Children and the Internet - E-learning

E-LEARNING

The Internet's role in American elementary and secondary education was far from settled in the early 2000s. Proponents argued that the technology would make education more relevant to children by better preparing them for the modern workplace and by capitalizing on a form of technology that children already access for pleasure. As of 2000, nearly 95 percent of public schools supplied Internet access to their students, a 60-percent increase since 1994. However, less than two percent of the $360 billion annual public education budget was earmarked for technology.

Teacher preparation constituted another obstacle to enhanced utilization of the Internet. The National Education Association estimated that only one-third of teachers possess the knowledge to use technology effectively. However, school technology spending has increased, and most major technology firms are poised to take advantage of this. IBM, Intel, and Microsoft all launched initiatives aimed at teacher training. Many start-ups have appeared to fill the vacuum as well, drawing about $1 billion in venture capital in 1999 and 2000, according to Merrill Lynch & Co.

Commercial initiatives include the Virtual High School of Concord, Massachusetts, America's largest Web-based school, which offers Net courses. For each course a teacher contributes online, his or her school can enroll up to 20 students. AP courses are also available for purchase, delivered via distance learning to schools that can't afford to set up their own offerings. Applications include student-designed course-related Web pages, parent-teacher communication via e-mail, and homework on the Internet. The Internet also allows teachers to collaborate with colleagues across the nation to develop lesson plans and share teaching strategies.

Some warn that, due to budget limitations, schools will rely on online advertising to foot the bill. For example, ZapMe! Corp. provided schools with computer labs and Internet access free of charge in exchange for permission to run ads on the school computers. Additionally, the New York City Board of Education voted to create a school Internet portal funded through online ad sales and e-commerce site licensing.