Considering the recent pandemic times that we have all been through, the internet has been a lifesaver for many of us. From doing everyday grocery shopping to conducting official meetings and enjoying online streaming, the internet has taken care of all types of chores for us. Honestly, what a boon it has been! But has the internet affected our kids’ learning cycle too? Has it facilitated them, or added more barriers to their educational process?
For a moment, let’s go back to the days before the internet came into our lives. A couple of decades ago, it was a routine for every kid and adult to walk all the way to the nearest library or book shop if they wanted to read something. They used to spend long hours looking through the index of their favorite books and encyclopedias to find out what they really wanted to search. Because of this ‘day-long’ procedure of finding a book and bringing it home, the projects always took longer to complete. It was a big challenge to meet deadlines on time!
Thankfully, we have left those days behind and now tons of books and research papers are available online, just a click away. The internet has made it easy for us to access all types of books, learning images, audios, and videos via different search engines. Now the whole world is available at our fingertips through the internet!
Moreover, even the process of formal learning has been simplified through numerous learning websites like MOOCs, Khan Academy, educational podcasts, online diplomas and degree programs, and much more. Here are the top five ways the internet has transformed our educational system!
Online Research
The massive amount of information on the internet has made carrying a book bag almost obsolete. These days, students do not need to invest their money in expensive books or research papers to pass their exams. Instead, they have huge electronic libraries like Project Gutenberg which offers more than 40,000 free books to students. There are tons of reliable online web pages and book applications that provide rich multimedia resources and interactive learning to students from all over the world.
According to research, while preparing for research work or completing an assignment, a whopping 93 percent of students rely on Google to achieve the best results. This incredibly instant availability of internet information not only saves the time and energy of students but also enhances their brainpower and research skills.
Increased Collaboration
Gone are the times when students had to wait for good 24 hours to converse with their teachers. These days, kids remain in constant touch with their instructors or with other classmates through various social media apps, homework sites, or chat forums. Even parents can interact with their children’s teachers and communicate with them regarding their overall performance.
This interaction has not only made parents more aware of their child’s schooling but also created an interesting bond between students and teachers. The learning process has become more effective as the internet helps students to explore new ideas to enrich their knowledge. This increased collaboration results in enhanced confidence-building of children as it allows them to express their opinions more frequently and openly.
Advanced Teaching Tools
Studies have shown that around 90% of teachers use some form of technological aid or mobile apps in the classes they conduct. The use of various online features and other multimedia tools help to support their teaching material and to gauge the interest of students. This ultimate blend of in-person lectures with online tools provides fantastic results to the learners.
Many teachers prefer to post different games, puzzles, or even topic-related videos on the school website to keep all students on track. It helps to make the learning procedure more diverse and interesting. The most common examples of technological tools are various animations, video and audio tutorials/notes, PowerPoint slides, or website links, etc.
Distance Learning
For decades, online learning classes were looked down on by numerous educators and employers around the world. People considered online degree programs as some below-average learning schemes lacking association or accreditation from a ‘physical’ college/university. However, fortunately, the times have evolved and now more than two-thirds of educators believe that online courses can be as valuable as lessons conducted in the traditional setting of physical classrooms.
These days, students do not have a necessity of attending school physically all the time if they do not wish to do so. Parents can easily register their children for remote classes and pretty much expect the same academic results. Online learning is evolving day-by-day and educational experts are coming up with even more advanced learning tools to enhance the remote learning experience.
However, sometimes online learning can give you a tough time if your internet connection isn’t stable. Just imagine getting stuck between an online lecture, or even during an important quiz! Sounds terrible, right? Well, don’t worry. Now you can easily tune into your online lectures at any time of the day without excessive loading or lag-time. Simply contact Hawaiian Telcom Internet service providers and take your browsing experience to next level with their instant connectivity and affordable internet packages.
Student Engagement
Teachers these days using computer technology have more ways than before to engage their students in various fun-learning activities. Sometimes, it becomes a challenge for the educational coaches to gauge their students’ interest, especially in primary or pre-primary classes. However, with rich multimedia sources such as graphics, colorful videos, and clip animations, the visual learners become more interested in learning and also motivate them to ask more questions.
For instance, the use of Multi-touch smart-boards, like the SMART Board 800i interactive whiteboard system is one of the most incredible tools to increase student involvement in any project. Whether that is an elementary school kid matching animals to their habitats or a chemistry student arranging molecules with their fingers, smart-boards always add a kinesthetic dimension to the learning process. All of these steps equate to an overall increase in motivation and interest in students that make them want to learn more.
Conclusion
There are millions of people around the world that believe we can never beat a good book. Although it’s quite true and we should not say goodbye to the pleasure of holding an old, informative book in our hands, we still believe that the internet is always there to enhance our listening, reading, and learning experiences.
With every passing day, online learning trends are becoming more popular with learners. Therefore, one should always give it a try for finding a good read on the internet – may be the online digital libraries get to surprise you, who knows? As Bill Clinton puts in, ‘When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the World Wide Web… Now even my cat has its own page’.
With a world full of technological advancements and digital evolutions, it can sometimes become a hassle to remain stuck with the slow internet, especially when you are reading a good book. Therefore, we recommend you always opt for high-speed internet connections like Spectrum while browsing. They have the best internet packages in town providing you with instant connectivity. For more information, please call on Spectrum phone number; their customer service agent will make sure to give you all the details about their internet packages, speed, and bundles.
