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NEXT GENERATION SET TO FIND KNOWLEDGE ON THE NET
Added: (Tue May 28 2002)
Parents place confidence in the web to raise children's intellect
Nearly half of all parents feel that the Internet is just as important as traditional resources for their child's learning.
Research from BTopenworld shows that 48 per cent of parents think that the Internet is now as useful as books for their child's intellectual development. 45 per cent consider it more useful than television. Many parents are also looking to the web for advice. 38 per cent of parents actively seek tips from the Internet to help them raise their children.
The research, carried out on Internet users by BMRB on behalf of BTopenworld, polled 549 parents with children aged one to five years. Only a fifth of those surveyed didn't consider the web an important educational resource. The results demonstrate how the Internet has matured into a valuable, credible and interactive learning tool, as well as a key reference point for help with everyday issues.
Those in higher education also rely on the web to get them through college. 94 per cent of 179 university students polled use the Internet to research assignments and more than half believe they would find it difficult to get a degree without it.
Duncan Ingram, senior vice-president of BTopenworld said: "Our research reveals that the Internet is fast overtaking more traditional methods of learning. Students have been using the Net as a primary research tool for some time. Now parents are also turning to the web to help their younger children with schoolwork, and are themselves relying on the Net to provide valuable advice on parenting. As broadband takes off, content gets richer and resources become more interactive, I'm confident that the web will become an indispensable learning tool in most households."