| Younger generations are now more skilled in | | | | thing is certain, and that is today's |
| the use of Internet as well as there being an | | | | generation are better able to adapt to the |
| increase in the popularity of computer games. | | | | changes and demands of technology. For |
| The present level of encouragement for using | | | | example, Washington Reuters stated that |
| technology in schools has helped us as a | | | | "nearly one-third of American Internet users |
| society prepare for the demands of the | | | | surveyed said they go online just for fun |
| future. | | | | rather than to check e-mail, read News, or |
| | | | use a search engine, a sharp increase from a |
| The word 'technology' is often associated | | | | year ago," (Reuters, 2006, p 1). Hence, this |
| with ideologies about the future and the | | | | means that as a society, although there has |
| advancement of society. Although this | | | | been an increase in software engineering of |
| statement may be true to a limited extent in | | | | games and programs, society has kept up in |
| that technology is about foreseeing the | | | | terms of spending time on the computer in |
| future, technology and advancements in | | | | order to use these software and programs. |
| technology are also largely about the | | | | |
| present. For example, younger generations are | | | | In conclusion, today's generation has an |
| now more skilled in the use of Internet as | | | | increased ability to enjoy the benefits of |
| well as there being an increase in the | | | | technology and Internet due to the increased |
| popularity of computer games. Hence, although | | | | usage and reliance on technology. Although |
| there are some negative impacts associated | | | | the issue is still debatable, as negative |
| with spending too much time on the Internet | | | | effects such as over-reliance on the Internet |
| and using the Internet as a primary source of | | | | can affect the functioning of society, |
| research, the present level of encouragement | | | | benefits also exist, and when used |
| for using technology in schools has helped us | | | | appropriately the Internet can ensure a |
| as a society prepare for the demands of the | | | | higher standard of lifestyle. |
| future. | | | | |
| | | | Bibliography: |
| Firstly, in an extract from a survey about | | | | |
| Internet and schools, it was found that a | | | | California Department of Education, Far West |
| "recent informal census conducted via | | | | Laboratory for Educational Research and |
| voluntary reporting over the Internet | | | | Development, California Education and Data |
| estimates the number of teachers and students | | | | Processing Association, "California Student |
| (individual and classroom accounts) in the | | | | Information System: A Study of the |
| U.S. using the Internet, either directly or | | | | Feasibility of Implementing a Statewide |
| indirectly, at almost 250,000." (Parker, | | | | Process for Electronically Sharing Student |
| 1992, p 22-24). Hence, the increased usage in | | | | Information," Sacramento, CA.: California |
| Internet services has ensured that | | | | Department of Education, October 1992. |
| school-aged children are better adapted to | | | | |
| meet the challenges of technology. Although | | | | LaQuey, Tracy and Connie Stout, "High Tech |
| use of the Internet has increased due to both | | | | Highway," America's Agenda: Schools for the |
| growth in research and uses for entertainment | | | | 21st Century, pp. 26-30. New York, NY: |
| purposes, there are some negative impacts | | | | Scholastic, Spring 1993. |
| associated with school-age children relying | | | | |
| on the Internet as their primary source of | | | | LaQuey, Tracy, with Jeanne C. Ryer, The |
| research. | | | | Internet Companion. Reading, MA: |
| | | | Addison-Wesley, 1993. |
| Becoming over reliant on the Internet for | | | | |
| research due to the level of convenience may | | | | Lipinski, Michael (1998) 'Some thoughts on |
| result in a lesser range of reference | | | | the use of the Internet in schools.' |
| materials used for essays and academic | | | | (Accessed: 16th February, 2006). |
| arguments. Also, it creates a bias in terms | | | | |
| of the amount of information found. For | | | | Parker, Tracy LaQuey, "Cisco Routers |
| example, authors in societies that do not | | | | Contribute to the Global Schoolhouse |
| have access to the Internet may be | | | | Project," The Packet, pp. 22-24. Mountain |
| marginalized due to the lack of this skill. | | | | View, CA.: Cisco Systems, Inc., Fall 1993. |
| Also, most Internet sites usually have | | | | |
| advertising, and this may cause distractions | | | | Parker, Tracy LaQuey, "The Internet - K12 |
| to the student's concentration. Therefore, | | | | Connection: How Students and Teachers Are |
| though it can be argued that the Internet has | | | | Using The Internet," ConneXions: The |
| provided access to a larger range of | | | | Interoperability Report. Foster City, CA.: |
| resources and has ensured that communication | | | | Interop, Inc. April 1994. |
| is a lot more effective, it can become | | | | |
| ineffective if people become too reliant on | | | | Washington Reuters (2006) Thirty pct Internet |
| this source of information as their main | | | | users go online just for fun, (Accessed; |
| medium for communication. | | | | 17th February, 2006). |
| | | | |
| The debates involving the Internet are | | | | Weston, Rachel, "Networks: Where Have You |
| extremely contentious, depending upon the | | | | Been All My Life?" Proceedings, Connecting |
| various views and interpretations of | | | | with the Future Today: NASA and the Center |
| different members of society. However, one | | | | for Educational Statistics, February 1994. |