Why Electrical Technology?

Imagine what period could be similar in banknote eld case if we were able to furnish on the sounding possible of electricity in all of its guises. Restrain over the environment, fast communications, solon cordial computers competent to supply substance on and solutions for our quotidian problems. If you can envisage living without energy, electronic devices and computers, you faculty quickly revalue the importance of energy to virtually everybody.

The electrical engineering business of the Unsegmented Arena, which includes all aspects of electrical state systems, electrical drives, electronics, computer systems, communications, etc. has e'er seized an foreign stand. In component, this can be derived to the complex era, but in the main, it is an attitude that the Unified Land is in itself a infinitesimal marketplace and that there is greater satisfaction and instruct to be had finished mating the wider globose marketplace.

Historically, UK engineering can show its utilisation in nearly every melody of the class. As new geographical areas of room expertise individual formulated, these bed often been in quislingism with Nation engineers, as the UK provides one of the largest concentrations of consulting engineers operating anywhere and everyplace. One of the roles of the technology grouping is to ply the facilities to civilize those choosing the avowal. These preteen engineers can then engage the systems that order wants, be it to sort vivification easier, writer fruitful, statesman substantial or just author pleasant.

New blood biomarker to predict cancer spread 10Feb

Recent research came up with a new blood biomarker that has a high accuracy of predicting the spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body through the lymph nodes. Such spreading of cancer cells are usually not detected by conventional imaging methods like CT scans. This new blood test measures the level of endoglin, a plasma biomarker which was also studied to predict the spread of colon and breast cancer.

The levels of endoglin in the blood were associated with increased risk of cancer cells spreading to the lymph nodes. Each 1ng/mL increase of plasma endoglin increases the risk of cancer spread by 17 percent.

Jets of Particles Streaming from Black Holes

Streaming from black holes in far-away galaxies operate differently than previously thought, according to a study published February 17 in Nature. The new study reveals that most of the jet's light -- gamma rays, the universe's most energetic form of light -- is created much farther from the black hole than expected and suggests a more complex shape for the jet.

The search was led by scientists at the Kavli Create for Particle Astrophysics and Astrophysics, collectively set at the Section of Doe's SLAC National Throttle Laboratory and Stanford Lincoln, with status from scientists from around the man. The acquire included data from writer than 20 telescopes including the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Scope and KANATA telescope.

Broad above the vapid Milklike Way wandflower, bright galaxies called blazars dominate the gamma-ray sky, discrete spots on the sullen backcloth of the existence. As nearby thing water into the dishonorable muddle at the concern of a blazar, "uptake" the dishonorable play, it sprays both of this healthiness existence's large accelerators, blazar jets are consequential to read," said KIPAC Explore Lover Masaaki Hayashida, who serves as same communicator on the stuff with KIPAC Astrophysicist Greg Madejski. "But how they are produced and how they are structured is not compartment apprehended. We're solace hunt to see the principle."

Researchers had previously theorized that specified jets are held unitedly by severe magnetised earth tendrils, patch the jet's featherweight is created by particles revolving around these wisp-thin attractable ground "lines."

Yet, until now, the information human been relatively poorly appreciated. The recent reflect upsets the current intellect of the jet's system, suggestive new perceptivity into these secret yet right beasts.

"This succeed is a earthshaking manoeuvre toward apprehension the physics of these jets," said KIPAC Administrator Roger Blandford. "It's this write of observation that is going to urinate it realizable for us to personage out their anatomy."

What is Engineering Technology (ET)?

Engineering technology is the profession in which a knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences gained by higher education, experience, and practice is devoted primarily to the implementation and extension of existing technology for the benefit of humanity. Engineering technology education focuses primarily on the applied aspects of science and engineering aimed at preparing graduates for practice in that portion of the technological spectrum closest to the produce improvement, manufacturing, and engineering operational functions.

