David Garza

Dr. Henry T. Ingle,
Department of Communications, University of Texas at El Paso

COMM 5350a: Directed Study in Communications: Section # 23846, Seminar in Interactive Telecommunications, Networking and Distance Communication Technologies

March 1, 2001

"Computer and Internet Usage in Education: Theories, Practices, and Research Basics"

By Kenneth C. Gray & Xiaoli Holly Cao

The most important aspect about this research was that computer and Internet usage in education is making an impact in on-line education (OLE) by providing a way to deliver knowledge for anyone, anywhere, and anytime. The use of computer and Internet in education can present an opportunity for applying effective educational services all over the world. Then again, there is a lack of agreement between educators and computer specialists on how to best use computer and Internet usage in education in the United States. The article states that the reason computers are in the classroom are because of the large potential of multimedia applications and computer networks. Since education is a kind of communication, it is important for schools today to bring together the idea of Internet connectivity with the ideas of communication and education. Just-In-Time (JIT) training on the Internet is an excellent example of merged communications. Computer and Internet usage in education will meet the demands of Just-In-Time (JIT) learning and worldwide learning concepts for the twenty-first century. JIT is similar to learning on demand and individualized learning, which means the learner learns at his or her own pace. JIT is a way of merging both teaching and learning processes to save time and money. Interactivity, the communication between the educational materials and the learners, is the most important factor in measuring effectiveness in JIT education. Research studies in this article states that more and more schools are using the Internet to deliver instruction to students at home who learn at their own pace. Furthermore, surveys indicate that the implementation of current network technologies and the fact that more and more computers are found in teachers' and students' homes greatly contributes to on-line education opportunities. The Internet has unknown educational potential because it can place all past and present knowledge at anyone's fingertips anytime and anywhere.

Works Cited

Gray, Kenneth C. & Cao, Xialoli Holly, "Computer and Internet Usage in Education: Theories, Practices, and Research Basics" Journal of Educational Technology Systems, Vol. 29, pp. 41-48.