In our first article for the professional learning community, we’re excited to share our thoughts and ideas about all things edtech with you. Together, we can ponder the future of education, and hear your thoughts on teaching strategies, student engagement, classroom equity, digital solutions, and so much more.

Many of us can remember a time before the Internet when we didn’t have a vast collection of knowledge at our fingertips. Today’s students, though? They were born into a digital world with the ability to access information from the World Wide Web every second of every day from anywhere. We’ve watched students use their tablets, laptops, and smartphones to read articles, watch videos, play games, create stories, socialize with friends, and yes, to learn. There’s no denying it, the Internet has transformed—and continues to transform—education for students and teachers.

Access for Everyone

The Internet has the ability to equalize learning for all students around the world. It doesn’t matter if they live in an urban area or a rural community, or if their household income is high or low. All students can participate in the same multimedia lessons on cell division, quadratic equations, or the history of Canada—many of which have been created by educators to meet curriculum learning outcomes.

*Teacher and students working and collaborating.*

In the past five years alone, online learning has exploded with thousands of educational videos appearing on sites like YouTube and Khan Academy. Wikipedia is also getting into the moving pictures business, giving users the ability to upload their own videos on a subject. It’s incredible that students can choose from such an immense library of online videos, but what’s most important is the need for high-quality, vetted content linked to curriculum.

Collaboration and Communication

Online learning can increase collaboration between educators and students as well as students and peers. Your class can use wikis and cloud-based apps to share information they’ve discovered, post comments and questions, upload assignments, and reflect on their learning. As well, group work can take place outside the classroom, virtually. Distance, or the inability to physically get together after school, is no longer a barrier to collaborative work.

*High school students working remotely on an assignment.*

As Neil Selwyn, a professor in the Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, states in the article “The Internet and Education” on OpenMind:

“The participatory, communal nature of many social Internet applications and activities is aligned closely with the fundamental qualities of how humans learn, not least the practices of creating, sharing, collaborating, and critiquing.”

Connectivity

Because the Internet connects people from around the globe, students have access to knowledge and experiences outside their geographical location. As described in Purdue University’s article “How Has Technology Changed Education?”:

“Students in a classroom in the rural U.S., for example, can learn about the Arctic by following the expedition of a team of scientists in the region, read scientists’ blog posting, view photos, e-mail questions to the scientists, and even talk live with the scientists via a videoconference. Students can share what they are learning with students in other classrooms in other states who are tracking the same expedition.”

They can then bring this new knowledge back to their classroom and discuss their understanding in small groups.

Personalization

In a traditional classroom, teachers decide how to deliver curriculum content, which often includes lecturing, photocopied handouts, and notes on the board. These methods are still very popular and useful. However, when students go online, they have the opportunity to personalize their learning in a way that works best for them. From our experience, what works best is when students use online tools that have been created specifically with the learner and educator in mind. Students can explore curricular content and dive deep into topics that pique their curiosity. They can then bring what they’ve discovered back into the classroom and share their ideas with their teacher and other students.

Educators and the Internet

While the Internet is transforming how students learn, it is also influencing the professional development of educators. For example, if you really want to attend that science seminar being held in Nova Scotia, but you live in Manitoba, distance is no longer a roadblock. You can still participate—thanks to live and recorded webinars.

The Internet is also a hub for educators to connect and collaborate with each other. Online teaching communities, such as The Edwin PLC for Teachers, give you the opportunity to ask questions, find answers, and share ideas and best practices. Many online communities also encourage teachers to upload resources they created for their classrooms.

This article has barely scratched the surface of the World Wide Web’s impact on educators and students. We’d like to know what you think about online learning in your classroom. Does it enhance student engagement? How? Tell us your thoughts and experiences in the comments section. Share this article with your fellow educators! We’ll keep busy creating content for you— our creative, dedicated Professional Learning Community—so stay tuned for more.

REFERENCES

Selwyn, Neil.
“The Internet and Education.” In Change: 19 Key Essays on How the Internet Is Changing Our Lives. Madrid: BBVA, 2013.

Purdue University.
“How Has Technology Changed Education?” https://online.purdue.edu/blog/how-has-technology-changed-education

Teaching and Learning: The World Wide Web of Education