The Influence of the Internet on Teaching Practices

The field of teaching has experienced many changes over the last two decades. Much of these changes have occurred because of our newfound knowledge on brain-based research and the influx of technology and the internet into schools. Combining what we now know about learning and the employment of technology in the classroom helps us to better prepare students for their future careers (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2000).

When interviewing Max Stumberg, a veteran teacher who is now a full-time mentor, she recalled even the first telephones installed in every classroom. When teachers received computers for their use, they first used them for communication with their peers. As the internet became easier to navigate, Max used the internet for research to enrich her classroom lessons (M. Stumberg, personal communication, April 15, 2011). In another interview with veteran teacher and counselor, Kathy Alvarez, she stated her earliest Internet experiences in the mid-1990s were with “tenet” through the University of Texas Dana System. Kathy says, “Back then it was so new that there was not much out there and email was not as readily available as it is now. I used it mostly to search for information” (K. Alvarez, personal communication, April 16, 2011).

Kathy states today “there are some teachers who utilize the Internet for all kinds of research, virtual tours, skyping, blogs, homework drop boxes, communication and the list goes on. However, the majority uses it for some research and communication via email” (K. Alvarez, personal communication, April 16, 2011).

Max’s favorite part of all the internet has to offer is the vast quantity of videos and pictures available to download. Before the internet, Max says a lesson would be a “talk” about a topic with a few pictures found in books or magazine. This type of teaching was good for auditory learners, but not as well received by the visual learners. “For example if you were studying whales. You have pictures in your textbook and maybe a few you found in magazines to pass around. Now you can show the class videos off the Internet about everything to do with whales” (M. Stumberg, personal communication, April 15, 2011). Max believes that video accommodates visual learners. The concept of UDL or the Universal Design for Learning supports this idea. UDL supports differentiated instruction where students’ learning styles are met through a variety of instructional presentations (Rose & Meyer, 2002).

Kathy believes the Internet has changed teaching by “allowing the world to come to my rural community. My students and I have access to information in seconds. They can communicate with people on the other side of the earth. They can get a tour of the Smithsonian without ever leaving Texas” (K. Alvarez, personal communication, April 16, 2011). This pairing of communication software with websites that make possible user –created content and information sharing bring students into the 21st century. This sharing of ideas “facilitates powerful collaboration at any time of day and from any geographical location” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).

Max also believes students “are so comfortable with the internet that the research they can do is wide open” to them (M. Stumberg, personal communication, April 15, 2011). This is an important point as the world for future high school graduates is changing. On international markets, competition is changing as are the skills needed for employment. The wide-open Internet makes it possible for students to meet content mastery in areas such as global awareness and financial literacy – both of which will be needed skills in the 21st Century (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 18).

References

Alvarez, K. (2011, April 16). School Counselor. (J. Kelly, Interviewer)

Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school (Expanded edition). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Retrieved February 28, 2011, from CAST: http://www.cast.org/teaching everystudent/ideas/tes/

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Stumberg, M. (2011, April 14). Lead Mentor Teacher. (J. Kelly, Interviewer)