The Internet and Education

The Internet, also simply called the net, is the largest and far-flung network system-of-all-systems. Surprisingly, the internet is not really network but a loosely organize collection of about 25,000 networks assess by computers on the planet.

How is everything coordinated through the internet? This is done through a standardize protocol (or set of rule of exchanging data) called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). To gain access to the internet, the computer must be equipped with what is called a Server which has a special software (program) that uses the Internet protocol. Originally developed and still subsidized by the United States government, the Internet connects not only commercial, industrial, scientific establishments’ but all other sectors including education and its libraries, campuses and computer centers.

Getting around the Net

The vast sea of information now on the internet, including news and trivia, is an overwhelming challenge to those who wish to navigate it.

The most attractive way to move around the internet is called browsing. using a program called browser, the user can use a mouse to point and click on screen icons to serve the internet,particularly the World Wide Web(the web), and internet's subset of text, images and sounds are link together to allow user to access data or information needed.

The future of the Internet seems limitless. Already their complexities has spawned and continue to spawn net sites including new demand for services to business, industries, science, government, and even homes.

A view of educational uses of Internet

Materials have also developed both in sophistication and appeal. There is now a wider choice from rote arithmetic or grammar lessons to discover and innovation project. But the real passivity today is connect to the word outside homes, classrooms and Internet access, where they can plug into the Library of Congress, make virtual visit to famous muse in the world, write to celebrities, and even send questions to heads of  states.

Reflection

The invention of the computer and the subsequent software programmed for its use has totally changed the whole concept of progress and communication.  Every part of the world can now be reached and contact with other persons where ever they are can be done through the internet.  The internet is the system that enables the user of a computer to gain access to whatever he needs be it for information, for communication, for business or for personal reasons.  Missing relatives can even be found thru the internet by using different search and social sites.  How much more for the field of education; the internet has become its partner in the ever changing learning process.  Students can interact with students in foreign countries, they can share information, learn and grow with each other.  They can search any topic and subject they want to research.  The globe becomes smaller and its inhabitants become closer and relations between countries are improved and strengthened.  

Understanding Hypermedia

Hyper media is nothing but multimedia, but this time packaged as an educational computer software  where information is presented and student activities are integrated in a virtual learning environment.Most  educational IT applications are hypermedia and include:

• Tutorial software packages
• Knowledge webpages
• Simulation instructional games
• Learning project management, and other

Characteristics of hypermedia applications

There are two important features that are outstanding---among other features--- that characterize the hypermedia software:

• Learner control. This means the learner makes his own decision on the path, flow or event of instruction.
• Learner wide range of navigation routes. For the most part learner control the sequence and pace of his path depending on his ability and motivation.

Variety of media

 Hypermedia still does not replace life's experience and learning from nature and life. This is the saying that information and communication technology cannot replace the teacher altogether. Note that even technologists admit that the computer has an IQ of zero and depend on what man can input or make of it. GIGO or garbage-in, garbage out is the very first principle that should be remembered about the computer.

In the use of hypermedia the following instructional event will prove useful to the teacher:

• Get the learners' attention
• Recall prior learning
• Inform learners of lesson objectives
• Introduce the software and its distinctive features
• Guide learning. eliciting performance
• provide learning feedback
• assess performance
• Enhance retention and learning  transfer

Reflection

Hypermedia provides personalized learning activities as it helps those slow and poor learners. It gives activities suited to your learning objectives and needs. It presents variety of media that will really cater those fast and slow learners. Whereas in a traditional teaching methods, the teacher would take extra time, attention and effort to help the students who are slow in understanding the lessons. With that it gives teacher a hard time to develop new strategies and objectives for both fast and slow learners. So, it is really beneficial for the teacher to use hypermedia. It is also then possible for a teacher to let his students search, explore and discover in a traditional classroom. But with that, you need to provide the student an event to apply the learning, resources and materials as well as much time since the teacher has to take into consideration each one especially the slow learners.

The Software as and Educational Resource

Whenever people think about computers, they are most likely thinking about the computer machine such as the television-like monitor screen, the keyboard to type on, the printer which produces copies of text-and-graphics material, and the computer housing called "the Box" which contains the electronic parts and circuits(the central processing unit) that receives/ stores data and directs computer operations.this also called the software.

There are two kinds of software:

1. the systems software. This is the operating system that is found or bundled inside all computer machines.
2. the application software. This contains the system that commands the particular task or solves a particular problem.

In turn the application software may be:

• a custom software that is made for specific tasks often by large corporations, or
• a commercial software packaged for personal computers that helps with variety of task such as writing papers, calculating numbers, drawing graphs, playing games, and so much more. 

