Advantages and Disadvantages of the Internet in Education
In this digital age, every school can access the Internet. The Internet is one of the most powerful educational tools which is always ready for use. Within seconds you can learn about new civilizations, travel to the past or the future, see fantastic pictures of nature, cities of the world and works of art. You can go to social networks and chat rooms and hear touching human stories.
As with any education technique, classroom Internet usage has both advantages and disadvantages.
Access to Information
A major advantage of the Internet is the ability to access all types of information from library resources all over the world, including magazines, books, newspapers and journal publications. This information increases the learning potential by providing students with the latest information. Students can find necessary information very quickly. Students can get tuition online and they can watch Videos on YouTube related to mathematics, English language, physics or any other information about any topic related to their school homework.
But too much of the information is available to students, so they may find it difficult to choose which information is the most important to a topic they need. One more bad point, they can acquire inaccurate, fake or out-dated information online.
Online Education
An online education provides students with the convenience of completing assignments on their own timetable. Students can take classes from a school, a college or university online. Students who travel with a job can take a class in a house, hotel room or coffee shop. Students save on housing, gas money and travel expenses. The Internet keeps children company so they learn how to be on their own. What is more the Internet entertains and makes learning fun. The Internet in education can expand the knowledge of students. Students can use the internet to convert their theoretical knowledge into practical one.
The disadvantages of the online education:
- there is no face-to-face instruction
- you can’t get instant feedback on class assignments
- you can’t hear questions from other students or ask questions yourself
- you can’t get clarification with the concepts of the material
- students surf the Internet and can’t concentrate on other things
- it’s easier to watch videos on You-Tube than read books, so children read less, discuss and share their opinions less.
Visit Faraway Places
An advantage of a classroom Internet connection allows students to take a virtual field trip without leaving their school building. Students have a unique opportunity to study the animals of Africa, the Great Wall of China or the Egyptian pyramids. They can go to an online museum or virtual zoo. Children can learn more about the world. The Internet helps to see faraway places. It helps to be tolerant because children learn how people are different in different places. Students can meet famous and interesting people.
Disadvantages of this experience mean students can’t ask questions the guide or the zookeeper or touch a snake at a zoo. They can’t take pictures or create memories with their classmates. For younger children, a field trip can teach them how to behave in public and respect adults. Virtual field trips don’t leave the classroom so the students don’t develop their social skills in full.
Social Skills
The Internet allows students to meet people from all over the world at the click of a button. Doing a project on Irish literature with the help of students in Ireland makes the project more interesting. Studying Italian architecture students can email experts in Italy about the artwork. The disadvantage of online interaction is that students don’t talk to people in person and don’t acquire social skills of face-to-face interactions. They don’t develop listening skills, especially when interviewing someone.
Conclusion
The Internet is incredibly useful for education purposes. Tests, interactive lessons and educational games must be used as an addition to normal studies. There are free courses on a variety of subjects that are accessible to anyone. Students need the Internet to search for information related to exams, curriculum, results, etc.
Internet is an effective teaching and learning tool.
Speak about the Internet in education. Prove that it is one of the most powerful educational tools.
Do you think the advantages of the Internet in education overweigh the disadvantages?
Based on: https://classroom.synonym.com/
Some people say that the internet is a bad invention, that children stopped studying after the internet had appeared. But it isn’t true. The Internet helps us find necessary information. The Internet helps in studying and developing our skills. If you use the Internet wisely, it can be a good helper.
Thanks to the internet, studying is much easier. I find many advantages learning online. Online classes give me a good opportunity to see what skills I should develop. I also realised that studying at home is much better because I can make my own schedule. At the same time online classes take a lot of time and require being organized. You should not waste your time and always stick to your timetable. Luckily, I still have good eyesight after using my phone and laptop for many hours. All in all, I am happy having an experience studying at school and at home!