The Impact of Teaching Before and
After the Internet
“The Internet is becoming the town square for the global
village of tomorrow,” Bill Gates. The internet is everywhere and can be accessed
from most any place. This is the world in which we live in. We are drenched in
technology, swimming in the sea of technical gadgets, driving and walking while
texting, living on the internet and face timing anywhere at any time. This is
what the vast majority of the world has become; a society that lives eat and breathe
technology, and even more so what drives it; the internet. When we want a
recipe, when we want to find out the latest news, what’s happening around the
world, research, class projects, history, music, etc. the list is endless, but
the source is the same; the internet. Now that we are so high strung on the
internet, let’s take a look at how it was before the internet and how we ended
up where we are now.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mrs. Mary Walker,
Assistant Professor in our Nursing Department on campus and she shared many
stories of the “good old days” before the internet and technology was so
prevalent. Mrs. Walker said she could remember that while in Grad School, a
power point was something hand written and shown on an overhead projector, not
a product of Microsoft. Later on she could remember being able to print out the
sheets for the projectors and that was considered more high tech. Now what I
could relate to was the fact of doing research; and how we would have to go to
the library and look through the drawers for the cards for the books and then
taking the really big books and trying to make copies; that was some hard work!
Mrs. Walker and I both laughed because I mention how you could never seem to
get the arch out of the spine of the book to xerox the entire sheet.
In Mrs. Walker’s teaching experiences and looking back
she acknowledges the fact that the internet has made a tremendous difference.
Students are able to find mounds of information in such a short period of time
for research. Blackboard plays an important role for both teacher and student.
Videos can be uploaded for the students to watch, whereas before they had to go
to the learning lab, taking time out of an already busy schedule to check out
videos and watch them there. With technology being everywhere, blackboard can
be accessed on your mobile device, iPad, laptop, etc. Not only uploading videos
to blackboard, YouTube has also become a tremendous asset as well. The fact
that discussions, chats and uploading grades online for students to access are
available, it makes life easier all the way around. Mrs. Walker also pointed
out that they use iClicker; a device similar to what’s used on Jeopardy and
Wheel of Fortune is used for students to take pop quizzes collectively and for
taking attendance. Through the eyes of Mrs. Walker, I can clearly see that the
internet plays an important part between educator and student and the teaching
experiences of most teachers.
While
reading “The Digital Disconnect: The Widening Gap Between Internet-Savvy
Students and Their Schools”; the summary of findings stated some interesting
information. In light of the fact that the Internet is increasingly integrated
into the home and school lives of students, and in the context of larger
arguments about the use of the Internet for school, students’ concerns can
inform several policy debates about technology and education. One point I was
particularly drawn to, was the fact that, “students believe that professional
development and technical assistance for teachers are crucial for effective
integration of the Internet into curricula,” (Levin, D., & Arafeh, S., 2002).
How so very
true. If educators are not equipped enough to teach our students even the
basics of technology, it’s an opportunity lost. For students these days there’s
no doing without technology. They know that the classroom learning experience
can be so much more with the incorporation of the internet and technically
inclined teachers, to bring an awesome learning experience to the class. When
students know and are aware of teachers that lack technological skills, they
tend to lose interest; searching and looking for something more than what they
know, to grow, flourish and expand their already technical savvy minds.
Students want more,
they’re looking for it, but many realize that they are way ahead of their
teachers in this technological filled society; and those students that want the
skills can’t find enough resources to support them. There’s got to be a way to fill the gap of
professional development and technical assistance for teachers, to give
student’s the technological progress they’re looking for in the classroom. One
high school girl is quoted as saying, “I’m constantly amazed at the vast
resources that are available on virtually any topic that comes to mind. I
rarely approach any assignment or question without first consulting online
resources.... Practically every area of my life has been impacted by my
experiences on the Web. The Internet has been a gift to my life.” (pg. 13) With
the help of the internet, teaching has become more influential, more
student-oriented and has evolved the teaching and learning experience as a
whole.
References
Levin, D., & Arafeh, S. (2002).
The digital disconnect: The widening
gap between internet-
savvy
students and their schools. Pew Internet and American Life Project. Retrieved
on
November
17, 2009, from http://pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2002/
PIP_Schools_Internet_Report.pdf.pdf
Graziano,
M., Lenhart, A., & Simon, M. (2001, September 1).
The internet and education: Findings
of the pew internet and
American life project. Pew Internet and
American Life Project.
Retrieved on November 17, 2009, from
http://pewinternet.org/~/media/Files
/ Reports/2001/PIP_Schools_Report.pdf.pdf
Arsham,
H. (2002, March).
Impact of the internet on learning
and teaching. USDLA Journal, 16.3. Retrieved
on November 17, 2009, from
Biglil,
M. (Director). (2009).
History of the Internet. Retrieved
on November 17, 2009, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hIQjrMHTv4
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