is a helpful tool in communicating and researching all different subjects. It
is also a great way for students to use computers with proper supervision. Yet
using the Internet in an educational system can be controversial. Some of the
disadvantages include students giving out too much information about them,
sites too commercialized with little educational value, and access to material
that parents might not want their children exposed to. However, teachers and
students have seen many benefits including:
Communication
The
Internet helps students develop their computer skills. It can also help
students with their writing skills. In some forms, the Internet can help students
with critical thinking skills. Students are faced with more information than
they could ever use or need. This requires them to sort through the information
and decide what is most important and relevant.
With e-mail, students can
have contact with other students around the world studying the same things they
are.
Encyclopedia
Sometimes,
encyclopedia may not always be available to students and they may have
difficulty in gaining access to the books in the library. In that case, the
encyclopedia of different subjects available on the Internet can be helpful.
This is more useful for students who belong to communities not having English
as their mother tongue. Kids and younger children can also be benefited by the
Internet by using the pictures, videos, etc. which is one of the major
advantages, when comparing of textbooks
versus computer teaching.
School Projects and Homework
The
Internet can be a huge source for children trying to look up information for a
school project or do homework. It also eliminates barriers for handicapped
students who may have trouble getting to a library. It allows all students to
have access to information whether or not their family has a set of
encyclopedias.
News
The
Internet allows students to read the latest news of a certain subject they are
studying. If they are studying American politics they can do a news search and
find out what is happening in the world of politics at that very moment. This
can help them connect what they are learning to the real world. It can also
keep them interested in a subject. Students may have longer attention spans
with technology than with other forms of traditional learning.
Student's Future
Students
will have to use the computer for research in college, in their jobs and their
everyday lives. The Internet is a way of life for almost everyone now. Using it
in a classroom is one of the best and safest ways to help them learn about this
tool.
BENEFITS OF THE INTERNET TO EDUCATION
The
Internet is an important learning tool as well as being a great way to keep in
contact with friends and family. We are living in a world where computers and
technology are important. Almost every job has some type of computer or
technology requirement. So it makes a lot of sense that all kids need to learn
how to use a computer and the Internet.
When
you use the Internet, you are learning important education skills. You are
learning to work well on your own and improving your own research skills. The
Internet allows you to access a wider range of information and also helps you
to work with others over the Internet.
Everyday use of the internet
develops your ability to access information and learning resources as well as
learning to make your own information and learning resources. When you send and
receive emails you are learning an important communication method as well as
learning many others like Instant Messaging and Blogs.
As you use your computer and
the Internet you are developing important skills that will be essential in your
future study or work.
Benefits
for Teachers
The
Internet is an extra bonus for teachers looking for more information on topics.
It enables them to communicate effectively with parents and other teachers via
email. Teachers can have their own class pages that parents can check at their
convenience to see what happens in the classroom.
CONCLUSION
There
is so much that students can do with the Internet. Not only can they
communicate with international students, they can gain from others' knowledge
and experiences, participate in chatrooms, share ideas and solutions and learn
about the many diverse cultures out there.
While
the Internet does a lot for students, there are also benefits for parents and
teachers. The interactive learning that the Internet provides can help students
and parents with little or no English skills to learn English. Parents can
become more involved in their children's education by connecting the school
with homes, libraries or other access ports.
Teachers
can adjust to the different learning styles and in the classroom. They can also
set their own pace of teaching. Individual teaching techniques can become more
available, which has been proven to be a factor in student achievement.
Teachers have the chance to be able to teach at more than one place
simultaneously. They may be in a small town but through the Internet, they can
be linked to students in more populated areas. Also, the Internet enables
administrators and teachers to spend less time on administration and
recordkeeping. This would also give them more time to spend with their
students.
REFERENCES
Hafner,
Katie (1998). Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins Of The Internet. Simon
& Schuster. ISBN 0-68-483267-4.
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