Student Uses of the Internet in School Research about the integration of the Internet into classroom activities points to its potential to change teaching and learning in significant ways. In particular, technology use has been associated with changes in the role of the teacher to that of coach, guide or facilitator. It enhances the curriculum through the availability of research, source documents, and access to experts from all over the world. It has shown potential for collaborative student work and inquiry-based instruction. This domain of the survey asked students to relate changes in instructional design to their access to the Internet.
Students have an opportunity to report a change, or to say that there is no change.
Students were asked to assess changes in the way they work in the classroom, but were also asked about their perception of the way their teachers work. Figure 49 compares responses by school level. Even though secondary students report the highest access to the Internet, they are the least likely of the three grade levels to report that it is a catalyst for change. Secondary students report that they work slightly more independently than elementary and secondary students. Elementary students are also more likely to believe that the Internet influences the way that their teachers work.