The Value of the Internet

“In my history class, where we had to do a lot of research,
I went from a B to an A,” she says.

What made the difference? Ashley believes it was her increased
use of the Internet. She always had Web access at school but
not at home.

“I wasn’t like other kids, you know, they had
the Internet at home and I didn’t, so I felt like I
was being deprived of something,” Ashley says.

Michigan State University researchers studied the effects
of the Internet on 140 low-income students. Each student was
given a computer at home, and then researcher tracked the
students’ online use for more than a year. At the end
of the year, the researchers found a slight increase in grade-point
averages and standardized tests scores. The authors cite reading
as the main reason for the academic boost, since students
who surf the Web read more.

“They are spending more time looking at text, so certainly
they are going to be exposed to more reading opportunities,“
says Christine Colborne, an English teacher.

“You have to read through the websites,” Ashley
says. “You have to read through the links and everything
like that. So it does improve reading skills. And I think
it improves vocabulary.”

But some experts warn parents to be cautious. Simply having
online access is not a guarantee your child is learning.

“Many students are on the Internet simply in chat rooms.
They are on the Internet looking up graphical material. They
are looking up websites that are not text intensive where
they are purchasing things or they are looking up pictures
or downloading pictures,” Colborne says.

Ashley’s parents have set up filters on her computer
that limit her access to inappropriate sites. Still, she says
having the Internet at her fingertips at school and
at home has opened a world of opportunities.

“I’m able to meet new friends, new people …
to explore new subjects that I never knew about,” she
says.

Researchers at Michigan
State University say that contrary to popular belief, spending
time surfing the Internet can actually be beneficial to children.
The study, which analyzed the Internet use of 120 parents
and 140 children, found no negative effect on users’
social involvement or psychological well-being. In fact, researchers
say that Internet use actually increased the children’s
grade-point averages and standardized test scores.

As a parent, you are faced with the monumental
task of monitoring the activities of your child in a world
of virtually unlimited sources of information. One of the
most expansive, confusing and frightening sources of information
available to children today is the Internet. Consider these
facts regarding children, technology and the Internet:

• Children are increasingly using new technologies in school,
  at the library, at home and in after-school activities.
• A May 1997 estimate shows nearly 10 million children are
  online.
• Twenty-seven percent of U.S. classrooms have Internet
  access and 78% of schools have some kind of access to the
  Internet.
• Two out of three public libraries provide computers and
  Internet access for public use.

You can take a number of steps to communicate the appropriate
use of the Internet and other technologies to your child.
The Cyber Citizen Partnership offers these tips for setting
Internet limits for your child:

• Be aware of your child’s
  computer skills and interests. Remember that it takes
  only a little knowledge to wreak a lot of havoc. Often,
  kids will develop technical skills and look for ways to
  challenge themselves.
• Focus your child’s interests.
  If you recognize that your child is interested in exploring
  computer technology, you can reinforce positive behavior
  and encourage positive applications of this interest. Ideas
  include encouraging emailing with friends and family to
  become comfortable with appropriate and respectful online
  communication; recommending that your child adopt a position
  of responsibility in school as a computer monitor to assist
  classmates with computer use; fostering creative computer
  use by developing a personal or family website; or suggesting
  participation in school or community programs that teach
  in-depth technological skills or offer challenging technical
  opportunities.
• Explore the Internet together.
  Ask your child to teach you about the Internet, visit educational
  sites, email questions and participate in online discussions
  together.
• Take advantage of teachable moments.
  When events or activities arise that provide the right time
  and place to do so, take advantage of these moments to help
  your child understand the issues involved in good cyber
  citizenship. For example, take time to read news articles
  about hacking or cyber crime incidents to your child and
  discuss the impact it has had on those involved. Use personal
  situations to frame the context of these discussions (e.g.,
  ask your child how cyber crimes or irresponsible online
  behavior could affect friends and family). Address cyber
  ethics messages as your child conducts research online or
  shares his experiences on computers at school.

Cyber
Citizen Partnership
Michigan State University