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3.1.4 The Internet
The most powerful information tool since the invention of the printing press is the Internet, and this is not going to change. It will continue to be the most vital technological tool we use. What is the Internet, though?
The Internet is an international collection of computer networks, with
an estimated 700 million users in over 200 countries and principal territories
(2002). There is no one governmental or corporate entity in charge of
the Internet. It is a commitment on the parts of all of its users to share
resources and transfer resources in an agreed-upon manner. It is made
up of a network of interwoven web pages written in the HyperText Mark-up
Language (HTML). HTML is a method of formatting information to look a
certain way when viewed with a web browser. The HTML language does not
allow any true interactivity between the user and the provider. To truly
be a two-way interaction, another language such as JAVA or CGI must be
used. These are methods of incorporating specifically-designed programs
into the web page. These languages allow a user to do something rather
than simply read the web page.
How effectively is the Internet being used in America's schools? According to a governmental survey, 99 percent of U.S. schools have access to the Internet. This is a very good number. The next question is to ask how many of these schools have Internet access at practical speeds and have computers that are up-to-date enough to run actually view the average website in a reasonable amount of time. According to a government survey 96% of town, 93% of rural, and 88% of city school rooms are connected to the internet. Unfortunately, these number are not a clear indication of how much the students my use the computer. By their definition, a schoolroom with one Internet-capable computer, mainly for teacher use, would fit into these statistics. Perhaps no student ever even uses the computer. New definitions of viable internet ready computers must be used for future research. According to the same government research project, the ratio of Internet computers to students was 12:1 in 1998 and 5:1 in 2002. As with many other aspects of education this connectivity depends on the size and socio-economic status of the school population.
The Clinton administration made an effort to establish a national commitment to connect schools to the Internet and it seems they . This commitment calls for all classrooms and libraries to be connected to the Internet by the year 2000. The important thing for us to remember is that, if this initiative were taken seriously, it could be done easily. There are several examples from the history of America where a presidential initiative was accomplished simply because it was seen as imperative. The moon landing comes immediately to mind. The question of whether or not this Clinton initiative is accomplished comes down to how much importance we give it. If we see that it is an important initiative and thus give it the emphasis that it deserves, it can be accomplished.
In conclusion, the most important thing to remember about technology is not that it needs to be utilized effectively, or focused on. Rather, the importance in technology is that it is here to stay. This gives us as teachers very few options other than to incorporate it into our classroom. This does not have to mean everyday, but it does mean that we use it frequently and effectively.
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No Parrot Question |
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Mrs. Adams is given a computer in her fifth-grade class that has access to the Internet. She has purchased a book that shows her how to operate the computer and surf the net for pertinent information related to her lessons. How can she share the Internet access with her students for their benefit rather than for their downfall? |
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