How Google Is Making Us Smarter - Research Paper Example

How Google Is Making Us Smarter Introduction People have often wondered how technological innovations make children more socialized or smarter (Shirky, 3). Several researches have been carried out on this debatable topic. Obviously, the internet as well as the computer has over time led to the revolution of information technology at the current times more than at any other time in history. The world is currently more accessible and truly smaller due to technological innovations. Every aspect in the current day to day lives requires the utilization of computers either indirectly or directly, from anywhere, in the working environment, schools, home, or on the roads (Jackson, Samona, et al. 182). Although some people might say internet is dangerous for children, children can learn so much using the internet because it is easy to use and it is very knowledgeable. The advent of internet has changed the world forever because it has offered the perfect site or place for every other individual to express their opinions. There are numerous ways through which technology can be used in rapidly cutting out new neutral pathways and helping improve inventiveness in children. As the children do their school assignments with the help of more technology including paperless schools, they take in or grasp more information in a shorter time period than ever before. Internet has also provided huge and impressive socializing potential for children in the present context (Vik, 2012). The paper outlines ways through which children become more socialized or smarter because of the internet. How technology makes children smarter Learn new things These days a lot of children by the age of 2 years old will know how to operate phones, play the PlayStation 3 and work iPod. They know how to access YouTube, watch videos and later talk about what they watched. Technology gets more enhanced and children are getting smarter (Protzko, Aronson, and Blair, 29). Through the use of computer, tablet as well as Smartphone technology, children are able to learn new things spontaneously as well as in various modalities (Shirky, 3). Pat Wyman, best-selling author of Amazing Grades: 101 Best Ways to Improve Your Grades Faster, clearly maintains that the “21st century learners use all three learning modalities as they interact with technology”. As the children can learn by watching videos, reading or listening to audios, internet empowers them to learn in their best suited way and technology permits them to turn out to be better critical thinkers as they organize all the information they learn for school projects (Atlantic, 2). The curiosity of the children as well as their ability to absorb information has enabled them to understand topics or subjects that they normally would not due to increased accessibility to means of information. The children have developed online comprehension and reading skills that have made them smarter. Unlike the conventional modes of learning, for instance, books or tutorials from teachers, the information provided by the internet is unlimited. The internet technology is unlimited unlike the information that is garnered from teachers, adults and textbooks that is limited by time, cost and experience (Druin et al. 89). Research The best study resource ever developed is computer or internet. It is full of crucial information, provides boundless avenues of carrying out research and analyzing the desired results (Shirky, 3). The computer often is associated with numerous packages that are apt for students only too (special learning packages). In addition, such packages either through e-books; internet or offline programs provide backup services, for instance, the sky helpline, that aids in following up the progress of the students. Internet has enabled children to develop self-directed learning as they are able to find information regarding anything they yearn to research or learn more about online. Internet has enabled many students to clarify the lesions that they learn in class through the online educational resources. The use of internet has grown considerably over the years and many teachers usually post lessons online so that students are able to access them at any point in time (Jackson, Samona, et al. 182). Internet, a learning tool that was not normally used by the previous generations, provides a vast library of opportunities and knowledge to students. Teachers have also been encouraging them to use reputable and credible online sources in finding more information on the numerous topics and subjects. Such vast amounts of information provided by the internet have substantially increased the knowledge of the youths in various fields and disciplines and have, therefore, made them smarter (Druin et al. 89). Currently children are able to operate complex devices that provide them with everything they want to know. In addition, electronic information has enabled children to carry out self directed researches since they understand how to operate search engines. This has therefore created more opportunities for them to acquire needed data and information (Atlantic, 2). The ease with which children of this generation access information currently has allowed them to smarter than those of the previous generations, internet has let children of this generation to upgrade their learning experiences by making use of tools that were not regularly accessible to past generations. Fresh content Internet has provided the current children with new information. Traditional ways of learning only provide content based on formerly published information. Such information is stagnated and never changes with