Embracing the Information Age

by Dan Leveille

We are all living in the information age with a new way of learning. Learning is becoming easier with the advancing of technology. Technology has been changing so quickly within the past decades, and students around the world have been utilizing its wonderful power. Success in the Information Age is dependant on the use computer and internet technology.

By using technology, students have a new medium for learning. This medium can be used to access information faster and more efficiently. Information is everywhere. Using computers and the internet allows people to use this new way of exchanging and compiling information. According to internetworldstats.com, there are over one billion internet users. Over one billion people are contributing their knowledge over a single medium. Also, the costs are lower. It can end up being costly to buy books, encyclopedias, and magazines, especially because they’re static sources and they need to keep being updated. A computer may cost more, but the amount of information that can be found using is massive. The possibilities are limitless. The technology is rapidly growing, and prices are continuously dropping. Computers eliminate a lot of the hassle of harnessing information in the research process. Instead of leaving to go to the library or another source, the information that’s needed is right there. Today, many companies are trying to move physical media to the web, such as books, essays, and articles to make them more accessible. The majority of newspaper companies also have web-based version of all their publications available to their subscribers. These are a few examples of how the internet is making information more accessible. To sum it all up, it’s much easier to find information using technology. Not everything that is found on the internet will be accurate, but if students have a general understanding on how to locate information, they can find correct information that would take much longer to find elsewhere.

By using technology, students have access to many different types of useful sources. An example of such is if a student is doing a research project on the Chinese government. Sure, they can go find an encyclopedia about the Chinese government or ask a teacher or friend what they know. What if the student wants to obtain some information about the change of the Chinese government over the past year? It’s going to take a student a long time to come across information on this without using technology. They could just go to the Chinese government’s official website and find recent accurate information. If they need to interview someone or obtain additional information, all they need to do is find the email address of someone who knows a lot about the Chinese government and ask questions themselves. The internet can connect students with experts and professionals around the world. Many scientific studies and statistics are available online. These are all ways that computers and internet can be utilized to find accurate sources that would not be so accessible without technology. It is often times quite hard to find information on recent topics without using computers. With the developing speeds and organization of the internet, information can be accessed easier and faster. People can use search engines to specify what information they are looking for, and it will display the most relevant results. There are also many other web sites that offer organization of web pages throughout the internet. With the mass number of internet users, the organization of information becomes more accurate based on human interest. Computer and internet technology is developing so rapidly. Email, forums, newsgroups, chat rooms, video conferencing, and instant messaging are new ways of communication that are bringing students and experts together. People with different ideas, traditions, backgrounds, and cultures can collaborate their knowledge to help each other. Finding information on the internet is easy because of the wide variety of types of sources. Research isn’t the only way computers contribute to a student’s education.

There are many other ways that technology can be used to assist a student in their career. Word processors, spreadsheets, slideshows, and databases provide information organization and presentation. Image and video editing programs can assist students in art related subjects. Sometimes companies will have an accompanying CD or website with a textbook. Another very popular use of the internet is to find colleges. Internet websites, such as collegeboard.com, provide a compilation of colleges around the world. They list statistics, facts, and financial information so that students can find the colleges that best fit their needs. As everyone knows, college is a essential factor of success.

Computer technology is a vital component in a student’s educational success. This technology is allowing students to feel more engaged with their work. Students can research and find articles, graphics, charts, pictures, videos. This may make the learning process more appealing to students with any style of learning. In any field of study, computers can be used to help students become more successful. By using modern technology today, students are climbing atop the technology wave and preparing to ride it tomorrow. A problem today is that many students who never used computers before have trouble keeping up in certain areas. While doing research, students that are not as familiar with computers will take longer to find the information that they seek. They will have problems using computer-based tools such as search engines, computer based encyclopedias, and word processing programs. This is why it is vital that every student has a chance to learn how to utilize this amazing and powerful technology. Computers and the internet are the future. Understanding how to use these tools to their full potential will contribute to a student’s success.

By using both computers and the internet, students can improve their education which will eventually lead to success. This technology is faster, easier, and all around extremely efficient. Every student should be offered the chance to use technology. By giving students the access to computers and the internet, they become exposed to thousands of different programs, features, and opportunities. Technology is a powerful and rapidly growing resource that is an essential component for all students.