IMPLICATIONS OF EXPOSING CHILDREN TO INTERNET EDUCATION
The internet has completely altered the ways in which people acquire and use knowledge. Because to the proliferation of online learning opportunities, today’s kids have access to a variety of information that was previously out of reach. Concerns concerning the hazards and detrimental consequences of children’s development have been voiced in response to this trend toward online education.
There is a risk that youngsters will spend more time in front of screens if they have access to educational materials on the internet. Child obesity, disturbed sleep patterns, and a decline in social skills are just some of the negative outcomes linked to too much time spent in front of screens. In addition, kids may struggle to concentrate and remember lessons because of the internet’s continual stimulus and diversions.
The risk of being exposed to offensive material is another issue of worry. While there is a wealth of useful information available online, there is also a great deal that is damaging or otherwise improper. Children are at danger of mental and bodily harm if they are exposed to this information either by chance or because it is actively sought out by cyber predators.
In addition, there is concern that educational disparities would widen as a result of learning online. In the transition to online education, children from low-income homes or those without access to consistent internet may be left behind. This has the potential to further marginalize these kids and deepen the divide between them and their peers.
Despite these caveats, online education has the ability to provide kids new and exciting ways to study. Access to experts and information from all over the world is only one of the many benefits of using online resources that can be adapted to each learner’s unique needs and interests. Education online can also help kids acquire the vital digital literacy skills they’ll need to succeed in the modern world.
In conclusion, the effects of introducing youngsters to online education are nuanced and far-reaching. There might be drawbacks and adverse impacts, but there could also be exciting and novel educational possibilities. Parents, teachers, and lawmakers need to think carefully about these ramifications and work together to make school a positive experience for all kids. An excessive amount of screen time has been linked to deleterious impacts on children’s physical and mental health, according to research published in 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In the realm of child development, there is widespread worry about the possibility of exposure to unsuitable information (Livingstone & Haddon, 2009). There is growing evidence that pupils from low- and high-income backgrounds have different levels of academic success (Reardon, 2013). Today, the ability to read and write digitally is highly sought after (Warschauer & Matuchniak, 2010).
REFERENCES
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and young minds. Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162591.
Livingstone, S., & Haddon, L. (2009). EU Kids Online: Final report. London: EU Kids Online.
Reardon, S. F. (2013). The widening academic achievement gap between the rich and the poor: New evidence and possible explanations. In G. J. Duncan & R. J. Murnane (Eds.), Whither opportunity? Rising inequality, schools, and children’s life chances (pp. 91-116). New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Warschauer, M., & Matuchniak, T. (2010). New technology and digital worlds: Analyzing evidence of equity in access, use, and outcomes. Review of Research in Education, 34(1), 179-225.
