I remember when I first saw the commercials on television. Students were communicating with each other on a computer screen. They could actually see the other person: what they looked like, and what they wore to school. They were also able to hear each other speaking. It was almost like both students were actually classmates helping each other out in the classroom. I thought to myself, "Wow, wouldn't it be great to discuss topics such as literature, art, and different ways to derive algebraic problems with students who lived a million miles away?" However, I had been seeing, reading, and hearing about the great "technological advances" that our nation was going through, but I was not actually experiencing them. So far the only technological advances I thought I had experienced in my high school career were metal detectors and video cameras in the hallways. You could imagine my astonishment when my pre-cal teacher informed my class that we would soon be a class participating in the world of cyberspace.
Cyberspace has and will unquestionably affect the lives of those involved. It, of course, has made life easier for many, but more importantly, it is making a huge impact on education. It makes learning much more fun, interesting, and ultimately more educational. I mean no disrespect to my pre-cal teacher, but I have to be honest. The thought of a guy in Hawaii tutoring me for a pre-cal test sounds quite interesting. Cyberspace gets students talking and interacting. The embarrassment of raising your hand to ask the teacher to "please explain that one more time" is gone. It's much easier to ask classmates.
Another advantage of cyberspace is that it eliminates the boring black and white pages of an old, beat up textbook. Cyberspace can help students visualize what they are studying and help them get a better understanding of the material.
I've just recently heard that some students in college no longer have to attend classes in person. My pre-cal teacher just received an e-mail from a professor in New York saying that we might be able to take AP-math classes over the Internet at the college where he teaches. This would be a major economic advantage for students who find it very difficult to pay for room and board while in college. Rather, they can join in via cyberspace in the comfort of their own homes. It also gives students who would like to attend an out-of-state college the opportunity to do so, without leaving their home state for such a long period of time.
Having had some experience in cyberspace, I've discovered the great advantages students today have. You are able to find information on virtually any topic you can imagine. Research for papers can be done easily. Samples of the entertainment world can be seen and heard by the click of a mouse button. You can read up on a presidential election, and learn interesting facts about specific candidates and their viewpoints. The list of information goes on and on. The great thing is that there is new and updated information every day.
Cyberspace is an ever changing technology that will be old news a year from now. However, it is giving the chance to ordinary people who live in the present an opportunity to step into the future..
Ruthy Googins