Microsoft window

The user can work with on-screen picture(icons) and suggestions(menus) to arrive at the desired software. Windows 95(now improved with Windows 2003 and 2007) is a software designed for Microsoft Windows. Actually, Windows is in itself a self-contained operating system which provides

• Information center
• Plug and play
• User convenience
• A new look

Instructional Software

          Instructional software can be visited on the internet or can be bought from software shops or dealers.  The teacher through his school should decide on the best computers-based instructional (CBI) materials for the school resource collection. But beware since CBIs need much improvement, while web-based educational resources are either extremely good or what is completely garbage. In evaluating computer-based educational materials, the following can serve as guidelines:

• ·       Be extremely cautious in using CBIs and ‘free’ Internet materials
• ·       Don’t be caught up by attractive graphics, sounds, animation, pictures, video clips and music forgetting their instructional worth
• ·       Teachers must evaluate this resources using sound pedagogical principles
• ·       Among design and content elements to evaluate are: the text legibility, effective use of color schemes, attractive layout and design, and easy navigation from section-to-section(such as from game to tutorial to drill-and-practice section)
• ·       Clarity in the explanation and illustration to concepts and principle
• ·       Accuracy, coherence, logic of information
• ·       Their being current since data/statistics continually change
• ·       Relevant/effectiveness in attaining learning objectives
• ·       Absence of biased materials(e.g. gender bias or racial bias)

Reflection

As educational content is increasingly available for free over the Internet, making effective use of informal and incidental learning opportunities online has become a challenge for students, teachers, researchers and self-organized learners. Information is everywhere.

Cooperative Learning with the Computer

          Singapore has set the global pace for student-centered learning with a 2:1 (2 pupils with 1 computer) ration in its master plan for IT in education. This show that even in other progressive country, the 1:1: pupil-computer ratio is still an ideal to be achieved. Reality therefore dictates that schools face the fact that each classroom, especially in public or government schools, may not be equipped with the appropriate number of computers.

Defining cooperative learning

          It is often also called group learning but to be truly cooperative leaning, five elements are needed:

• 1   A common goal
• 2.    Independence
• 3.    Interaction
• 4.    Individual accountability
• 5.    Social skills

     From several studies made uncooperative learning, it is manifested that cooperative learning in its true sense is advantageous since it:

a)    Encourage active learning, while motivating students

b)    Increases academic performance

c)     Promote literacy and language skills

d)    Improve teacher effectiveness

Cooperative learning and the computer

          Now this mythical fear has been contradicted be the studies which show that when students work with computers in groups, they cluster and interact with each other for advice and mutual help. And given the option to work individually or in a group, the students generally wish to work together in computer-based and none-computer-based activities. Reflecting on this phenomenon, psychologists think the computer fosters this positive social behavior due to the fact that it has a display monitor --- just like a television set --- that is looked upon as something communal.

Components of cooperative learning

          Educators are still wary about the computer’s role in cooperative learning. Thus they pose the position that the use of computers do not automatically result in cooperative learning. There therefore assign the teachers several tasks in order to ensure collaborative learning. This are:

• ·       Assigning students to mixed-ability teams
• ·       Establishing positive interdependence
• ·       Teaching cooperative social skills
• ·       Ensuring individual accountability, and
• ·       Helping groups process information

Reflection

Cooperative learning is an instructional strategy that simultaneously addresses academic and social skill learning by students. It is a well-researched instructional strategy and has been reported to be highly successful in the classroom.

Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning

          In this lesson, we shall see how the teacher can expand his options to make himself more effective and relevant in the 21^st millennium information age. In particular, the lesson shall respond to questions on student-centered learning approaches in the classroom. From the traditional teacher-centered learning approach, practical helps on designing and adapting student-learning activities shall be examined.

The traditional classroom

          It may be observe that classrooms are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of student chairs, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or seats behind his desk.

          Noticeably, however, after spending so many minutes in lesson presentation and class management, student can get restless and fidgety. Often enough, the teacher has also managed misbehavior in class ass students start to talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack of attention. To prevent this situation, teachers often make students take time to work individually on worksheets can help the situations.

The SCL classroom

          John Dewey has described tradition learning as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water into jug into cups.

          The problem with the direct instruction approach to learning, however, is the fact the world’s societies have begun to change. The traditional classroom and direct instruction approach to learning inform to this kind of economies

          In contrast, in industrialized societies we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be access based economies in which worker depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICTs).

          Generally the new school classroom environment is characterized by students individually or in groups:

• ·       Performing computer word processing for text or graph presentation
• ·       Preparing power-point presentation
• ·       Searching for information in the Internet
• ·       Brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans
• ·       As needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also giving individualized instruction to serve individual needs

Observably, there is a departure from traditional seatwork, read-and-answer and drill-and-practice activities.

          Given this new trend of teaching-and-learning, it must be pointed out, however, that traditional classroom activities-especially in less developed countries ---will continue to have a strong place in the classroom. In spite to this setback experienced in some countries, the option has now been opened for the modern teacher to shift gears to students centered learning.

Reflection

Responsibility for learning now lies with students - who are central to their own learning process, not teachers as in the past. Student-centered learning focuses on how students learn, what they experience, what they bring to the classroom and how they engage. This program addresses what student-centered learning is, how it works and why schools are incorporating it. With comments from educational experts, teachers and students, we also explore the whole school approach to student-centered learning, various strategies to facilitate it and typical scenarios in a student-centered learning classroom.