|
If the Internet wasn't available, how would students e-mail their instructors and fellow classmates? If it was nonexistent, would there be an alternate source of information besides the library? The Internet has a prevailing influence in the way college students communicate and conduct research. According to The study revealed that a record low 33.4% of today’s entering freshman report studying or doing homework for six or more hours per week during their senior year in high school.
According to this data, there is a gradual decrease in the amount of students who spend 6 or more hours per week studying. It also shows an increase in the amount of students using personal computers. The study revealed that the percent of students studying less than one hour per week has nearly doubled (from 8.5 to 15.9 percent) over the past 15 years. Students use the Internet primarily for two things: as a tool for communication and as a resource for information. While older Internet users are more likely to get health information and seek material at government Web sites, younger audiences like to instant message and download music.
About 102 million Americans were e-mail users in December 2002, up 31% from 78 million in March 2000. E-mail provides a forum for students to discuss issues in a class and allows them to collaborate on assignments or extensive projects. What keeps e-mail so enduring is its convenience in every busy student's life. Whether occupied with work, extracurricular activities or family, e-mail is a portal of communication through which anyone can utilize at any time of the day. E-mail even comes in handy for those applying to remote schools, especially overseas. In these cases, time and contact is specific. E-mail doesn't replace, but can enhance the communication process.
Dr. Anthony J. Ferri of UNLV’s Hank Greenspun School of Communication said, “The availability of the Internet is so pervasive that it is difficult not to surf when doing other things. Think of it, you’re working on a term paper on a computer using Word or Wordperfect and you can also go on the Internet on this same computer while working on the paper.”
“This generation of students have been raised on the Internet and probably will perceive it as a normal routine to be done along with brushing your teeth in the morning,” said Ferri. “I would suggest that all generations have not adopted that orientation, but for this college generation the Internet is always there, always part of their daily routine.” “As I was part of the first television generation, college students of today are part of the cyber culture,” Ferri said. “Adjustments will be needed for both groups, students and faculty, in order to communicate with each other.”
|
Visit the Web site of UCLA's research institute that conducted this study:
Read what the National Conference of State Legislatures has to say about:
Read interesting facts about the Internet:
See how the Internet has contributed to an increase in plagiarism:
A similar study shows Internet users rely on e-mail as their communication tool of choice. More than 9 in 10 online Americans have sent or read e-mail. The study's data also reveals that over half of all Internet users have done research for school.
|
||||||||||||||
Lengsavath said she uses the Internet four to five days a week. And while she studies more than four to five days a week, Lengsavath said she doesn’t spend as much time studying than being on the Internet.
The percentage of freshman indicating they used the Internet for research and homework during their last year in high school increased from 74.5 percent in 2001 to 78.4 percent in 2002.