Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Post 7
I know I've been focusing a lot on the possible risks and negative aspects of the internet, but I also believe that it is SUCH a great tool for everyone, including students and teachers!! Some of you are students (some of which are studying abroad!) and teachers, or were students at one time, and I would LOVE to hear how the internet has influenced your educational experiences in a positive way(s). Please tell us how the internet has positively impacted your lives and educational careers!
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The internet is a fantastic way of keeping in touch with family and friends while we're spending time in different countries! I am studying abroad in Costa Rica, but I have friends studing in Ireland, Spain, England, France, and Morocco plus I have family still in the United States and I am able to communicate with them ALL, which is pretty incredible. When my sister left for Ireland and I was still in the United States, we had the whole family over and we were able to use AOL instant messenger to videochat with her. My grandparents as well as my 6-year-old cousin were equally amazed that the internet allowed us to see her face and hear her voice in real time from so far away. The internet is a significant connection I can have with my family even when I am thousands of miles away from them, which means a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteI remember too when we used skype to talk to her while we were all together at your house. I know technology is becoming more and more common but I still find it amazing and hard to believe that someone can be miles and miles away and we can still talk to her as though she was in the same room with us. It kind of takes your breath away! Imagine what our lives will be like when our little 6-year-old cousin is our age!
DeletePersonally, I feel that the Internet has reinvented our college education. Today we now have online classroom resources online that allows us to access more information and further our education outside of the traditional classroom. If we all think back when we were in high school, exams were always taken in class, blogs weren't available online to discuss classroom issues, and questions for teachers had to wait for class time. Additionaly, as Kristen wrote above, having video resources such as FaceTime or Skype as also allowed us in interact with family in friends in new ways as supposed to the days where letters or phone calls were the only way to catch up with someone.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and it's so much easier to communicate with students and teachers through email, blogs, or some type of message online.
DeleteI received my Master's Degree online through the prestigious George Washington University. Had it not been for the online opportunity I probably would not have gotten a Master's Degree, let alone from such a great institution of higher learning. Having the opportunity to study online has changed my life and career for the better. One of the exciting things about the online program was that I interacted with numerous other students from around the country and some from other countries who were all coming together online to achieve the same degree. Because of the geographical differences each person that I worked with on projects and assignments brought something more global to the learning experiences.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot more people are getting degrees now because of the option of pursuing it online. I know people whose schedules are so packed their only option is to take classes online. This option has been life-changing for them.
DeleteI once took an internet class at UConn which I loved. I was first hesitant about the responsibilities that go along with an online class. Some people tell me they tend to not watch the videos or get distracted by being at a home environment while taking an online class. One friend even told me while she had the videos of the online class playing she only was reading the Facebook newsfeed.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, the class was a psychology class about animal behavior. I felt it was much easier watching the videos online, participating in discussions, and taking quizzes than I had originally expected. I would definitely participate in online classes if given the opportunity to again.
I guess some people won't always use online resources to their best advantages and it's all what individuals make of technology. I think the internet provides a chance for quieter students to speak up and participate more during discussions. Sometimes the internet offers a sense of relief because people don't feel they are on the spot talking in front of a bunch of classmates and will be more apt to voice their thoughts.
DeleteI never thought of that but I totally agree. Most people are terrified when presenting in front of a class of 300 students. However sharing your thoughts and ideas online doesn't seem scary at all in comparison.
DeleteI think the internet is an excellent resource for college education. I have taken a couple of online classes and I absolutely loved them. I was able to do work on my own time and didn't have to depend on getting to class in case of an emergency or a bad snowstorm. I still feel like I received a rich learning experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. Additionally, many of my classes now post online readings which makes accessing resources so much easier than if we had to go to a library or if a professor had to make copies (which would waste paper and be detrimental to our environment).
ReplyDeleteI agree! I did this huge research project for one of my graduate courses and it was SO convenient to use online journals instead of spending countless hours in the library. It's such an advantage having countless information right at your fingertips!
DeleteThe Internet is an amazing tool that can connect students from all over the world. They have the opportunity to skype with students in Spain or blog with their peers in Texas. What a beautiful way to connect and recognize that there is a big world outside your tiny community.
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