The internet’s harmful effects on attention

1. 
   Introduction
   

1. 
   Importance of the internet
   
2. 
   Concerns about internet use
   
3. 
   Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
   
1. 
   The internet’s harmful effects on attention
   

1. 
   Smartphone as classroom distraction
   
   1. 
      Data exploring this effect
      
   2. 
      Analysis indicating it is overstated
      
2. 
   Impatience with reading
   
   1. 
      Students’ reading levels over time
      
   2. 
      Why this data is questionable
      
1. 
   Flexibility the internet allows for
   

1. 
   Variety of media to engage different learners
   
   1. 
      Video media
      
   2. 
      Interactive media
      
2. 
   Accessible means of independent research
   
   1. 
      Speed and simplicity of online research
      
   2. 
      Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
      
1. 
   Students’ use of Wikipedia
   

1. 
   Negatives of Wikipedia
   
   1. 
      Evidence indicating its ubiquity
      
   2. 
      Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
      
2. 
   Positives of Wikipedia
   
   1. 
      Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
      
   2. 
      Argument that it introduces students to citation
      
1. 
   Conclusion
   

1. 
   Summary of key points
   
2. 
   Value of digital education for students
   
3. 
   Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet
   

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.