The Online Teacher Resource
What single factor holds you back from using the Internet in your classroom? |
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Internet usage in the classroom can offer many benefits and learning opportunities for students. Teachers report that the number one reason that the Internet is not used more often is because students and teachers need better access or equipment. Very few respondents needed more training or support to use the Internet and even fewer felt that there was no relevant information to be found with computer usage. It comes down to budgets once again. Schools and school districts simply do not have the necessary funding to allow more computers in classrooms. Even if the current numbers were increased it still wouldn't equal the number of students in the education system. Having five computers in a classroom with 25 students makes it difficult to allocate time and computer resources. If students use the computers on a rotational basis, what are the other student's doing at the same time? Teachers can't continue on with other lessons while five of their students are otherwise occupied. Not only would those five students be missing valuable learning time, but their work on the computer would be a distraction to the other students trying to pay attention to the lesson. |
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Trying to juggle students into a computer rotation is problematic and often unworkable. At many schools classes are rotated through a centralized computer lab where there are adequate numbers of computers to accommodate whole classes. The problem with this scenario is that all students in the school require equal access to the same computers, meaning the amount of time each class can spend working is minimal. It must be frustrating for teachers who recognize the benefits of Internet use but are unable to implement projects or programs because there are not enough computers. Try to imagine you are a fashion designer with a fabulous idea for a line of dresses and pantsuits made from the best silk on the market. You can see them taking the catwalks of Paris by storm. All the most famous Hollywood celebrities will be clamouring for your designs. Now you look in your fabric warehouse and realize all you have are gingham and gunny sacks. Oh, the disappointment! Perhaps some of our teachers feel the same way. |
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