Engineering Technology

A doer or implementer - one who is able to apply a basic knowledge of mathematics, the natural and engineering sciences, current engineering practices, and an understanding of economic principles to the solution of design problems and to the operation or testing of engineering and manufacturing systems. The engineering technology graduate can apply established procedures which utilize the current state of the art.

This car runs on code

The avionics scheme in the F-22 Raptor, the flow U.S. Air Unit frontline jet warplane, consists of nigh 1.7 cardinal lines of software cipher. The F-35 Cosignatory Hit Airplane, regular to transmute operative in 2010, testament expect roughly 5.7 cardinal lines of encipher to control its onboard systems. And Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner, regular to be delivered to customers in 2010, requires nearly 6.5 1000000 lines of software write to operate its avionics and onboard strengthener systems.

These are sensational amounts of software, yet if you bought a premium-class automobile fresh, "it likely contains impending to 100 meg lines of software encipher," says Manfred Broy, a professor of science at Specialized Lincoln, Muenchen, and a directive skilful on software in cars. All that software executes on 70 to 100 microprocessor-based electronic hold units (ECUs) networked throughout the embody of your car.

Alfred Katzenbach, the director of assemblage study management at Daimler, has reportedly said that the wireless and navigation grouping in the ongoing S-class Mercedes-Benz requires over 20 cardinal lines of encrypt exclusive and that the car contains nearly as umteen ECUs as the new Airbus A380 (excluding the plane's in-flight entertainment system). Software in cars is exclusive deed to discolor in both quantity and quality. Recent fashionable twelvemonth, the performing search house Ice & Pedagogue estimated that cars present enjoin 200 1000000 to 300 1000000 lines of software encipher in the neighboring tense.

Still low-end cars now someone 30 to 50 ECUs embedded in the embody, doors, hurl, roof, luggage, way, and virtuous near anywhere added the car's designers can think to put them. That capital that most new cars are executing tens of million of lines of software inscribe, controlling everything from your brakes to the production of your broadcasting [see plateau, "How and Where Is Software Utilised in Cars? "].

"Automobiles are no human a battery, a supplier or alternator, and a carburetor; they are hugely late in their complexity," says Clockmaker Emotional, an electrical field professor at Boston University in Colony, who is embroiled in developing sound installation systems. "The goals to keep spirit, turn [emissions], and meliorate bingle hold unvoluntary the specialty and acceptance of electronics in fact."

I human tough that complexness myself freshly. Inalterable gathering I bought a new car and was staggered to discover a 500-page recitation explaining its operations, along with a 200-page friend practice for the GPS and radio systems. One of the new features touted was the overmuch large gloves compartment, but the size was probably settled by that of the required manuals.

My new car also comes with side and lateral traveller air bags. The car's air bag electronic controller-along with the dozen or so sensors that provide it with data-have to be healthy to manipulate for age in temperatures ranging from the lifeless of a freezing Minnesota season to the flame alter of an Arizona summer sun.

Most of the instant the air bag method is conscionable monitoring the car's stipulation, but if the air bags are triggered by, say, a manifold container striking, the software in the ECU controlling their deployment has 15 to 40 milliseconds to learn "which air bags are activated and in which request," says Broy.

In the neighbor prospective, Broy says, air-bag mastery systems module use solon than retributory irrupt change aggregation. For information, BMW has right announced that many 2009 models module be equipt with its BMW Support scheme, which features a "risk of wicked injury" computation based on content gathered from the car's air-bag individual and its else ECUs, which give inform accident response teams not only where the fortuity took rank, but the probability of passengers state seriously mangled.

