The Internet is rapidly changing the way we educate our children. Thousands of schools are already wired – ie. connected to the Internet, and thousands more are planning to go the same way

The present government has an initiative to get all schools online by 2005. On the flipside of this is the growing number of parents who not only choose to educate their children at home, they also use the Internet as their main teaching tool.

In the UK, there’s no law that says you must send your children to school. The only legal requirement is that parents provide their children with a suitable education, which they define as preparing children for life in modern society and enabling them to reach their full potential. Until recently, only a few hundred children were educated at home at any one time. Now, thanks to the Internet, an estimated 50,000 children in Britain are taught at home.

Focused Learning
Some would argue that the Internet is better than having a live teacher. Children get one-to-one attention which is impossible for every child, even in the best schools. In front of an interactive web page, a child learns without classroom distractions, at his or her own pace and with personalised feedback. Difficult subjects can be replayed until they're grasped, and easier subjects quickly zipped through.

In both cases, the child learns at his or her own pace.

Shared Learning
Educational psychologists tell us that children learn more when they’re able to discuss their findings with each other. Teaching by rote doesn’t work very well. Facilitating childrens’ learning does. Most schools now have classrooms that will be unfamiliar to some parents. Rows of desks have been replaced with groups of ‘work tables’ where children can share experiences and discuss their findings.

This kind of shared learning is also available on the Internet. Not only can children exchange work and ideas with children they know, they can also learn from children all over the world via global discussion groups. No school can match that.

Having Fun
Online learning is a visual and aural treat for children, and that means they can concentrate on what they enjoy, rather than feeling disheartened by lessons because of dull text books, dry presentation or a droning teacher. Teachers have to compromise in order to please all the children, whereas on the Web, instance choices and changes can be made.

If a website on mathematics doesn't stimulate your child, for instance, there’s bound to be another that will. And between tough lessons on science and history, you can instantly switch to a playtime site for word games, puzzles and quizzes all of which work as indirect teaching as well as recreation.

Drawbacks
The key drawback of using the Internet as the main teaching tool is that children can be isolated. The school playground is an important factor for children, helping them socialise and learn the rough and tumble of forming relationships and working in teams.

This can be overcome with the aid of local authorities and government initiatives. Schools could provide social and play centres for children who are being educated at home. With more parents opting to take charge of their childrens’ education, the pressure for this kind of concession from schools will increase.

After all, we live in an age where technology is changing society so rapidly that anything could happen over the next few decades. By then, there could be more children learning online at home than at school…

Find out more about educating your child at home via the Internet at Education Otherwise the organisation that provides support to parents who want their children to learn at home.