the times, it is not easily updated. However, internet is extremely dynamic and versatile in conveying vital and fresh information content because nearly all internet sites have the content of their information updated regularly (Mitra and Rana, 225). This is achieved by using regularly updated software. This has allowed new generation of students to regularly learn new information thus making them smarter. They are usually at the cutting edge of the newest and freshest information right at their fingertips. Children are able to easily find information that they cannot ask their teachers or parents or things that the library may not have (Jackson et al. 430). By just watching, the extremely curious children are able to learn more because they are kept in tune with the modern technology. It is therefore, a natural instinct to learn more as well as catching on easily. According to a study that was carried out by Linda Jackson, Michigan State University psychologist, the use of home internet has improved the standardized reading test scores. In addition, other researchers have discovered that home internet encourages kids to be more self-directed learners. This has helped in making them smarter (Valcke, Bonte, et al. 454). Tech Savvy Internet has made children of this generation to be able to fit into the society. The world is currently embracing information technology in every aspect of the community. This is very evident in economic, political as well as social sectors and this has posed great impact on today’s youth (Varnhagen, 37). The world is constantly evolving and nearly everything involves the use of computer or internet. For instance, it has provided a network to schools, businesses, governments as well as other sectors that people interact with daily. Pretty much everything is currently done online, such as shopping, banking and finding information or making inquiries. Electronic communication will continue to advance and a proper understanding of it now will be capable of creating more opportunities for the children in future (Livingstone, 150). Lacking an expertise or knowledge in the information sector would be equivalent to being unable to acquire a job in a number of companies. This makes it fundamental for all students to be knowledgeable in computing skills for them to be considered fit to work, compete fairly in a global environment and have the capacity to get promotions in their work (Chayko, Wellman, and Haythornthwaite, 728). Many children have also been seen frequently helping their elders with the use of internet because everything is electronic and being tech savvy, they can comfortably assist them. They teach their grandparents as well as parents on how to use computers and phones. Therefore, children are smarter due to the internet and how the world is evolving. Better interaction Even though it has been argued that internet limit the ability of children to socialize because they spend most time glued to their laptops or phones instead of going out to play and meet new people or hang out with each other, it has presented huge and impressive socializing potential in the present context (Mitra and Rana, 225). Being an electronic platform, internet offers instant communication as well as socializing tools like video streaming, chat services, emails and more significantly, social networking sites like MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Orkut among others. With the help of such networking sites, children are able to catch up with their current friends and make new ones as well (Jackson et al. 429). Internet therefore makes children smarter and more socialized because they can easily interact with other students through online portal as well as other sites like Skype education, here, they are able to literally interact with other students in the classrooms globally. Internet, therefore, provides immense scope for socializing for children. Internet has for sure presented children with socializing opportunities which they cannot get from mere classroom experiences. In addition, it not only fulfills their curiosity of wanting to know more about their world, but also presents it in a way that is pleasing and colorful. With the help of the internet socializing and study, children can only take few years, perhaps 2-3 years, to gain what they would otherwise taken more than 7 years to gain through classroom studies (Valcke, Bonte, et al. 454). Furthermore, internet is interactive, 24/7 thereby presenting the needed time for socializing. Better socialization skills are extremely vital for the growth of children. In addition, better skills tend to improve their self-awareness and self-esteem (Valcke et al. 1293). Several research studies have indicated that children who access to computer or internet at early ages are often very outgoing and confident when compared to their peers who have access to technology at later ages. All information is accessible in jiffy and constantly in decently organized and straightforward mode. Accordingly, it does fulfill the children’s desire for knowledge as well as the understanding of their world without the requirement for any teacher. In this manner, it is in reality a basic self learning system which could remarkably enhance their classroom learning experiences (Jackson et al. 431). Several research studies have without a doubt discovered that children who constantly use the internet in their everyday lives tend to be smarter and more sociable than their peers who do not have the opportunity to make use of such ubiquitous Internet services. Even though the use of internet makes children more sociable, their use of the internet should be monitored closely so that