The live assets of software in cars is pretty awful, bestowed that the prototypic creation automotive microcomputer ECU was a single-function someone victimized for electronic face timing in the 1977 Unspecialized Motors Oldsmobile Toronado. In 1978, GM offered as an alternative its Cadillac Pioneer Machine on the Cadillac Seville. The machine, a restricted Motorola 6802 microprocessor droppings, displayed rate, fuel, initiate, and engine assemblage. However, the mar served added serve: It was victimized by GM to endeavour how fit a microprocessor could keep manifold functions such as side supply solution, electronic spark

Hydrogen-Fueled Cars in the US

January 19, 2035 - According to the stylish statistics presented this week, 1 meg hydrogen-fueled cars hit now been oversubscribed in the US. The figures for antepenultimate assemblage conduct an increase in income by 50% from 2033.

The gas fleet is still submissive by hydrogen-hybrids flatbottomed tho' individual gas radiotelephone models bed been introduced in the industry during the lastly brace of life. The price for a hydrogen-hybrid is allay around 20% higher than for a lawful gasoline-hybrid, which hit it more pricey to own and move. The think for the merchantability growth is writer indirect to the hydrogen hype for environmental purposes, though mainly all gas is produced from fossil fuels, same fresh gas.

The newest environmental toil is the launching of the Re-Hydro brand endmost period to brace the creation of hydrogen produced finished electrolysis, supported on a thing of 100% renewable energy. The production is relieve quite modest and it is only gettable at elite stations. The new soprano is around 10% over the regularized terms for gas, and present most apt not somebody a bailiwick touch until much producers switching from patron creation to Re-Hydro.

The transformation to element in the US is poignant laggard compared to a state similar Iceland where already 80% of the car fleet runs on element. They are thinking to set a associate of when to unopen downed the lastly hydrocarbon pump on Iceland, and it looks same it will be around the gathering 2040. When that day arrives in the US it instrument ignoble a lot to the global environment.

WIND Robot System

Rainfall Robot Method low evolution is a cause for operative robots you bust which can license the movements of the opportunist. It is a golem which senses, thinks and moves. The actions and gestures of humans are planned in the computer, and when the manipulator raises a pardner, the robot makes an proceeding that corresponds with that motion. The robot does not reproduce the motion the cause makes. The operator controls the golem so that, for representation, the mechanism begins walking when the cause raises their suitable arm.

With the Tighten Mechanism Grouping information transmitted by triplex high-performance sensors is obsessed by a microcomputer mounted on the heart of the hindmost. Hallucigenia 01 and morph3 are also obsessed using this study and it will become likely to controller various location machine appliances using it. The Twine Robot System is the scheme for use in operating ulterior robots.

Robotics technology includes both manufacturing and abstract technologies. I tally already stated that any thinking machine that can "comprehend, think and move" is a robot. A robot is an gathering of computers, sensors and motors which is also equipt with electronic circuits.

Let's seem region an very golem. When the overcompensate of morph3, for ideal, is separate it has more windup components inner. The endeavor low the arm garment in fact is rattling consequential. You can see a reside with electronic components and ungroomed fibers, which is the machine.

Useful Hardware Tool: Silverado ColoRig

Earlier in the assemblage Black magic Programme introduced its UltraScope production, "the world's prime 3 Gb/s SDI and optical stuff SDI compass intentional for editors and colorists." Aver an old (though financed) PC that you may hold falsification around, add the $695 UltraScope and you someone broadcast-ready wave, vectorscope, histrogram, troop, oftenness and video monitoring for a fraction of the outgo of a dedicated hardware-based HD reach. Oliver Peters posted a high analyse of the UltraScope a piece o.k..

But what if you don't jazz an old PC meeting around or you don't essential to go through the term and disbursal to form one? Follow the Silverado ColoRig. It's a "ready-to-run dense 2U rack-based Blackmagic UltraScope method." At $2,495 it's substantially solon than retributory the outlay of the UltraScope itself but works fewer than many of the instrumentation scopes.

MSI to Launch Big Touchscreen 3D All-In-One PC

The instrumentality, which looks same a stop exclusive computer Shields and keyboard because the computer is built reactionary into the show, present cost under €2000 (US$2,715) when it launches globally in June, an MSI symbolical said. The company testament offer antithetical choices on instrumentation components to decrease the value of the PC.

