Danielle Redding

Article Review

Van Horn, Royal. (2003). Internet-Savvy Students. Phi Delta Kappan, 84(5), 343-344.

The primary objective of this article was to illustrate the number of middle and high school students that use the internet and five metaphors based on how students believe the internet can be used.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project study found that approximately 78% of students between 12 and 17 use the internet with about 30-40% falling in the internet-savvy category. When asked how students perceived use of the internet the answer fell into five metaphors; (1) “The internet as virtual textbook and reference library,” (2) “The internet as virtual tutor and study shortcut,” (3) “The internet as virtual study group,” (4) “The internet as virtual guidance counselor,” and (5) “The internet as virtual locker, backpack, and notebook.” Of these students surveyed, most declared that while their school had computer and internet, most used more frequently outside of school. They declared the reasons for this to be restrictive policies, not enough time in the day, filtering software, and teachers who do not have internet at home.

In conclusion, students do want to use the internet in the classroom setting but want more coordination between outside and inside the classroom, and less restriction on material that can be used in an educational manner.

My first thought of this article is that the statistics are probably out to date. I believe that more students today are using the internet, but much in the same way as stated above. And I think that the statistic could be even higher, but some students who are not “internet-savvy” need to be taught that the internet is not to be feared but explored. I understand that not all students will have internet access outside of the classroom, but if more time is taken to explain the uses of the internet and more time is devoted to use in the classroom, students will be more prone to finding where and how they to can use the internet.