Concerns about integrating the Internet into the Classroom

Before we can integrate the Internet we must be aware of some of the concerns about using the Internet in the classroom.

I Time

    1. Teachers hardly have enough time without finding ways to implement other technology.
    2. If you feel it is necessary you can try one project a year.

II. Cost and Available Equipment

    1. Schools don’t always have a budget or equipment.
    2. If you school find its necessary to get computers corporate sponsors and grants are available

III. Knowledge

    1. Learning new technology is confusing
    2. Make sure you are at least familiar with the web before attempt to teach it.

IV. Quality

    1. No regulation of the data on the internet
    2. Might be biases or inaccurate so makes sure you review the sites you tell the children to visit.

V. Plagiarism

    1. Students can buy papers of the computer.
    2. Be aware what is out there.

VI. Cheating

    1. Cheating is easier when you have access to a computer especially when you are being assest online.
    2. Schools could regulate the use of email and instant messenger.
    3. So if students are caught using these during an assessment they would be not only caught guilty of cheating but of violating school rules.

 

VII. Parental and Community Objections

    1. Internet has many things that parents won’t want there children viewing like pornography, foul language, and hate messages.
    2. But schools could restrict what is viewed on the Internet with programs like Surfwatch, and Safe Surf.
    3. Schools caught accessing information that is questionable can be subject to disciplinary action.
    4. Classes and libraries could have computers in areas where they can observe them so they can monitor the use.

Positive Aspects to using the net

A. Can interact with a greater variety of people than could ever hope to reach without it.

 

B. In projects can communicate through the trading of ideas and understanding that student have the opportunity to check their own understanding with that of other and to refine and reflect on their growing ideas about the way the world works. Learning situation become more realistic and authentic as classrooms.

C. The internet can be used as a valuable tool to enhance students abilities to ask their own questions, gather information and communicate with others in the process of reflection and learning.

D Motivation could be a force when Children are communicating with children from around the world. The immediacy and intimacy of the communication they share with the students doesn’t only give them context to which to study some social studies and mathematical concepts. It was changing their perceptions of geography, politics and history.

E. Could use the internet for research. Although not always accurate cause everyone could publish you can get obscure topics, School libraries do not have info on.

  1. Can get connected with the students at all times. It could be especially helpful during the summer or in the case for Advanced Placement students who do work over the summer. Also it could be helpful in online testing and instant grading of exams.
  2. Children in control of there learning. Hand on.
  3. The successful online class combines information technology with appropriate pedagogy.
  4. Broadens just-in-time or collaborative learning.
  5. Educators use technology as a driving element of an educational reform.
  6. Necessity for the job force.

L. Instant access to information.

Negative Aspects using the comp in the classroom

  1. Anyone can publish information on line so who is to say what in on it is correct.
  2. Time It takes time to find what you are looking for. There is no order so finding information could take a lot of time with unsatisfactory results.
  3. Having Access to information and having the savvy it takes to interpret it is different (Stoll x111)
  4. Expensive We spend 3 billion dollars a year to wire our classrooms with an aim to make out countries students computer literate.
  5. The use of the computer is one that does not require or encourage creativity.
  6. The use of graphics make students more time making their reports look nice and less time understanding the subject matter.
  7. Advertisements play a center role. We don’t have to deal with that when we read a textbook.
  8. Computer literate doesn’t equal smarts.
  9. Gives the illusion of interaction.
  10. Since it is a technological device they get outdated very quickly, and are very expensive to fix and replace.
  11. Excessive use can lead to overall decline in real world interaction with family and friends and it helps in the decline of social involvement and psychological well being.
  12. No predetermined Organization.
  13. Just because you have information at your fingertips it doesn’t mean that you will know what to do with it.
  14. Make children aware that the media has messages and they should not simply accept it at face value.
  15. Content is trivial only 10 percent of sites advertised as being curriculum rich actually are. (Healy 258) Students surfing on their own at home or at school waste about 95 percent of their time.

 

 

Successful use of Internet in class

I Be sure you have specific curricular goals.

II. Project was relatively well defined and directly supported the larger goals established for the unit. The Internet should be used simply and effectively as a means of achieving those goals.

III. You should use the internet as a tool to enhance understanding of an important set of integrated concepts.

    1. Internet is best discovered when teachers use it for themselves before bringing it to their students.
    2. Preview sites or download those relevant to the assignment.
    3. Helps students ask good questions to conduct a productive search and decided on one or two relevant words to narrow the topic.
    4. Most effective way to overhead display.
    5. Make sure kids read the words and not skim the pictures. Require of record of which site have been visited, with critical evaluation of the value of each. Insist on documentation of sources, just as with text material.

 

Conclusion

 

Teachers who allow and encourage their students to ask their own questions will find that the Internet can be a useful tool. The amount of information and the number of resources that are available make it possible for students to consider concepts and ideas that would otherwise be outside the realm of the typical classroom (Steen 192). The use of the computer could be fun but learning isn’t about acquiring information, maximizing efficiency, or enjoyment, Learning is about developing human capacity. To turn learning info fun is to denigrate the two most important thinks we can do as humans: To teach. To learn.