Educating for Intelligent Use of the Web: Opportunities and Challenges in Teacher Education

Although the Internet has many advantages, there is growing awareness of the dangers it poses to children and adolescents. Curricula for the safe use of the Net have recently been developed in a number of Western countries. 180 students in a teacher training college in Israel have developed and taught curricula on the intelligent use of the Web. This study examines the characteristics, advantages and shortcomings of the educational approaches used by the students. Most of the students chose balanced approaches for developing and teaching curricula on the subject, relating both to the benefits and the dangers of using the Web. Quite a few, however, chose a negative critical approach focusing on the dangers and harmful effects of the Internet. A marginal minority chose a positive approach stressing only the beneficial uses of the Web. In light of the analysis of the students' reflection questionnaires, we were able to identify those factors that assist and those that inhibit the teaching of the subject based on each of the approaches. In addition, recommendations were made for optimally adapting an approach for developing and teaching sub-topics of the curricula, while enhancing the advantages and reducing the disadvantages.