The Internet & School (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
Some today argue that schools are no longer necessary because children can learn so much
from the internet and be educated at home.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
There are some today who would argue that the internet has sufficiently supplanted the role of
traditional education so as to make it redundant. In my opinion, though the internet opens up
possibilities for learning, schools are a crucial filter.
What separates the internet from how other advances in technology have impacted education
is greater accessibility to information. It is no exaggeration to claim that nearly everything can
be found on the internet. School age children can access educational videos on YouTube, read
online articles and use interactive learning platforms. As they get older, the possibilities expand
and include scholarly articles, video-conferencing platforms like Zoom, and online newspapers
from every country in the world that can be translated to your native language in modern
internet browsers. There is immense potential for autodidacts and parents who choose to
homeschool.
Nonetheless, schools are the real world editors of the internet. A lot of news is thrown up
instantly and not carefully vetted. This means that students can get led into dark corners such
as alt-left and right websites that specialise in sensationalised propaganda. Children and teens
are especially susceptible to what they read online as they might be less skeptical. Teachers
have more life experience and their training helps them approach information critically. They
can then pass these skills on to their pupils by teaching them how to read closely, spot biases,
and check information through a number of primary and secondary sources. Without teachers,
students are more likely to be indoctrinated rather than educated.
In conclusion, teachers are important to dispel the inherent risks of unreliable online
information. Schools and administrators ought to take a long-view in order to assess the value
of the internet for learning.
Analysis
1. There are some today who would argue that the internet has sufficiently supplanted the role
of traditional education so as to make it redundant. 2. In my opinion, though the internet opens
up possibilities for learning, schools are a crucial filter.
1.
I paraphrase the question to start.
2.
Then I include a clear opinion.
1. What separates the internet from how other advances in technology have impacted
education is greater accessibility to information. 2. It is no exaggeration to claim that nearly
everything can be found on the internet. 3. School age children can access educational videos
on YouTube, read online articles and use interactive learning platforms. 4. As they get older, the
possibilities expand and include scholarly articles, video-conferencing platforms like Zoom, and
online newspapers from every country in the world that can be translated to your native
language in modern internet browsers. 5. There is immense potential for autodidacts and
parents who choose to homeschool.
1.
This is my topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end of it.
2.
I explain my main idea next.
3.
After that I give some specific examples.
4.
I continue with more examples as children get older.
5.
Finally I conclude by drawing a conclusion from this.
1. Nonetheless, schools are the real world editors of the internet. 2. A lot of news is thrown up
instantly and not carefully vetted. 3. This means that students can get led into dark corners
such as alt-left and right websites that specialise in sensationalised propaganda. 4. Children
and teens are especially susceptible to what they read online as they might be less
skeptical. 5. Teachers have more life experience and their training helps them approach
information critically. 6. They can then pass these skills on to their pupils by teaching them how
to read closely, spot biases, and check information through a number of primary and
secondary sources. 7. Without teachers, students are more likely to be indoctrinated rather
than educated.
1.
Another topic sentence with a single main idea at the end.
2.
I start explaining my argument.
3.
Notice the very specific examples of the results.
4.
I continue to develop the same argument.
5.
By related this back to teachers, I make my argument stronger.
6.
I fully draw out the results here.
7.
Notice this paragraph is longer – that’s fine because this is the side that I agree with.
1. In conclusion, teachers are important to dispel the inherent risks of unreliable online
information. 2. Schools and administrators ought to take a long-view in order to assess the
value of the internet for learning.
1.
My conclusion starts with repeating my opinion.
2.
I finish with a final detail/thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
There are some today who would argue that the internet has sufficiently supplanted the role of
traditional education so as to make it redundant. In my opinion, though the internet opens up
possibilities for learning, schools are a crucial filter.
What separates the internet from how other advances in technology have impacted education
is greater accessibility to information. It is no exaggeration to claim that nearly everything can
be found on the internet. School age children can access educational videos on YouTube, read
online articles and use interactive learning platforms. As they get older, the
possibilities expand and include scholarly articles, video-conferencing platforms like Zoom, and
online newspapers from every country in the world that can be translated to your native
language in modern internet browsers. There is immense potential for autodidacts and parents
who choose to homeschool.
Nonetheless, schools are the real world editors of the internet. A lot of news is thrown up
instantly and not carefully vetted. This means that students can get led into dark corners such
as alt-left and right websites that specialise in sensationalised propaganda. Children and teens
are especially susceptible to what they read online as they might be less skeptical. Teachers
have more life experience and their training helps them approach information critically. They
can then pass these skills on to their pupils by teaching them how to read closely, spot biases,
and check information through a number of primary and secondary sources. Without teachers,
students are more likely to be indoctrinated rather than educated.
In conclusion, teachers are important to dispel the inherent risks of unreliable online
information. Schools and administrators ought to take a long-view in order to assess the value
of the internet for learning.
Answers
sufficiently supplanted replaced enough
so as to make enough to allow for
redundant not needed
opens up possibilities creates chances
crucial filter important judge
separates keeps apart from
greater accessibility more availability of
exaggeration hyperbole
claim argue
access get into
interactive learning platforms websites for learning online
expand increase
scholarly articles academic journals
video-conferencing platforms talking through video on apps
Zoom a popular video-conferencing app
native language L1
modern internet browsers Chrome, Microsoft Edge, etc.
immense potential lots of possibility
autodidacts people who teach themselves
homeschool learning at home, not school
real world editors people who shift and filter
thrown up instantly not checked
not carefully vetted not verified
dark corners dangerous areas
alt-left and right extreme liberals and conservatives
specialise focus in on
sensationalised propaganda fanatical views
especially susceptible vulnerable
skeptical questioning
life experience jaded
approach information critically take everything with a grain of salt
pass these skills on instill in others
pupils students
read closely read carefully and slowly
spot biases be able to identify the writer’s purpose
primary and secondary sources firsthand and collected books/articles
indoctrinated persuaded
dispel get rid of
inherent risks always present dangers
unreliable online information can’t be trusted
long-view long-term
assess judge
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