I think that the Internet can be a very useful tool in supporting research so long as students learn to use effective search strategies and to question the validity of the information. Students must ask themselves, "Who wrote this?" and is it an expert? Also, is the information based on facts or is it simply one's opinion? To increase the chances of quality research it is important to know which symbols to use in search engines to obtain what you are looking for. There is a lot of inaccurate information on the web but if students follow these steps the internet can be very useful.
Not only can the internet be used to obtain research information, it can also be used for other educational purposes as well. I think that the virtual field trip websites would not only be informative, but also fun for younger aged children. I would also make use of tutorials to teach specific topics or websites where students can practice and be quizzed on what they have learned. In addition, online video clips could be helpful for students who are visual learners and like to see examples.
I think that at every grade level there are concerns for teachers who are working with students in a technology environment. At all ages I would be concerned about the viewing of inappropriate websites. Although most schools have blocks on particular websites, sometimes an innocent search can bring up inappropriate material. For older students who are working on research papers, I would definitely harp on copyright issues. Plagiarism is not something that is taken lightly and sometimes students don't even realize they are doing it.
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