Essay

Michael Suzor

New Communication Technologies

S2602981

1,054 words



Is the Internet a suitable tool for teachers to utilize in educating their students?



The internet is perhaps the largest communication tool used today. Internet users make available billions if Internet pages containing copious amounts of information. Millions of e-mails are sent everyday in social, business, and political arenas. There is also a growing tendency of “nontraditional students” (Palloff & Pratt p3), such as working adults returning to school or distance education students to use such technology as a way of cohesion with full time work, education and family life. The ease and speed at which messages and information can be sent and received ensures the Internet is not some fad, it is a global force designed to make life easier and is here to stay. The internet can reach people otherwise isolated either geographically or socially. Although the internet has been approached with certain levels of apprehension, it is unwise and ill fated to ignore such a powerful communication tool. New technologies such as electronic whiteboards and discussion forums which are made available to students have the same effects and deliver the same message as a blackboard in a classroom. Its sheer power is shown through what the Internet allows students to do, how the internet aids the education process and limitless number of possibilities. It is evident through what the Internet allows, how the Internet helps with the education process and the possibilities that lie within this new communication tool.

The internet allows students in remote areas the same access as those in cities near and around tertiary educational institutions. Using the internet from home can create an environment in which the user feels safe and comfortable and free from the troubles that can arise in schools. "Students direct their learning by pursuing their interests and taking responsibility for managing their own projects" (Serim & Koch p5). Through the use of the Net, students are also encouraged to join efforts with their fellow students and peers creating an online community solely for the purpose of the nature of the course. This forms a strong network of people that can be used at any time and a network that can span across the entire globe. The Internet is also responsible for assisting teachers in finding associates within the same interest groups, promoting international ideologies, and relations. “The Internet creates the potential for collaboration for further professional development” (Serim & Koch p6). The internet also acts as a promotional tool to enhance enrolments. In a business perspective, educational institutions have the potential to reach hundreds, even thousands of students with a single video and paperwork. This could lead to an increase in enrolments disproportional to the amount of extra work needed resulting in a higher profit margin for the school.

“E-mail, the service which initially lures most people to the Internet, represents the most widespread and accessible use communication technology” (Partee p81). The internet and e-mail allows students to access personalized course information from literally any computer in the world. Students can receive education while moving around the world with no pressure of being at one place at a particular time. “Colleagues long separated find themselves back in an on-going relationship as they discover one another’s e-mail address” (Partee p81). The different delivery methods of distance education can suit the different learning styles found in different people. Visual learners may better suit online video tutorials and discussion forums while others may better benefit from the audio lectures and tutorials.

“An auditory learner may feel more comfortable listening to a brief audio clip explaining a concept rather than reading about it. A visual learner tends to do well in an environment that presents mainly text or uses video clips” (Palloff & Pratt p7).

Some courses have implemented Net based learning methods not because the course is about the technology, rather the course material is better suited for online delivery. A good example of such a course is one based on resources given to the student external to the educational institution. According to Weller, “students derive their own learning experience from these resources within the overall framework of the course” (Weller p55). One aspect the Net learning method draws from the traditional face to face method of teaching is that of the importance of collaborative work. The importance of group learning is seen to promote deeper learning and critical thinking (Weller p55 (Johnson and Johnson, 1986; Gockhale, 1995)). Until recently, such communication was difficult, however, with the emergence of new technology distance education has become a reliable pedagogical education method.
The possibilities for online education are limitless. According to Ingvarson;

“Eighteen months ago hardly anyone would have thought the Internet would be so popular and widespread……… the cost of accessing the Internet will be built into the total budget of a school” (Ingvarson p118).

The world of communication technologies is a fast paced environment with new products flooding the market every day. The processing power of computers today would have been inconceivable ten years ago. It is not unbelievable to imagine faster, smaller and more powerful computers. “Computers that fold out to be large bright screens which are voice operated, touch sensitive and invisibly networked to the world are already being designed” (Weller p120). The power and speed at which technology is being produced demonstrates the possibilities of size, power and convenience of personal computers is infinite. With greater power comes ease and speed. Learning material will be even faster and more available than ever. Teachers and students will be able to share large files of video, audio and text within seconds. The implementation of fibre optic cables is proof advancements in technology and further research will only increase speeds at which data is transmitted.

The internet is here to stay. While some schools may be under resourced and some may wish not to adopt this form of teaching, the Internet is an important communication tool with its power only limited by the imagination. While this is a new relatively new technology. The idea that the Internet isn’t a place for education is outdated and could result in school and/or universities lagging behind creating a social gap in technological capabilities. It is clear the Internet is a valuable tool in distance education through what the Internet allows, how the Internet helps with the educati0on process and the possibilities for a wider available and a more powerful method of delivering the information.





References

Ingvarson, D. (1997) A Teachers guide to the Internet: The Australian Experience: Rigby Heinemann

Palloff, R and Pratt, K (2001) Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching: 1st edition, Jossey-Base

Partee, M. (2002), Cyberteaching: 1st edition, University Press of America.

Serim, F and Koch, M (1996) Netlearning: Why teachers use the Internet: 1st edition Songline Studios Inc.

Weller, M. (2002), Delivering Learning on the Net: the why, what and how of online education: 1st edition Stylus Publishing Inc.

http://www.griffith.eblib.com.au/EBLWeb/patron/

http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Internet_Status_2005.pdf

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/2056.02001?OpenDocument

www.NetLibrary.com

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=04-27-2012&FMT=7&DID=728983871&RQT=309&attempt=1&cfc=1