"... a dream that became a reality and spread throughout the stars" -- Kirk (Whom Gods Destroy)

The dream was to be able to communicate to other people across great distances.  And then someone invented "The Internet".

We learned that we could produce creative ideas, writing and images with a single click on a computer.  But the real benefit of this is learning to read.  We have to be able to read to use the Internet.  There is no other way around it.

The presentation of Reading on the Internet was very interesting to me because it symbolizes multimedia and visual communications.  This is the field that I specialize in. Trying to produce high quality and effective reading lessons by utilizing the Internet is a challenge.

We also know that the Internet has no boundaries or rules in place that dictates what is placed on it.  Although it is a great tool for researching, analysis of information and acquiring ideas, it also has its detrimental effects too.

For students to utilize this tool in the correct way and to be able to receive the benefits of its vast information without also receiving some of its negative effects, we as teachers have to guide them and instruct them into the learning activities on the Internet.  And of course, not everything on the Internet is fact-based and can be misconstrued by the brightest of us.

The good thing about reading on the Internet is that it's a great resource and very appealing to our young students.  Its graphical images plays a great part in getting students to read, especially for those who are visually inclined. The videos, games, activities and lessons on the Internet can be an asset for a teacher who knows how to use it.

It is a tool that is immediately available and can be used in different ways to engage our students.  This is something that I have learned being a Computer Technology Teacher.  My students love computers, but I have to guide them into the areas that I think will help them to learn to read and write and that means not dismissing paper and pen to support what they do on the computer.

The great thing about the Internet is that it gives me the ability to tailor my students' learning into interests that appeals to them, which keeps them engage.  And since technology is our future, like it or not, our students need to be prepare to know how to use this tool in order to be successful as they transition into higher educational forums and into society.  Otherwise, we have failed at our prime directive, which is "No child left behind".

So, yes, it is a dream that became reality and spread throughout our world, but we need to know how to use it for the benefit of educating our students.


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