FREE ESSAY ON INTERNET

INTERNET

Technology is Changing Education
The best method for improving educational standards is to utilize every tool available,
including state-of-the-art technology. Computers and the Internet have expanded the way
in which education can be delivered to the students of today. Today's networking
technologies provide a valuable opportunity to the practice of learning techniques.
Educators are discovering that computers and multi-based educational tools are
facilitating learning and enhancing social interaction. Computer based telecommunications
can offer enormous instructional opportunities, but educators will need to adapt current
lesson plan to incorporate this new medium into all the classrooms. The only problem is
that some of today's schools are hindered by an underpowered technology based curriculum
and, in order to stay competitive, the American educational system must do a better job
of integrating.
Computers have made a fundamental change in most industries, providing a competitive
advantage that has come to be essential to stay in business. Therefore, education must
also use technology to improve the educational process instead of simply applying it to
existing structures. School systems often consider acquiring an enterprise computer
network, but justify its purchase by applying it to routine administrative tasks, or take
period by period attendance. Although these tasks are important, they only represent a
small part of what technology can do for an educational institution. Technology must go
beyond just keeping attendance; it must focus on keeping students interested and
productive. Curriculum improvement is the best strategy to prevent dropouts; technology
is especially useful in this regard. Technology can provide a unique and compelling
curriculum resource that challenges every student.
The Clinton administration has taken steps towards improving educational standards via
its Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994 
However, several interpretations of the Act never mention the use of technology.
Advocates of the Act need to realize that Internet linked computers can provide more
current information than what is found in today's exciting textbooks. For example,
science textbooks and history textbooks are notoriously out of date. In contrast, the
Internet offers students a vast pool of current scientific data. Most of the time the
Internet makes learning fun, unlike the plain fashion of the almighty textbook. Computers
and other technology can also heighten the learning process by actively engaging students
in the task of exploring data. Some students may be tempted to simply download
information from the Internet that does not have anything to do with a particular subject
that they were asked to research. This shows that the Internet may have a greater impact
to education than to learn that information from a typical textbook. Since computers and
the Internet have expanded the way with which education can be delivered to students, it
is currently possible to engage in distance education on specialized subject and fields
through the Internet. Distance education involves audio-video linkage of teachers to many
students and even in remote areas. Video conferencing allows groups to communicate with
each other. Desktop video conferencing promises to bring student together from geographic
and cultural distances face to face via computer. Students in New York City will be able
to learn about a Chinese culture, not only through books, but also from Chinese students.
Not only will the teacher talk to the students but also the students will be able to
interact with each other. This will make the students more interested and fascinated with
learning about another culture.
Not only does the Internet, and video conferencing help education, also Microsoft has
created new programs for designed for educational purposes, some of these are Encarta
World Atlas and Encarta Encyclopedia. These two particular programs make learning easier
and more enjoyable, all because of the use of the CD-ROM device. Instead of looking for a
particular country and simply finding out where it is in a regular atlas, students can
type in the name of that country, and not only will they find out where it is faster, but
they will obtain more information about that particular country. Instead of having
volumes and volumes of heavy encyclopedias, Microsoft has placed all of these massive
books into one light CD. This CD is much simpler than the unpleasant job of flipping page
by page just to read about an uninteresting topic, such as history. But, with the use of
this CD, not only do you receive regular information, but you may also view videos about
certain people and battles. This makes education an enjoyable task. With Microsoft Works
student will be able to cut and paste their way to make interesting multimedia research
documents. This computer program offers a spell-check, thesaurus, and other helpful
features which make writing that term paper easier. These particular programs by
Microsoft are only a few of the educational programs available to student. The successful
use of technology in a few classrooms is not enough, because developing a successful
technology using school requires careful planning and must be a school wide priority with
broad support from the community. The traditional top-down, uniform distribution approach
is almost never the best way because it limits innovation and development fails to
provide equity and does not reflect the characteristics of the school community. Most
educational boards should be open to any new idea that technology has to offer. It would
not be fair for a student in a particular city to get a better education than another
student in another city.
Technology is not meant to replace teachers; it is there only to serve students to make
tedious tasks easier. Therefore, this technology should be offered to every student
trying to get ahead of the competition. In doing this, it not only needs the support of
teachers, but it also requires support from communities. If technology in schools
receives the support from entire communities, students in any area would be able to keep
up with the competition.
Some of today's schools are hindered by an underpowered technology based curriculum and,
in order to stay competitive, the American educational system must do a better job of
integrating. Teachers must take a leadership position in designing and implementing a
technology powered classroom curriculum, investing time and energy to become familiar
with available resources. The faculty at most schools should create a set of individual
goals, including developing basic skills, defining core content and thinking creatively
and clearly. Technology enriches curriculum by increasing the value and power of
Traditional classroom techniques within the boundaries of school structure and schedules.
Technology is able to help students in a variety of ways. By making learning more
enjoyable and less tedious, student will want to learn and will not see education as such
a difficult responsibility.