Education’s Changing Future
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Education continues to be drastically changed as a result of internet and various devices. A quarter of college students were enrolled in at least 1 online class in the fall of 2009. E-learning, or online classes, is much better to the environment along with the economy. Not only do students pay a smaller amount for their tuition, but they also save on transportation costs and materials. Bill Gates said recently in a conference in Lake Tahoe, CA that in a few years anyone should be able to locate the best lectures worldwide online, thereby rendering educational institutions obsolete.
Bill Gates has even helped sponsor Khan Academy which offers “a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.” They have over 2,100 videos online that range from simple algebra to the Vietnam War. The internet provides opportunities for any person able to invest time to learn. Money is becoming less important whereas time and access to internet are all anyone needs to learn important and important information. Although it can be quite a powerful and destructive force to society and our planet, the internet is helping bring to pass great improvements in education and instruction. There is also educational funding programs available for college students and minorities. For example, they offer African American Scholarships 2012 that help them fund their educational needs.
Now more than ever, people are in a position to lift themselves out of poverty to become influential and important in their communities. Before, you were forced to travel long distances to get access to the world’s best books and educators but now they come to you. This is why giving poorer children in 3rd world countries access to the internet has become extremely important. Eventually everyone will have the ability to get a quality education for almost no cost. During the early American colonial times, the only people that could easily get a reputable education were those that had plenty of money and power. A good deal has changed ever since then.
Together with the internet, tablets also are significantly changing the way in which we learn. Instead of big bulky textbooks students now have interactive ebooks that let them watch videos, play games and listen to audio clips. Rather than working with papers and broken pencils, students now have a chance to write, edit and send their projects all wirelessly. During the past ten years, education has changed more than during the entire twentieth century. Sadly, people are not using the new improvements in education. Everyone that has access to the internet may use these tools but not enough people understand them.
Education has a bright future, as do those who will be able to benefit from the changes that are going on. Every day people have more and more access to learning tools that will help them gain more knowledge. Sadly, the opportunities that many people have in education aren’t being taken advantage of. Classes online unquestionably are the future of education, not just because they’re environmentally and economically friendly but also since they give their students flexibility.