Week 7 Question #1

What is the internet? What value does it hold for educators?

The internet is a wonderful form of communication, constantly transferring information all across the globe. Just like your school can share information across many different computers, which is called a network; the internet allows the sharing of information between networks. The sharing of information across networks makes communication limitless between different parts of the globe. You may not remember a world without limitless communication because we are so accustomed to the ways of the internet. Yet, many do remember a time where long distance phone calls were out of reach for many. Can you imagine not being able to communicate with a relative out of the country? What about a world without email? It is hard for society today to realize how difficult it would be to run a huge corporation without the constant communication that email provides us.

The internet is formed by millions of interconnected networks from across the globe (p. 249). The internet allows “world-wide resources” to be shared with one another (p. 249). Telecommunication connects computers to computers over large amounts of distance (p. 256). Phone lines are a form of telecommunication. When a computer is hooked up to a phone line it allows the transfer of the networks to and from that computer. Since the telephone line was meant to transfer only voices there is a little bit of modification that takes place. Usually the modem of the computer is able to modify the information for the computer.

The internet is a valuable tool in education if it used correctly and with proper supervision. First the educator must know how to use to the internet. Once the educator is well versed in the ways of the internet he or she can begin to use to assist teaching and learning. Email can be used as a form of communication from student to student, student to teacher, and teacher to parent. The student can send in assignments as an attachment through email. The teacher can make corrections and send it back to the student. This process saves paper and ink also. Students can sign up for newsletters through email and receive wonderful educational material. The internet offers chat rooms dealing with all kinds of subject matter. A student could discuss the economy with someone in Hong Kong. A teacher can post their notes, syllabus, and homework assignments on the internet. The internet also offers information faster than having to look through hard copies in a library. If a student needs to do a research paper, he or she can log on to a search engine and type the topic of their paper in and millions of results will appear.

The important thing about the internet in classrooms is that students are being supervised and it is only being used for educational purposes. The large amount of information that the internet dumps in your lap can be a great tool, but sometimes a harmful one. The educator must set boundaries for the students. The educator must be very knowledgeable on the internet and be a step ahead of the students who are surfing it.