Question: Do you think that the Internet and Web will have a major impact in one or more of the following areas:
A. Educational programs at grades K-12
B. Higher Education (college)
C. Adult Education (business, government, military)
First off, I believe that it already has had a major impact, and I believe that it will continue in all areas. Unlike previous articles of technology (television, radio, video), there is a wide range of interest in developing and designing instruction using the web and Internet. It also pulls many useful resources together in one place.
I think that the key in all three areas is that the web and Internet can help and supplement the content to be learned, but it shouldn't replace the teaching in itself. In the military, on site training is the most important, and I can't believe that training through web programs would be as successful as on site training. However, I can see it particularly a help in communication, and a help in research. Same can be said for the business end of things...it can be a big help, but ultimately it is the product or service that sells and brings in the money.
In our colleges, I think we are seeing the use of the web and Internet a lot more, and it is beneficial in many ways. This class is an obvious example of its benefit. I have a very busy life and would struggle to attend class on any given night a week, but having the flexibility (and saving in gas for transportation!!!) to take it at home is a huge plus. Also the expectations in research can be higher, the quality can be higher due to the ease in research and access to pertinent information.
I believe that there is an impact in our K-12 education as well, but probably the least. At this point, I feel that most people don't know yet how to use the web or Internet correctly for the benefit of it. I also believe that a big part of our education in K-12 is the social aspect of it. I think that there still needs to be a focus on proper communication, associations with others, hand writing, and other many skills necessary for proper functioning in society away from the computer. So yes, it will have a big impact, but not as big in K-12 as some may think.
3 comments:
I think our responses start off almost exactly the same! Technology is supplementary, and I believe will never be capable of replacing the teacher. As a society we need to teach our children how to properly interact and deal with people. There are always going to be people that we gravitate towards and those that we wish we never met. Only through socialization can we help students with this aspect. Teachers are here to stay.
I agree with our point comminication is a big great benifit of the internet. Poeple cant email eachother important information. IM eachother and write back and forth instantley. Talk to each other and get there pointsn across with discussion boads. With web camera's and microphones we can even see and hear each other much like we were in the same room. This is obviously a huge benifit in business and higher education were distance is a factor. Not so much in k-12 when students all go and meet in same place. This is not to say there are not a variety of great ways to use the internet with school age children. Because obviously once they get out to the real world its a skill that will benifit them. Most may develop it on there on. But not all familys can afford to have a computer and I think thats one of the reasons its important to have experiences in school
Tony Vitto
I am glad that you said technology should supplement teaching. I think that too many times people look at technology as something that should replace the teacher and that the teacher should be sitting back doing nothing.
I feel that technology should be there to give more examples and hands-on experience; in addition to what the teacher does. I should also be a resource for students and teachers to learn more about their subject etc.
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