Clearly, I believe we are already realizing that the Internet/Web are going to have a major impact on higher education. For me, personally, I was a bit skeptical about an online class, and I love technology. I was wondering how I would adapt to learning through the internet; I have always been one who enjoys sitting in a class and learning (strange, I know). After these first few weeks of class, my opinion and fears have had a complete change. I am enjoying this new learning experience immensely.
The impact of the internet on higher education is most likely just beginning. I was first exposed to this format at GVSU with their Blackboard system. Eventually, I believe most professors will include some form of internet usage in their class format. The elimination of paper pushing is a great plus. Professors/instructors won’t have to keep track of papers and returning them. This usage also allows for better communication if students are not in class, they can still participate in the assignment.
College online courses are most likely going to continue growing in number of classes and participants. After all, we are in the “Technology Age.” Many of the future students are very comfortable with the idea of using technology and may not have the concerns that I did about online classes.
I also believe that Internet incorporation into education will filter down from higher education to the K-12 school systems. Just as many other subjects in schools have had to be reconfigured–so will technology. A part of this change may come from those who are being educated in teaching programs now and in the future. These future teachers may be learning through and on technology; therefore, I would not be surprised if they naturally began to incorporate such forms of instruction into their repertoire of teaching techniques.
Actually, I have been trying to utilize some internet tools into a few of my classes. Currently, I am in the process of getting two student computers in my classroom (yeah!). With this addition, I will be able to help my students learn in a completely different format than what I have been using. Also, I have been talking with some of the teachers I work with about what we are learning, and they are excited and want me to show them what I’m doing. I think they will have to wait awhile, at least until I feel more comfortable with all this new technology myself.
As for adult education, businesses and government/military will probably continue to grow and exercise their use of Internet usage in instruction. Many organizations are fully embedded in the usage of the internet, and I can’t see this changing anytime soon–at least not until something more amazing is invented. (My husband calls it the Davinator–he believes people will have small computers put in their brains that they will be able to do everything a cell phone or computer can do.) Frankly, I’m sure there will be something more advanced than the Internet in the future; although, I can’t imagine what will be able to do this.
