"How to Survive the Internet With Your Kids"  by Marty W. Stewart

The layout and design of Web pages are very simple in nature and the ease of use of a computer mouse while navigating through the pages makes mastering the system easy for children.  Kids can master the computer mouse long before they are able to type, and this allows them to be comfortable with accessing the information available on the Internet.

Children enjoy the non-linear approach to absorbing the information. Unlike school textbooks and other traditional educational resources, a child may click through the hot links of an Internet Web page in the order he/she chooses. This user control attracts children to the process and thus allows the intake of the information to remain managed by them.

The textbooks and other learning materials most traditional school systems use are very "linear" in nature, as students are taught lessons in particular order. Children are trained through the schools to problem-solve by using information in a linear sequence. The set-up of the resources offered by the

Internet may follow this pattern, too, but also offers so much more. Users may click through the links of information in any order they choose.

Children also may benefit from setting their own pace when using the Internet as an educational resource. The educational online content is set-up to be used by students with no built-in time limit or deadline (unless the user prefers it that way).

Most fascinating to children, though, is the interactivity of the Internet and the interactive qualities of the educational resources online. As a choice is being made by a user to click the computer mouse on  a Web page "hot link", the user begins an interactive exchange that can be brief or extended. Each time a user logs onto the Internet, the experience can be different and varied. Different users have different experiences while gathering similar information in this type of interactive environment. Learning tools no longer consist of just words and some pictures, but now also include more graphics, animation, video and sound. Children are drawn to the multimedia content.

Copyright © 1999 Marty W. Stewart All rights reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, distributing, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Inquiries should be addressed to: Marty W. Stewart P O Box 1083 Blue Bell, PA  19422 Marty@ResponsibleKids.net

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