THE NECESSITIES OF THE INTERNET ACCESS IN SCHOOLS

The issue whether the internet should be allowed to use in schools has been widely debated in
recent times. It is an important issue because it concerns about the necessities of learning and
future career opportunities of children. This essay will argue that it is necessary to provide the
internet access in schools as it can offer new ways of learning, improve childrens performance
and preparing children for future jobs.
Firstly, No more pencils(2006) maintains that the use of the internet in schools cannot create
new styles of learning for children because of shortages of teachers with Information and
Technology (IT) skills leading to inadequate supervision from teachers to children. However,
Hague and Williamson (2009) point out that in recent times, many children have more abilities to
use technology than older generations so that they do not need intensive guidance from teachers.
Moreover, students using the internet are able to work with other learners to complete tasks and
also to improve knowledge and skills through playing games (Hague & Williamson, 2010). For
example, more than 600 children in Sydney using game online to play maths against all over
Australia (No more pencils, 2006). As such, the internet access in schools is important to
produce new ways of learning.
Secondly, it has been claimed that the use of the internet in schools can alleviate childrens
performance such as analysing and evaluating knowledge because they only copy and paste the
information without mastering it deeply (Hague & Williamson, 2010; Conradson& Hernndez,
2012). However,a research carried out in 1996 showed that when students used the internet for
learning, they were more creative to complete their homework and also had better syntheses of
different points of view (Gore, 1998). Moreover, he explains that in a decade-long series of
American Education Department studies report that students operating computer outperformed
their classmates on standardized exam of basic skills by an average of 30%. Therefore, the
internet access in schools does not reduce children ability to scrutinize sources otherwise to assist
them perform better.
Lastly, according to Daggett (2010) through computer and internet access, millions of students in
developing countries in all parts of the world have chances to obtain the skill set that are
necessary to compete worldwide for future career. Another point to consider is thatIT is the main

factor which transforms the economy and society the way people work and communicate one
another (Gore, 1998). Moreover, in the U.S, 60% of all jobs required the technology skills such
as functional skills of reading and writing digital texts so that technology skills become the
important requirement for people to look for jobs. Furthermore, he explains that in recent years,
more than one-quarter of real economic growth has been influenced by information technology
(Gore, 1998). As a result, the internet access in schools plays significant role to prepare children
for future jobs.
In conclusion, it can be seen that the use of internet in schools is beneficial for students as it can
offer new ways of learning, boost childrens performance and preparing children for future jobs.
Thus, if schools want to fulfill the necessity of children to learn at schools and their future
careers, they should provide the internet access in schools for students.

546 words

References
Conradson, S.& Hernndez, P. (2004).Computers, the internet, and cheating among secondary
school students: some implications for educators.Practical Assessment, Research
&Evaluation, 9(9). Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?
v=9&n=9
Daggett, W.R. (2010). Preparing students for their technological future.New York:International
Center for Leadership in Education.Retrieved December 17, 2012,
fromhttp://www.lzreadered.com/pdf/Preparing%20Students%20for%20Tech%20Future
%20white%20paper.pdf
Gelernter, D. (1998, May 25). Should schools be wired to the internet?No Learn first, Surf later.
Times Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from
http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/18/time/no.html
Gore, A. (1998, May 25). Should schools be wired to the internet?Yes - It's essential to the way
kids learn. Times Magazine. Retrieved December 18, 2012, from
http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/18/time/yes.html
Hague, C. &Williamson, B. (2010).Digital participation, digital literacy and schools.Curriculum
Leadership, 8(10). Retrieved December 17, 2012, from
http://www.curriculum.edu.au/leader/digital_participation,_digital_literacy_and_school,3
1055.html?issueID=12105
No more pencils, no more books (2006). The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved December 13,
2012, from http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/no-more-pencils-no-morebooks/2006/04/05/1143916572550.html%20?page=3