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How the internet is used for modern education
01/04/22
Young black girl studying on a laptop

The internet is one of the most useful modern technologies that has become a necessity for modern living. It has not only reshaped the way we work and communicate, but it has also changed education for the better. The immense wealth of information available to students is just one small aspect of the way in which the internet is being used for education.

Popular search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, offer all the information that learners need at just the press of a few keys. It makes conducting your own research much easier and also allows students to access various viewpoints on a topic, which enables them to make informed decisions in order to answer certain questions.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the internet has been a vital tool for education. Online classes and video conferences with teachers and fellow pupils are now common throughout the world. Home schooling during times of lockdown could not happen if it weren’t for the internet.

This is why it’s critical to have fast and reliable internet in the home. Fibre internet is an affordable solution that delivers light-speed connectivity with incredible reliability. WonderNet offers various fibre packages for the home – all you need to do is type in your address and see if we offer our services in your area. 

Benefits of the internet for education

There are numerous benefits that the internet delivers for online school and tertiary education.

1. Cost-effective learning

One of the biggest global downsides to education is cost. Fees are expensive, but so too are educational materials and hardcopy resources, like books. The internet is a free platform (granted, there is a cost of connectivity and data) that improves the quality and affordability of education. This is a pillar of sustainable development in South Africa.

It creates a more cost-effective learning experience as students can access written materials, YouTube videos, supplementary learning tools and online apps – mostly for free. Gone are the days when the teacher and a couple of books were the primary sources of knowledge; now, pupils can combine a mix of online sources and multimedia to inform their learning.

2. Continued interaction

The internet has allowed learners to stay in constant touch with their teachers and peers amid the global pandemic. During times of lockdown, students attend video conference classes and chat with one another on group forums. This also means that their questions can be posted on the chat at any time of day. 

The interaction between learners and teachers can help the pupils to explore new ideas and advance their knowledge at a time that suits them. Teachers can also post tutorial videos and additional notes in these forums to supplement their online lessons. This continuous interaction is highly beneficial as classmates can bounce ideas off one another, outside of classroom hours.

3. Easy access to education

A brick and mortar school is still essential to a well-rounded education, but the internet has improved access to learning for those students that live in remote locations or in different countries. It provides convenient and easy access to teachers and educational materials, no matter where in the world they are currently based.

Teachers also have the ability to record their lessons and post them online for their pupils to access at any time. In addition, many world-class universities offer free online courses for anyone wanting to further their studies. 

4. Multimedia learning

Everyone learns differently; some students have a photographic memory while others prefer visual cues or audible instructions. Whatever method works best, modern students have a multimedia learning experience available to them. Written notes, webinars, tutorial podcasts and animations are all part of the contemporary learning experience.

Visual learners can find their own depictions and images to help them grasp concepts. Audio learners can access podcasts and tutorial sound clips. Most students are likely to use a combination of various media to better understand the subjects that they are learning.

5. Access to the latest information

Unlike published books and hardcopy materials, the internet is updating resources on a daily basis according to the latest international research and scientific studies. This means that learners always have access to the most up-to-date information possible. Some subjects don’t change that much over time, but others certainly do.

In these cases, it can be detrimental to teach students outdated facts and information. One such example is the removal of the classification of Pluto as a planet. Modern education teaches learners that Pluto is no longer a planet, but is instead a dwarf planet since it has not cleared its neighbouring region of other objects like all the other planets have.

The internet has had an incredible impact on education, especially in the last few years. When used appropriately, it is a valuable resource that certainly improves education and understanding. Make sure that you have world-class fibre internet access for your learning needs. For more information about our fibre offerings or to get a quote for an internet upgrade, please contact us today or check if we’re connected to your address.

WonderNet brings affordable broadband internet to South African homes. We work alongside leading fibre network providers to maximise our reach and to offer fast, reliable and secure internet connectivity to your home. We are owned by SEACOM; one of Africa’s top information and communications technology (ICT) companies with an expansive network of subsea cables, landlines and fibre connections. WonderNet strives to offer the best customer service in the country. We will go above and beyond to ensure that our customers are satisfied with their internet access.

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