Kids relying on the interweb for homework?

By Steve Biddle, in General, posted: 17-JAN-2007 13:33

I was reading the latest Telecom Press Release today:

http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3408&page=index

"In October last year, as part of a survey of nearly 450 ten-year-olds,
Telecom found that 57 percent used the Internet as their main source of
homework information, alongside library books at 18 percent,
encyclopaedias at nine percent and text books at four percent."

Is this a scary thought? We all know that the internet is an amazing place but as we all know not everything you read is correct. How accurate is the information that many could be relying on for their homework?

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Permalink to Kids relying on the interweb for homework? | Add a comment (2 comments) | Main Index

Comment by JAMMAN2110, on 17-JAN-2007 14:44

Isn't it all relative? and I thought they were taught that not everything is right or real..

Comment by tonyhughes, on 17-JAN-2007 15:29

Id rather rely on corroborated and cross referenced material from several sources on the internet than vy for one of 2 copies of a relevant, but old book from an underfunded school library, when 30 kids get the same assignment, and all head to the library at once to check it out.

Its like Wikipedia - sure, you dont place your entire belief in a Wikipedia article, but if that article agrees with an official website, press releases, blog posts, community forums and the 6 o'clock news, then chances are that its spot on.

I think people need to learn to be resourceful, to be able to search well, to cross reference information, to form an educated opinion about the likelihood of something being true, or if that likelihood is not high enough, to continue your research.

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Steve Biddle
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