INTERNET

Today, the Internet is conceived as the best archive of world information that human kind has at his/her disposal. Indeed, this fact has an impact on education. Students as well as teachers have now access to a huge range of teaching materials that enhances their productivity. However, using the Internet as a source of data has some drawbacks.

            To begin with, the most important advantage of the Internet in the teaching / learning process is its large scope. Technology developments make it possible to receive an endless range of topics and information via the Internet. An infinite range of teaching materials are, thus, available for teachers to use in their classes. Lesson plans, quizzes, games and different class activities are on the Web now. Through using gateways and webrings,  teachers try to find materials designed for ELT. To expand their search, different browsers, directories and search engines are on the Net. Having a clear idea of what a teacher is looking for determines, as Dede Teeler points out, the best tool to use for any search.

            Secondly, the content of the Internet is updated regularly. Teachers are therefore acquainted with new information monthly, weekly or even daily. This topicality of the Net allows teachers to explore teacher development opportunities which are not frequently and easily available to them in any other way. Related to this is the fact that the web provides an access to its materials at any time of the day or night regardless, of course, of location. Most importantly, new publications are daily included, some of them have not yet been printed.

            Finally, another advantage of using the Web as a source of teaching materials is its personalisation. To find alternative subjects and texts that may be relevant to their students’ needs, the easiest and the cheapest way for teachers is the Internet. Textbooks, encyclopaedias and articles may be browsed in order to supply additional information to students as well as to teachers. Added to this is the fact that the Net provides an opportunity to establish links between teachers from different cities and countries, a case in point here is TESL mailing list. The rational behind is to share and exchange information.

            However, the net as a source of teaching materials has some disadvantages. For example, teachers need to adapt materials they have found. Net-based materials should be appropriate to the interests and the grade level of the students. The fact that needs a little time and sacrifice from teacher’s part.   According to Teeler and Gray ( 2000 ), patience, flexibility and lateral thinking are highly required when searching for ELT materials. A further disadvantage is the cost of the Internet. To go to cyberspaces and make photocopies for large groups of students cost a lot. But once Moroccan high schools are equipped with Internet classrooms and Xeroxing machines such problem will certainly fade away.

            In short, though it has some disadvantages, using the Internet as a source of teaching materials is rewarding. Integrating the web’s usefulness into the school curriculum will bring life again into our dull, sterile classrooms. Nevertheless, teachers should not rely uniquely on the net because it does not include everything and its sources are not all reliable.