Internet+College=

Education, as it is know throughout history, has conventionally been done with a teacher, a book, and a class full of bored students. The use of the internet has changed the foundation of information gathering and instruction. In the 1980's, the internet was introduced as a learning tool in colleges and universities. Jumping to 2010, a personal computer with interent access is not only common place, but sometimes a required item for classes. The internet itself is now, undoubtly, the most commonly used research tool for every student. Websites such as Google, Bing, and Wikipedia (unfortunately) are used as references in almost every school project. Most colleges and universities offer a wide variety of on-line classes that have made it much easier for working students to fulfil degree requirements without impacting their schedules. Institutions such as the University of Pheonix have based their entire business on on-line degrees and certificates. Although, degrees from the University of Pheonix could be compared to toilet paper. It is well known that on-line classes are taken by students looking for an easy class/grade. Hirers want to see a person who is capable of making a tough schedule work (i.e. work and school).

There are commercials portraying a classroom full of kids that have webcam access to other classrooms across the world, as if it was the future of technology in the classroom. How many schools actually have the funding for such technology? Realistically, the internet has only begun to effect students greatly in the past 5-10 years. Today people are using the internet for research/plagarism, social/professional networking, adult entertainment and communication. Tomorrow the internet may be used to completely eliminate manual labor and/or hard work. You GO internet!