Research Papers and The Internet

English, like many subjects, is a subject full of several components. One of the most difficult to teach, in my opinion, is a research paper. Not only do you have to teach students how to research, but you must teach them what is valid and credible research and how to cite that research properly. Because of the internet, this task has become increasingly difficult. Years ago, in order to conduct research, students had to enter the library search for books and then read those books thoroughly. The internet has changed that for better and worse. 

On the bright side, the internet has made research quicker and much easier. Having to scour the library for what feels like hours is a task many students dread. It becomes a task that is slow and tedious, and often times unsuccessful for students. However, doing research on the computer is something the students don’t necessarily mind doing. They are able to use technology and that is always appealing to students. It also provides instant gratification. They don’t have to spend a large portion of their time looking for the source therefor it allows the students more time to read the information they have found. 

Unfortunately, those same qualities that make the internet so helpful often harm the research process. While quick and easy both seem like qualities we look for, when it comes to the learning process, they are things we should steer away from. Being able to find information with the click of a button does not teach students how to research and make connections; google does it for them. Wikipedia, while it can be helpful to quickly find the answer to a simple question, has now become what students rely on. The problem with that is simple: wikipedia is often wrong. And while the student may have conducted research properly the information they are learning is incorrect. This ultimately defeats the point of a research paper. 

Again the technology causes problems for research papers because the functions of a computer allow for shortcuts. Features like “cut and paste” and “find” have become essential for students. Instead of reading an entire article a student will use the “find” shortcut, type in a simple word or phrase they are looking for, and only read that information. While this makes things much easier and more simple for most, it does not allow the student to really research. “Cut and paste” is clearly an issue in plagiarism. Instead of putting the information in their own words and citing the source, students copy and paste information and forget to cite the source. Even when a student does not realize they are plagiarizing “cut and paste” makes it much easier to make this mistake.  

       Ultimately, the internet has been a great discovery that has helped most people in ways we could never have imagined. However, it has also provided us with an overwhelming distraction and and easy way to slack off. While I do believe it should be utilized in the classroom and at home, I also believe its use should be limited to keep students in touch with printed literature and materials and to show them that hard work pays off.

Technology Autobiography

       

             Communications technologies are something each and every one of us use in our daily lives. Often we take these things for granted; never realizing the benefits or drawbacks it offers. Because of the large variety of communications technologies I use ever day, coming up with the three that most influenced my life was a small challenge. Eventually I came to the conclusion that my smart phone, laptop and webcam have seriously changed the way I learn new information. Before I owned any of these items obtaining new information was not as easy or as effective.

A smart phone is a device that pieces together several different types of communications technologies and makes them easily accessible all in one place. Here I can access my email, answer my phone calls, check the weather and even quickly google the answer to a question using the internet application. All of these things make communicating and learning new information effortless. I never leave my house without my phone and, honestly, when I do I feel anxious. This is where I feel my phone has shaped me negatively. Having all of the information at my fingertips is great, but the second I do not have it, I feel uncomfortable. Likewise, being able to find the answer to every question I have hinders me from strengthening my own problem solving skills.

Much like a smart phone, my laptop provides me with several different ways to access and use information. While it is not as mobile as a phone, it is still accessible very often. Being able to use instant messaging and email is a serious help when trying to communicate to several people at once. I use my laptop to access Skype and Facebook Messenger when trying to work on group projects for school and work. It is quicker than calling each person in the group or trying to find a time and day that works for everyone to meet. It has made projects like this much more innovative by allowing us to use programs like PowerPoint to convey the information. However, my laptop also poses a great distraction from the real world and my responsibilities. Often times, even when I know I have a lot of work to do, I choose to talk to my friends on social networking or play solitaire through the app on my desktop.

Although a webcam is not something I use to find scholarly information, it has become a way for me to find out social information through my friends. I can keep in touch with friends who go to school hours away and talk with them face to face even though we aren’t in the same place. It really helps keep relationships that would normally deteriorate, strong and healthy. On the opposite side of the spectrum, webcams have become a negative topic. Instead of using them for social interaction, people are using them to record others and use it against them. Thankfully I have never encountered this myself, however, it still concerns me and worries me. 

When watching the video I noticed that all of the technology used by the young people speaking were used for not only informational purposes but for the purpose of entertainment. I also use my technology not only because it is useful but because I enjoy it. It is much easier to learn new information when it is coming from something you enjoy.   

My name is Alexandria Mattos and I am currently and English Education major at Montclair State University. As a student, English was always my favorite subject. I was fascinated by the escape reading and writing provided.  I hope to one day be able to share this escape with my future students.