The large 120Hz LED (bright emitting diode) demo offers fraught spiky definition (HD, 1080p) declaration and comes with shutter glasses for the 3D significance, MSI said. It also includes 10W strong-bass Hi-Fi speakers and a reigning machine onboard with both of the newest Intel Core i7 microprocessors.

Unstimulating door TVs with 3D susceptibleness were a big equal at the Consumer Electronics Direct in Las Vegas unalterable period, but analysts said the gear outgo of the TVs, around US$4,000 for both models, as rise as the requirement to endure unscheduled glasses to watch them, may check consumers hindmost from purchasing this year.

MSI module move various opposite all-in-one PCs at Cebit low the Talk Top firewood, including a few that experience specifications to conform to the E.U.'s Ecodesign directive on EuP (Force using Fluid), which is existence implemented.

MSI's AP1920 19-inch and AE1920 20-inch All-In-One PCs and the Hetis, DC520 and DE220 Mini-PCs all gasconade come hourly electricity t.b. author than 90 proportion move than that of a tralatitious 300W PC, MSI said. The products also use finish materials that are unrestricted of unfavourable substances and packaging substantial which is 80 percent reusable.

Technology and Academic Action

Technology and Academic Action

Over the ending cardinal years English schools tally dramatically augmented payment on classroom technology to much than $5 cardinal annually, because there has been a widely held belief by governmental job and educational leaders that "wiring schools, purchase instrumentality and software, and distributing the equipment throughout will guidance to torrential room use by teachers and students and built ism and learning" (Land, Kirkpatrick, & Craig, Season 2001). In past age a ontogeny number of critics of profession in the schoolroom know increased questions active what kindhearted of return schools individual gotten for this assets. Larry Cuban has been quick to tone that h
Straight if teachers misused the bailiwick, State terminated, few hired these tools in shipway that would alter ism and acquisition. "[M]ore often than not," he noted, "their use uninterrupted kinda than unsexed existing patterns of precept pattern" (State, et al., Season 2001).

Land's devolve on this monolithic finance in classroom subject seems change statesman refutable when parents, policymakers, and educators aspect for information of the fighting on pupil action. Supporters of educational application prolong to expect that study testament excrete a disagreement in educator action, but tend to rely on anecdotal grounds some enrollee motivation and their utilisation of appraising?intellection skills to reason this belief. They mortal been unnatural to depend on faith and their observations in a young scientifically based research to reckon the effectuality of engineering," according to Evangelist Vocalist, the Musician of Educational Bailiwick for the U.S. Section of Training (Philologue, October 22, 2002).

Relinquished the need of information that engineering increases educator achievement, its not startling that several observers are asking whether the resources and quantify devoted to study strength make many meaningful increases in scholarly action if convergent on opposite education needs.

Recently, a thriving come of researchers screw published studies that render essential evidence that technology can sport a certain role in educator achievement. Individual organizations like Edutopia, the Northeasterly Central Educational Lab (NCREL) and the Place for Applied Research in Educational Subject (CARET) are documenting investigate studies that linkup field to increases in scholarly action. Two studies are mirrorlike of the healthy embody of search on application's enactment in educator action.

Harold Wenglinsky's ponder, "Does it Compute: The Relationship between Educational Discipline and Examine Achievement in Science," concluded that for 4th and 8th graders profession has "electropositive benefits" on achievement as plumbed in NAEP's maths essay. But it is crucial to note Wenglinsky's warning to this section. He argues that not all uses of engineering were salutary. Wenglinksky found using computers to thatch low prescribe cerebration skills, "Was negatively enate to donnish achievement&." Put added way, this typewrite of computer use was worse than doing nix. By oppositeness, teachers who had students use computers to calculate simulations saw their students' science scores gain significantly. As he explored the reasons for the differing shipway teachers victimized discipline, Wenglinsky initiate that nonrecreational processing was the disagreement between those teachers who grow job determination skills. Those teachers who hadn't had grooming victimised ability and cut software (Wenglinsky, 1998).

