Week+1+Assignment

Internet in the Classroom: Using Time & Resources Wisely “Teaching before the Internet meant that we used a lot of workbooks” McConnell (2012). Before the Internet, information was transmitted via paper and people. It was a time of reading, writing, and arithmetic. According to (D. McConnell, personal communication, April 12, 2012), “to do research meant a trip to the library where you would pull out encyclopedias with information in them that wasn’t current; and it took a lot of time to gather information.” Other administrative things have improved since the Internet. For instance, (D. McConnell, personal communication, April 12, 2012) reminisces a time when “instruction would be interrupted by administrators passing along important information, attendance was done on paper and then collected by students, grades kept in grade books and lesson plans in plan books.” All of these things took more time, more time away from teaching and learning. Not all learners were being reached. After all, what about the students who had difficulty reading and writing due to dyslexia or other learning disabilities. These are all things of the past, we are emerging into a new age of education – 21st century learning. Perhaps we see the, “death of education but the dawn of learning” emerging Consortium for School Networking (2008). Change is on the horizon. With the introduction of the Internet into schools in the 90’s, it is now a cornerstone in today’s classrooms. “ The Internet has become an increasingly important feature of the learning environment for teenagers” Graziano, Lenhart, & Simon (2001). Teachers are not so much educators in today’s classroom. They are mentoring students in how to access information from the Internet so they can learn by connecting what they already know to new knowledge. “By the early 2000’s, the notion of interactivity went from linking and clicking to creating and sharing. Now individuals not only find and read information but also create and share their own in real time” Solomon & Schrum (2007). Learning today, consists of getting information off of the Internet instantly, for both teachers and students, up-to-date information. “Students are enthusiastic to do research projects because it is easy for them to access information, use pictures to enhance projects, and it’s faster,” says (D. McConnell, personal communication, April 12, 2012). Students are engaged at a higher level not just through Internet research, but also with other Web 2.0 tools such as e-books, interactive learning games, and videos. “Having Internet access in classrooms saves a lot of time and fewer interruptions,” (D. McConnell, personal communication, April 12, 2012). For example, instead of administrators knocking on your door for information they can now send and receive emails instantly. Attendance, grades, and lesson plans are all now done online. These all combine together to save time and energy. And what about those learners with disabilities, can the Internet help them? You bet! “ Because students aren't all on equal footing when it comes to recognizing such patterns, teachers need to provide differentiated instruction” Rose & Meyer (2002). Using the Internet, a teacher can provide differentiated instruction. There are many tools to do this so that all learners can be accommodated. In a way, students learning can be individualized according to their needs. Compared to the way school was before the Internet, (D. McConnell, personal communication, April 12, 2012) concludes, “It has changed all for the good in the classroom.”

Consortium for School Networking. (2008). //Learning to change, changing to learn.// Retrieved from []
 * References **

Graziano, M., Lenhart, A., & Simon, M. (2001). The internet and education: Findings of the pew internet and American life project. //Pew Internet and American Life Project.// Retrieved on March 31, 2012, from []

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). //Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning.// Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 6. Retrieved on October 5, 2009 from []

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). //Web 2.0: New tools, New schools.// Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 13.