RFC 1578 (rfc1578) - Page 3 of 53
FYI on Questions and Answers - Answers to Commonly Asked "Primary and Secondary School Internet User" Questions
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1578 FYI Q/A - for Schools February 1994
3. Questions About the Internet in an Educational Setting
3.1 What is the Internet?
The Internet is a collection of more than 10,000 interconnected
computer networks around the world that make it possible to share
information almost instantly. The networks are owned by countless
commercial, research, governmental, and educational organizations
and individuals. The Internet allows the more than 1.5 million
computers and 10 millions users of the system to collaborate
easily and quickly through messaging, discussion groups, and
conferencing. Users are able to discover and access people and
information, distribute information, and experiment with new
technologies and services. The Internet has become a major global
infrastructure for education, research, professional learning,
public service, and business and is currently growing at the rate
of about ten percent per month.
The Internet Society serves as the international organization for
Internet cooperation and coordination. See Section 9, "Resources
and Contacts".
For a more complete basic introduction to the Internet, see FYI
20, "What is the Internet?" [2]. Instructions on retrieving FYI
documents can be found in Appendix B.
3.2 What are the benefits of using the Internet in the classroom?
The Internet expands classroom resources dramatically by making
many resources from all over the world available to students,
teachers, and media specialists, including original source
materials. It brings information, data, images, and even computer
software into the classroom from places otherwise impossible to
reach, and it does this almost instantly. Access to these
resources can yield individual and group projects, collaboration,
curriculum materials, and idea sharing not found in schools
without Internet access.
Internet access also makes contact with people all over the world
possible, bringing into the classroom experts in every content
area, new and old friends, and colleagues in education. With
access to the Internet, your site can become a valuable source of
information as well. Consider the expertise in your school which
could be shared with others around the world.
The isolation inherent in the teaching profession is well-known
among educators. By having access to colleagues in other parts of
the world, as well as to those who work outside of classrooms,
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