it is not carried far because it could have detrimental consequences to them as well. For instance, the aspect of socializing through the internet is highly susceptible to illegal activities like pornography, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and cyber bullying over the internet (Livingstone and Haddon, 314). The children’s use of internet should be closely monitored by their parents to protect them from malicious strangers since many sex offenders often use the internet to trap their victims, particularly the children who are naïve and gullible and always more than willing to socialize with unfamiliar people. This may ensure safe use of internet to socialize by safeguarding them from sex peddlers who may end up blackmailing them into submitting to their weird demands. Children should also be encouraged to balance between using internet for socializing and hanging out with friends to increase their practical experiences further. Some researches have discovered that children are often stuck on their phones, computers and any other electronic devices (Jackson et al. 430). This has greatly reduced the time they spend outside playing as well as meeting people. They should be told to get off them and go outside and hang out with each other and actually talk to each other instead of just standing around on their cell phones texting. This will enable them to have quality time with their friends as well as family for them to know more how to talk professionally because that is very crucial in the real world when they need a job. Even though internet is able to help them out slightly, it is often better for them to be extremely open minded in their interactions. It should not be all about internet, but they should see it as a privilege and utilize it only for a good cause. Conclusion Technological innovations have made children more socialized or smarter. Internet has provided children with the opportunity of learning new things in various modalities. It has increased their ability to absorb information thus enabling them to understand topics that they would not under normal circumstances. The children have developed online comprehension and reading skills that have made them smarter. Internet provides vast library knowledge to students as they able to use reputable and credible online sources to find more information on the numerous topics and subjects. In addition, internet has provided the current children with new information because it is extremely dynamic as well as versatile in conveying fresh information content as the content of their information is updated regularly unlike traditional methods of learning. Internet is for sure helpful in molding children’s conduct particularly in terms of how they relate to each other and how they react or respond to their environment. Internet offers instant communication as well as socializing tools like video streaming, chat services, emails and social networking sites like MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Orkut among others thus making children smarter and more socialized because they can easily interact with each other. Internet, therefore, influence children’s future good character as well as conduct in terms of providing and building harmonious and peaceful social conduct with their fellow children. It also abjures sexual conduct, violence and other unwanted traits in children. Internet promotes goodwill, harmony, and good social understanding among children. It therefore makes them smarter or more sociable. Work cited Atlantic, The. “How Google Is Making Us Smarter.” Discover (2009): 1–3. Print. Chayko, Mary, Barry Wellman, and Caroline Haythornthwaite. “The Internet in Everyday Life.” Contemporary Sociology 2003: 728. Web. Druin, Allison et al. “How Children Search the Internet with Keyword Interfaces.” Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children IDC 09 (2009): 89. Web. Jackson, Linda A, Alexander von Eye, et al. “Does Home Internet Use Influence the Academic Performance of Low-Income Children?” Developmental psychology 42 (2006): 429–435. Web. Jackson, Linda A, Ricky Samona, et al. “What Children Do on the Internet: Domains Visited and Their Relationship to Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Academic Performance.” Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society 10 (2007): 182–190. Web. Livingstone, Sonia. “Children’s Use of the Internet: Reflections on the Emerging Research Agenda.” New Media & Society 2003: 147–166. Web. Livingstone, Sonia, and Leslie Haddon. “Risky Experiences for Children Online: Charting European Research on Children and the Internet.” Children and Society 2008: 314–323. Web. Mitra, Sugata, and Vivek Rana. “Children and the Internet: Experiments with Minimally Invasive Education in India.” British Journal of Educational Technology 32 (2001): 221–232. Web. Protzko, J., J. Aronson, and C. Blair. “How to Make a Young Child Smarter: Evidence From the Database of Raising Intelligence.” Perspectives on Psychological Science 8 (2013): 25–40. Web. Shirky, Clay. “Does the Internet Make You Smarter?” The Wall Street Journal 2010: 3. Print. Valcke, M., S. Bonte, et al. “Internet Parenting Styles and the Impact on Internet Use of Primary School Children.” Computers & Education 2010: 454–464. Web. Valcke, M., B. De Wever, et al. “Long-Term Study of Safe Internet Use of Young Children.” Computers & Education 2011: 1292–1305. Web. Varnhagen, Connie K. “Children and the Internet.” Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Implications. N.p., 2007. 37–54. Web. Vik. “What Makes One Appear Smarter and More Sociable ?” Judg.me. N.p., 2012. 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