How Has The Internet Changed The Way We Learn?
Do you remember a time before the Internet? The World Wide Web became publicly available 26 years ago, but it has evolved drastically since that fateful day in 1991. How has this affected learning? Let’s explore three platforms that have radically changed the way students process information and how teachers can integrate them.
Google Search Engine
In 1995, Stanford University students Larry Page and Sergey Brin built a search engine with little idea of what it would become.
Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., is now one of the largest tech companies in the world.
But how has Google changed the way we learn? Students now have instant access to answers. Gone are the days of searching a physical library or academic database for homework help––all it takes is a few keystrokes to find what you’re looking for.
While some research suggests that this could have a negative effect on memorization skills, having a world of information at our fingertips is an asset that previous generations missed out on.
Because discovering more about a topic only takes minutes, teachers can assign their students rigorous critical thinking projects instead of having them answer simple research questions. While digital natives may have shorter attention spans, their hunger for new information is endless.
TED Talks
Nonprofit TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) launched in 1984, but the first TED Talk wasn’t available online until 2006. That’s almost a quart of a century!
According to the organization, the short speeches are intended to “inspire, motivate and thrill” their audiences. Educators, industry leaders and celebrities from Brené Brown to David Blaine have given TED Talks. But, what does this have to do with education? A lot! Even the most popular TED Talk of all time is on the subject of whether schools kill creativity.
With more than 2,400 talks to choose from, there are endless options for both students and teachers interested in expanding their mindsets. There are even TED Talks dedicated entirely to education and technology.
Quora
If you haven’t used Quora, it may sound awfully similar to Google’s search feature at first glance. To put it simply, you can post a question and get dozens of answers from experts and amateurs alike.
Posted questions range from philosophical to silly. There is a common thread, though: You’re likely to get replies regardless of what you ask, and you also have the chance to interact with people around the world. Some experts have even turned their Quora answers into a full-time job.
You may be wondering how this relates to the classroom. For one, students can ask university-specific questions in a comfortable environment, remaining anonymous if they prefer to. Common Quora questions from first-year students at large universities include questions about which clubs to join, where students should study and whether getting involved in Greek life is worth it.
The website isn’t only good for extracurriculars. Because everything is arranged by topic, a student with a question can simply go to a topic of interest––computer science, for example––and hear various perspectives and opinions.
Regardless of which websites you frequent, you’re learning every day thanks to the Internet. The most exciting thing? Things are only getting better, and will continue to. With more than 4 billion people projected to use the Internet by 2020, the learning opportunities have just begun.