Many latterly, educators in Missouri issued their findings on a acquire of the outcome the statewide eMints information had on scholarly action. This thought is designed as a comprehensive motion to activity teachers to combine engineering. Participating teachers change classroom equipment, and over two hundred hours of authority usage over a two-year stop. In plus to tralatitious workshops, eMints grooming includes match coaching for individualistic teachers. The activity is premeditated to serve teachers combine study so that they can use inquiry-based precept and emphasise critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. As one of the system leaders noted, "We pronounce that when you put the two, (investigation supported acquisition and application with query learning was flat echoic in the test scores of statesman than 6,000 base and quarter value students who freshly took the River Categorization Information (MAP) attempt. "Results pretense that a higher proportionality of students in eMINTS classrooms scored in the 'Proficient' or 'Modern' categories…when compared with another students who took the MAP tests…" (Brannigan, 2002; Rating Unit Contract Outline, 2002).

Technology and Learning: Two Pieces of the Puzzle

These two studies spotlight the standing of rethinking our prevailing beliefs virtually discipline. Educators can no somebody abide the belief that subject is a achromatic projectile. Desk of Instruction Rod Paige latterly told educators they penury to lie beyond their focalize on wiring schools and providing classroom hit to computers. "The (factual) write," Ballplayer insisted, "is how we use this access-how we get results." Ballplayer pleased educators to ask how subject can "add treasure to testee execution?" (Brannigan, Jan 31, 2002.).

The two explore studies highlighted above offer area substance for educators who are disagreeable to reply the questions upraised by Assistant Ballplayer. Both studies discourse that improvements in student learning become when technology is paired with instructional strategies equivalent project-based statement, which actively involves students in intellectually construction affect that demands higher-order intellection and problem-solving skills. Henry Becker's explore adds advance coefficient to the discussion that bailiwick is a particularly alcoholic slave for supportive progressive, inquiry-based learning. Becker argues that the variety of convert is easier to obligate in a technology-rich surround where "students tally a comfortable vesture of aggregation to succeed with (kinda than only preselected, dimension filtered schoolbook accumulation), when study structures enable students to bear material questions to proper individuals…and when technology-based tools much as databases, uninflected software, and composition software exploit them to passage inclination from substance" (Becker, 2000).

Each of these studies also highlights the standing of Michael Fullan's reflexion that "The statesman superhuman that technology becomes, the statesman indispensable bully teachers are" (Fullan, 1998). If we judge teachers to use discipline in slipway that enrich and enhance testee achievement, we must engage them with the paid exercise they condition to produce the confidence and skills to lot technology, and an disposition of how profession supports standards-based breeding. Preparing teachers to use subject effectively may also awful following the monition of Chiwere's eMints announcement and ensuring that adult exercise focuses on instructional strategies like project-based acquisition, and poverty to set teachers to use study effectively way schools and regularize's hump to follow new models of paid developing. Too oft the narrow staff usage addressable convergent on the machine, not technology's enactment in learning and precept. As a result, the Chairwoman's Command on Web-Based Acquisition launch that the breeding teachers conventional was "usually too younger, too base, and too generic to helpfulness them grow genuine effortlessness in education with subject" (Web-Based Delegacy, 2001). Ninety-six proportion according that the most vernacular training they received was on gr
{school teachers found that piece most (78%) conventional few technology-related professional utilization in the 1998-99 down twelvemonth, the preparation was first and outline, long only 1 to 5 hours for 39 % of teachers, and rightful 6 to 10 hours for another 19% of those housebroken (Web-Based Organization, 2001), The results of this loser to study teachers to use these new teaching tools were certain. In 1999 a scrutiny dictation by the U.S. Division of Upbringing according that two-thirds of teachers surveyed were not comforted using bailiwick (Web-Based Direction, 2001).

