| The Information highway or the Internet has | | | | Internet resources. Increased involvement of |
| changed the way the world goes about doing | | | | parents in school education programs can help |
| things. It is one more point in a long continuum of | | | | address community concerns and can improve |
| inventions that is set to revolutionize lifestyles. | | | | their children's overall academic performance. If |
| One is inclined to ask, how does the ability of | | | | educators assume responsibility for helping |
| computers to talk to each other improve the | | | | students master the use of technology and |
| learning process in the classroom? How does it | | | | educating them about potential risks, students will |
| make a difference in study of epics like the | | | | become more empowered to make intelligent |
| Odyssey and the Iliad? These questions and more | | | | choices. |
| will be answered in the following passages. The | | | | Multicultural education relates to education and |
| Internet has a more pervasive effect than other | | | | instruction designed for the cultures of several |
| electronic media and is the modern engine of | | | | different races in an educational system. This |
| progress; it is the new form of thinking that will | | | | approach to teaching and learning is based upon |
| show a fresh approach to online education. | | | | consensus building, respect, and fostering cultural |
| Personal computers and the Information | | | | pluralism within racial societies. Multicultural |
| Superhighway are rapidly transforming America. | | | | education acknowledges and incorporates positive |
| Already, the Internet is making large amounts of | | | | racial idiosyncrasies into classroom atmospheres. |
| information available at unprecedented speeds. | | | | The concept of learning styles is rooted in the |
| When this revolution makes itself fully felt in | | | | classification of psychological types. The different |
| schools, teachers and students will have virtually | | | | ways of doing so are generally classified as: |
| instantaneous access to vast amounts of | | | | Concrete and abstract perceivers and Active and |
| information and a wide range of learning tools. If | | | | reflective processors. |
| we guide the information revolution wisely, these | | | | There are many academic and psychological |
| resources will be available not only to affluent | | | | issues do minority students encounter such as: |
| suburban schools but also to rural school districts | | | | low single head of household, low socioeconomic |
| and inner-city schools. Broad access can reduce | | | | status, low minority group status, limited English |
| differences in the quality of online education and | | | | proficiency, low-educational attainment of parents, |
| give children in all areas new opportunities to learn. | | | | mobility, and psychosocial factors. |
| Used well, this transforming technology can play a | | | | Not only do school programs and practices have a |
| major role in school reform. | | | | direct impact upon student success, but the |
| The new technology will enable students to | | | | school and community contexts in which these |
| acquire the skills that are essential to succeed in | | | | programs and practices occur also affect success |
| modern society. Exposure to computer | | | | rates. "Context" is comprised of numerous |
| technology in school will permit students to | | | | factors. Some contextual variables can have a |
| become familiar with the necessary tools at an | | | | positive impact upon students, while others work |
| early age. By using the technology well, they will | | | | against student success. |
| also acquire better thinking skills to help them | | | | The call for total school reform strongly suggests |
| become informed citizens and active community | | | | that existing conceptions of education are |
| members. | | | | inadequate for promoting multicultural equity. |
| The drive to integrate technology into our nation's | | | | Unfortunately, these same conceptions have |
| schools goes far beyond the Internet. If the | | | | shaped the schooling of prospective teachers. |
| Internet didn't exist, advanced technology would | | | | Their education likely has been characterized by |
| still have so many valuable educational uses | | | | tracking (the process of assigning students to |
| distance learning applications, collaborative learning, | | | | different groups, classes, or programs based on |
| and so forth that far larger investments than are | | | | measures of intelligence, achievement, or |
| being contemplated would be justified. | | | | aptitude), traditional instruction that appeals to a |
| Web resources are excellent tools for researches. | | | | narrow range of learning styles, and curricula that |
| Let's not kid ourselves, however. Even if | | | | exclude the contributions of women and people of |
| policymakers, practitioners, and parents did decide | | | | diverse cultures. Competition drives this factory |
| what their goals were and even if the research | | | | model of schooling, in which students tend to be |
| findings supported one of several configurations of | | | | viewed as products coming off an assembly line. |
| hardware and software, deciding when, how, or if | | | | Education is a fundamental human process; it is a |
| to use technology (or any other reform) in the | | | | matter of values and action. The cluster of |
| classroom is not likely to be determined solely on | | | | technologies called the Internet has the ability to |
| these bases. Many other factors--ranging from | | | | complement, to reinforce, and to enhance the |
| parental pressure to superintendents wanting to | | | | educational process. It will take the focus of |
| leave their fingerprints on the district to | | | | education from the institution to the student. The |
| technology corporations promoting their | | | | Internet has come to befriend, dwell with, and live |
| products--shape decisions to buy and allocate | | | | beyond, both, the teacher and the student. |
| technologies to schools. | | | | African wisdom says, "It takes an entire village to |
| The Internet is an incredible information resource | | | | raise a child". |
| and a powerful communication tool. The ability to | | | | My personal conclusion is that all students, |
| use new technologies is becoming a more | | | | regardless of race, ethnic group, gender, |
| important factor in career options, and the future | | | | socioeconomic status, geographic location, age, |
| success of today's students will be more affected | | | | language, or disability, deserve equitable access to |
| by their understanding of and ability to access and | | | | challenging and meaningful learning and |
| use electronic information. The increased use of | | | | achievement. This concept has profound |
| on-line services in the home by children adds to | | | | implications for teaching and learning throughout |
| the impetus for schools to take a more active | | | | the school community. It suggests that ensuring |
| role in family education regarding their use. | | | | equity and excellence must be at the core of |
| Schools have the potential to be access points | | | | systemic reform efforts in education as a whole. |
| and online educational centers for exploring | | | | |