78% of middle and high school students use the Internet<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n\n
But the most Internet-savvy among them complain that their teachers don\u2019t use the Internet in class or create assignments that exploit great Web material<\/p>\n\n
Washington (August 14, 2002) \u2013 Millions of teenagers increasingly use the Internet for their schoolwork, but they say that educators often don\u2019t know how, don\u2019t want, or aren\u2019t able to use online tools to help them learn or enrich their studies. <\/p>\n\n
The students argue that the nation\u2019s multi-billion dollar effort to wire schools is at risk of being squandered unless there was a similar commitment to improve connectivity in classrooms, help all students master computer skills, teach more sophisticated Internet literacy, make sure that high-quality information is available to them, and \u2013 most important of all \u2013 create assignments that take advantage of the wonderful Web resources they have found on their own. <\/p>\n\n
These findings are highlighted in a new study for the Pew Internet & American Life Project by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), a widely respected research organization based in Washington, D.C. The report is entitled, \u201cTHE DIGITAL DISCONNECT: The widening gap between Internet-savvy students and their schools,\u201d and is based on the results of 14 focus groups with 136 middle and high school students around the nation and in reports from close to 200 teenagers who responded to an online survey. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cInternet-savvy students are far ahead of their teachers and principals in taking advantage of online educational resources,\u201d said Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. \u201cMany believe they may have to raise their voices to force schools to change to accommodate them better. And their voices should be added to policy discussions. Educators have a choice: Either they need to adapt or they will be dragged into a new learning environment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
Students use the Internet dozens of ways to help them in school. They see the Internet as a virtual textbook and reference library, a virtual tutor and study shortcut, a place to conduct virtual study groups, a virtual locker, backpack and notebook, and as a virtual guidance counselor when they are deciding about careers and colleges. <\/p>\n\n
However, the students repeatedly said that the quality of their Internet-based assignments was often poor and uninspiring \u2013 if online assignments were even made at all. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cThey want to be assigned more\u2014and more engaging\u2014Internet activities that are relevant to their lives,\u201d noted Douglas Levin, the director of the research study for the American Institutes for Research. \u201cMany students maintain that this would significantly improve their attitude toward school and learning.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
The students said the single greatest barrier to Internet use at school is the quality of access to the Internet at most of their schools. And while many recognize the need to shelter teenagers from inappropriate material and adult-oriented commercial ads, they complain that blocking and filtering software often raise barriers to students\u2019 legitimate educational use of the Internet. <\/p>\n\n
Online students are also worried about the \u201cdigital divide\u201d and say they are painfully aware of the advantages they enjoy compared to those who do not have easy Internet access outside of school. They also urged that policy makers address the more subtle inequities among teenagers that manifest themselves in differences in the quality of student Internet access and use. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cThese kids think it\u2019s a pity their schools don\u2019t \u2018get it\u2019 the way they do about how to use the Internet,\u201d argued Sousan Arafeh, the deputy project director for AIR for this study. \u201cMost teens use the Internet for school assignments and in other learning situations, but they say their Internet use occurs mostly outside of the school day, outside of the school building, and outside of the direction of their teachers. Clearly, that has to change.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is one of the largest applied behavioral and social science research organizations in the world. Since its founding in 1946 as an independent, not-for-profit corporation, AIR has been conducting research and providing analysis and technical assistance in support of programs to improve the condition of individuals, groups, and organizations. <\/p>\n\n
The Pew Internet & American Life Project creates and funds original, academic-quality research that explores the impact of the Internet on children, families, communities, the workplace, schools, health care, and civic and political life. The project is an independent, nonpartisan organization fully funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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