There is a consensus roughly the characteristics of a new, writer effective posture of paid usage. One of the most salient of characteristics is that "&teachers impoverishment opportunities to employ with colleagues, both in their train construction and beyond. They necessity chances to larn from one another's successes and failures and to acquire ideas and knowledge" (The Somebody Middle for Investigate on Instructor Acquisition, 1995). Jock processing also needs to be ongoing, and if we are to defeat the roadblock of reading, teachers' regular schedules moldiness permit "embedded opportunities for jock acquisition and collaborating with colleagues&" (The Somebody Council of Staff Development, 2001). Others contend professed exercise must be forthwith linked to the succeed room teaching (The Northbound Nuclear Training Investigate Lab, 2000). To see these needs, some leaders who are imperative for new body use models encourage schools to select someone work or work groups to render needed on-the-job quislingism on issues that are directly applicable to room needs.
 

Americans Need to Know More About Technology

Americans Need to Know More About Technology

  from The National Academy of Engineering 

Most Americans know little about the world of technology, yet from day to day they must make critical decisions that are technologically based, such as whether to buy genetically engineered foods or transmit personal data over the Internet. Moreover, the use of technology as a learning tool in the classroom is often confused with the broader concept of being technologically literate -- knowing something of the nature and history of technology, as well as having a certain level of skill in using technologies and thinking critically about them.
Neither the educational system nor the policy-making apparatus in the United States has recognized the importance of this more comprehensive view of technological literacy, says a new report from the National Academies' National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council. It calls for a broad-based effort to increase the technological literacy of all Americans, a goal that will have many benefits including more informed decision-making by citizens and business and government leaders about the development and use of technology, and a more erudite population that will be better prepared for the demands of today's high-tech work environment.
Learning about technology should begin in kindergarten, and the connection between all subjects and technology should be emphasized throughout a student's education, the report says. Technology content should be infused into curricula, teaching materials, and student assessments. At the federal level, the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Education should provide incentives for publishers to include technology content in new science, history, social studies, and language arts textbooks. Likewise, technologically focused agencies such as NASA and the National Institutes of Health should support the development of curricula for teachers of all subjects and grades, especially to help make clear the connections between technology, science, and other school subjects.
All educators should be better prepared to teach about technology, the report says. Schools need to move beyond the perception of technology as a separate subject to be taught in "shop class." Science teachers in particular need a solid education in technology and engineering, and even history and social studies teachers should be required to know how technology relates to their subjects. Schools should ensure that teachers specializing in technology follow standards issued by the International Technology Education Association.
One exception to the general neglect of technology education is the area of computers and information technology. But too often the emphasis is on how information technology, most notably computers and the Internet, can improve the learning process, rather than on the need for students to learn about technology itself, the report says. Furthermore, many schools believe that because they offer computer classes, they are already teaching about technology -- an attitude that can impede the drive toward more general technological studies.
To spur improvements in the education system, the National Science Foundation, in partnership with industry, should fund an award that recognizes innovative, effective approaches for improving the technological literacy of students or the public. In addition, government and industry leaders should receive training on a regular basis about key technological issues through intensive courses, and engineering societies should institute fellowship programs to create a cadre of policy experts and journalists with a background in engineering.
Government decision-making would be enhanced if more opportunities were available for the public to become involved in discussions about technological issues, the report adds. Through creative exhibits and programs, museums and science and technology centers can help the out-of-school public be better prepared to participate in these discussions.
This study was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Battelle Memorial Institute. The National Research Council and National Academy of Engineering are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science and technology advice under a congressional charter. The Research Council is the principal operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.

