The Impact of the Internet on Education

History Over the past two decades, school districts have sacrificed millions of dollars on computer technology. In the 1980s, there were great expectations that computers would change classroom teaching and facilitate student achievement. Unfortunately, these expectations were not realized, and instead, computers in school labs began collecting dust. Although they increased the volume and speed of school learning, computers did not fulfill the promise of producing drastic changes in the classroom.
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However, computer technology outside schools continued to grow at a rapid rate. In the early 1990s, Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in Switzerland designed and released Hypertext, the code which made it simple to navigate through the Internet. Then in 1993, the first Web browser, Mosaic, was released. Mosaic was the first point and click Internet browsing software that allowed individuals who did not know any special computer language to use it.
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Even while these exciting changes were taking place, schools remained hesitant to embrace this new technology - and for good reason. Technologies of the past, such as filmstrip projectors and record players, which were heralded as the next big thing in revolutionizing education, ended up in the audiovisual graveyard. Many teachers wondered why this new technology, this Internet, would be any different.
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But it was. Advantages of the Internet Active Learning Until recently, no other type of technology has had the ability to engage students in active learning. Past technologies have been capable of disseminating information, but these one-directional broadcast media did nothing to encourage student interaction. The Internet, on the other hand, supports active, hands-on learning which can provide students with practical, real-life experience. Many studies have shown that this style of learning results in better retention and understanding of a given topic.
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Valuable Information Resource The sheer volume of information now available to students via the Internet is unprecedented. Large amounts of information can be accessed quite quickly and easily, whereas one could spend hours searching for needed resources in a library. Students are now able to access an infinite number of resources, and distance is no object. There is no such thing as a book being out, and expert information is only a click away.
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In the past, a students choice of assignment topic was limited by what resources were available in the school library. Now, students are free to choose almost any topic they desire without the concern that someone else has chosen the same one. Thus, learning in school is no longer confined by the walls of the classroom.
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Personal Development An interesting result of the Internet is the sense of belonging that students feel when they are online. Many students who are shy rarely speak out in class and therefore do not have many opportunities for personal interaction. However, students who fear unfair judgment by classmates and other peers feel more secure having faceless interactions online. While I agree that this may not be the ideal way to socialize with others, perhaps it might assist shy students to become more confident and eventually participate in classroom discussions.
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Disadvantages of the Internet

Cost Lets begin with the most obvious problem of bringing the Internet into schools expense. While there is no conclusive evidence that the use of the Internet improves student performance, school districts are spending tremendous amounts of money connecting schools to the Internet. This concerns teachers for many reasons, the most troubling of which is that there is no money for the professional development needed to assist them in learning how to include the Internet in their teaching. Furthermore, with limited funds available to schools, the money spent on technology is at the expense of books and other resources needed by teachers.
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Haves/Have-Nots Major inequalities exist in school funding from one district to another. If, as a result of these inequalities, only some schools provide access to the Internet and others do not, then the effect will be a widening of the gap
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between the haves and have-nots. To even out the inequalities of access, it is imperative that libraries continue to provide access to the public. For those students who can not afford to have a computer or the Internet at home, this connection will help to keep them from falling behind as they progress through their education.
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Nonlinear Structure The ability to jump around and explore other links can be extremely advantageous, but this nonlinear web of the Internet can also cause problems. While searching for one idea, students are often tempted to check another site that is not at all relevant to their search. As a result, students thoughts become disjointed, and they often waste valuable time surfing rather than learning.
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In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the concentration of our students. The remote control/mouse click generation finds it hard to be interested in or compelled by the ordinary tools of instruction, such as dull work books and stodgy lectures. Thus, teachers are facing a whole new challenge: competing for the attention of students who would rather be surfing the Net. Continued...
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Future Possibilities Various predictions have been made about how technology, in particular the Internet, will impact our future. However, the effect it will have on schools and learning is still rather unclear.
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Although it is impossible to guess the future of the Internets impact on education, one might consider the following possibilities:
more project based and student-centred learning will take place at both the elementary and secondary school level (*note that this type of learning had already begun before the advent of the Internet, at least at the elementary school level)41 a continued shift away from the traditional structure of student as passive learner toward that of active participant connections between home and school will be strengthened, as more and more schools will create websites containing valuable information and resources42 email will be the tool used to facilitate more consistent feedback between busy parents and teachers

parents will have access via the Internet to their childs progress on a continual basis, rather than simply receiving a report card at the end of each term 43

Conclusion With its arrival came the belief that if added to schools, the Internet would lead to instant improvements in student achievement. Some went as far as to suggest that the Internet would signal the end of libraries and classrooms. While there is little doubt that the Internet can enrich teaching and learning experiences, it is hasty to assume that it can produce fundamental changes on its own. The Internet is a tool a means to an end that should be incorporated into the educational system, but should not be expected to replace existing curricula.
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The Internet will inevitably bring about major changes in our educational system. As more and more schools gain access to the Internet, teachers will be confronted with the challenge of how best to incorporate this valuable tool into their classrooms. Of course there will not be a complete move away from conventional teaching methods, but the Internet will definitely alter classroom routines in one way or another. The Internet does not render teachers or libraries obsolete. In fact, it does quite the opposite. With unlimited resources now available at their fingertips, students need to be taught how to sort through and evaluate information. Furthermore, while it can provide students with a wealth of information, it cannot replace the personal relationship that exists between a student and his or her teacher: We are famous because we are The Teacher, respected because of our personalities or even our eccentricities. We are, after all, unique, and powerful enough to create a positive or negative environment for each of our students. We introduce them to the Web and we explain it to them. Were not redundant yet.
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