Using the Internet as a Teaching and Learning Tool
My E-tutor and fellow colleagues I stand on the affirmative of the resolution put forward that, “Using the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using it as a learning tool”
With the advent of the internet and the World Wide Web information sharing and retrieving is easily accessible. Moreover the educational sector has not been left behind with the analogue mode of technology but has seen fit to digitise the teaching and learning experiences within the classrooms.
Although using the internet as a learning tool is important because of the following benefits: Information sharing and retrieving, collaboration, engagement in hands-on activities, and skills development, (Tinio, 2003, p.7) using the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using it as a learning tool because the objectives to be learned in the first place must be initiated by the teacher. Also the teacher can use the internet to research various themes and find graphics that can be use to enhance students learning in the classroom, (the University of the West Indies Open Campus, 2015, EDTK 2030, Unit 3, p. 81). Yes, I agree that learners can go online for themselves and research too, but permit me to say that since the internet is the vehicle by which information can be retrieve from the world wide web, learners instead of finding and analysing the information they are cheating and plagiarising which surly will hamper effective learning when it comes to using the internet as a learning tool. According to Ma, Wan and Lin, (2008 as cited in The University of the West Indies Open Campus, 2015, EDTK 2030, Unit 3, p. 83), the authors purports that learners rather than giving credit to the source finds it easier to copy and paste the information. So I ask, how is the students’ learning much more important here? On the other hand, when the teacher gives the information to the class they have deduced for themselves the lesson. Hence, I say that the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using the internet as a learning tool.
In addition, using the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using it as a learning tool since it supports collaboration among teachers in designing the curriculum. Therefore, let it be known that teachers first have to know what the learning outcomes must be and by using the technology in this way allows for the educators to meet in this synchronous setting to discuss, plan, answer questions and give feedback, (Dyrli & Kinnaman, 1995; Giagnocavo et al., 1995, as cite in Swain and Bridges, 1996) on the curriculum, for it is the planning that comes before the teaching. Consequently, it must be understood that the resolution did not say that the children do not learn, rather it says ‘much more important’. Truly, using the internet as a learning tool is important according to Swain and Brides,(n.d) because it allows students to become self-regulators, and to develop various skills using various ICT tools, and all students have an opportunity to learn from its use.. Hence, even though using the internet as a learning tool is important, I still support the statement in the affirmative that using the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using it as a learning tool because there are many assignment writing sites, (p. 83) which have ‘hijacked’ learners originality and high order thinking skills. My colleagues, in using the internet as a learning tool then, The learning tasks have to be designed to integrate students knowledge, skills and attitudes”, The University of the West Indies Open Campus, 2015, EDTK 2030, Unit 3, p. 74), but my question to you is this: Are these objectives achieved when students pay to their papers to be witting for them? Consequently, learners are not thinking for themselves, as such the purpose for internet use in education is jeopardise and will lose its credibility, (Jones and Kelley 2003 as cited in The University of the West Indies Open Campus, 2015 EDTK 20130, p. 83). Furthermore, even with collaboration among students there is cheating with regards to participation, (p. 83)
Finally, I say that using the internet as a teaching tool is much more important than using it as a learning tool for even though it provides information for both the teacher and the learner; without the teacher guiding and facilitating learning objectives then students will not know their weak areas to develop on, for their will be no feedback for improvements.
References
Swain, C.R., & D.L. (1996). The world wide web: a classroom adventure. . 32 (2), p. 82. Retrieved from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.library.open.uwi.edu/ehost/detail/detail?sid=c71108dd-32ea-4263-8e27-d635c4a48095%40sessionmgr114&crlhashurl=login.aspx%253fdirect%253dtrue%2526scope%253dsite%2526db%253dehh%2526AN%253d9611180910%2526msid%253d-419407864&hid=123&vid=0&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN9611180910-5
The University of the West Indies Open Campus. (2015) EDTK 2030, Information and Communication Technologies in Education. Use of the Internet and the World Wide Web in Education. Unit 3, pp. 74 &81, 83).
Tinio, V. L. (2003). ICT in education. UNDP, p. 7. Retrieved from http://www.unapcict.org/ ecohub/resources/ict-in-education/