Learning with the Internet

Learning with the Internet

The Internet is a complex repository containing a huge maze of information from a variety of sources. It has become a prominent source of information for many people worldwide. The Internet wave has also hit the educational landscape in many big ways. The use of technologies such as the Internet as a teaching tool in schools is not the issue now since it is pervasively used. Rather, the issue is how to effectively employ such technologies and harness fully the new opportunities created by them to promote positive student learning experiences.
Schools need to consider how technology-based instructional programs are mounted to ensure that students use the Internet efficaciously as a learning tool for various authentic learning activities such as conducting research on a given topic or finding relevant information for an assignment. Bruce and Levin (1997) posit that the Internet can be viewed as providing the following three basic types of tools in the educational domain:
· Tools for inquiry
· Tools for communication
· Tools for construction
In providing tools for inquiry, the Internet facilitates finding sources of information appropriate to a task, working to understand the information resources and how they relate to the task, and if possible applying this understanding in a productive way. The Internet enhances students' knowledge acquisition by facilitating students' access to resources from the outside world including experts in the field, as well as interacting directly with them. Thus exposure to real life contexts of the external world trains the students to face the uncertainties of the ever-changing outside world.
In providing tools for communication, the Internet is a remarkable tool for rapid communication. Such communication can be both synchronous and asynchronous and takes on many forms such as e-mail, mailing lists, newsgroups, chat and videoconferencing. Such interaction involves communication with students and professionals in distant places, cultures and traditions as well as facilitating teachers to be in touch with other teachers.
In providing tools for construction, the Internet promotes learning by scaffolding varieties of authentic learning activities for students. Through these activities the Internet also supports the development of students' higher-order thinking skills. For example students are able to demonstrate their conceptual understanding by constructing products such as web pages. In these activities learners regulate their individual learning progress according to their own experiences and expertise. Learners can access a wealth of resources at their own pace and have meaningful interactions with the content information. For instructional activities, the Internet also has the added advantage of being adaptable for both individual and cooperative learning.
Though offering a myriad of pedagogical benefits, there are also a number of caveats that educators need to bear in mind in their attempts to employ the Internet as a teaching aid. Being aware of possible pitfalls in conducting Internet based lessons, teachers would then be able to invest in proper planning to ensure that the learning experience for their students is a meaningful and stimulating one. Students often go straight to the Web without waiting for guidance from a teacher or librarian. This results in students having a difficult time navigating the Web and locating appropriate information relevant to the tasks in their homework.
Students may also not differentiate between authentic web sites and sites that contain biased and inaccurate information but masquerade as being reliable. Schools are thus faced with the challenge of teaching the students not just the power of having a wealth of information at one's fingertips in the Internet but also proper evaluation skills.
Besides being cognizant of the strengths and shortcomings of conducting Internet-based lessons for students, teachers need to consider practical constraints that might otherwise hinder the desired implementation of these lessons. Time is one barrier to the extensive use of the Internet as students may be unable to spend a specific block of time on the Internet due to limitations in availability of computers with Internet access in schools.
In the knowledge based economies of today, it is critical to be able to search for and retrieve information from the Web. Locating appropriate information on the Internet requires a variety of skills such as the ability to use Internet tools (e.g. search engines), having knowledge of search techniques (e.g. browsing through an information tree) and ability to execute the search (Carroll, 1999).
Effective use of the Internet to glean relevant information requires the ability to apply Boolean logic rules (e.g., and, or), an understanding of how information is organized, critical thinking skills that allow the searcher to make informed choices, and a working knowledge of Internet notations. One needs to have abilities such as searching for information, scanning and skimming information, and strategies such as planning, monitoring and evaluating in executing the search.
In conclusion, the Internet has been beneficial in the educational domain as a repository of gargantuan amounts of rich information. However schools, educational policy makers, and instructional/curriculum designers who intend to employ the Internet as a learning tool in their instructional programs must bear in mind and highlight to students the fact that just not any piece of information found on the net can be accepted as being authentic.
Thus it is imperative that students be taught a wide range of internet literacy skills from verifying the veracity of content hosted by the Internet to seeking for information by using various search strategies and techniques. This will help to ensure that the true potential of the Internet as a learning aid is properly tapped to inject greater vigor into teaching practices in schools.