“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin
The internet is a never-ending resource for information and knowledge. In 2020 there were an astonishing 1.78 billion websites already in existence with 800,000 being created every day.
Add to this the accessibility of the web from a smartphone, tablet, or computer for children who have grown up around technology which makes it easier to find online homework help for students and learners everywhere.
So can you use the internet for online homework help?
Here’s our advice.
The Web: Homework Resources for Students
For centuries books have been our main source of information. Libraries and bookshops were traditionally the hallowed territories for those in search of knowledge.
While these are still appreciated and most certainly have their place, the internet has become the most convenient go-to for knowledge acquisition.
What about an online tutor for homework?
In days gone by, research entailed visits to libraries, gathering of books, and pouring over them for hours. Since the birth of the internet in the early 2000’s the way we learn and research has dramatically changed. From looking up facts for an oral to providing homework resources for students, the internet has changed so much about education.
Because of this, knowledge is within the reach of everyone. Of course, this by no way means that you should accept all information as quantifiable truth. Remember that just because something is online does not make it a fact. Making the most out of what the internet has to offer means knowing how to distinguish a credible source of information, especially if you are looking for homework help online.
If your child needs help with study techniques and programmes, a private online tutor for homework could really help you. In this article, we will address the benefits of online homework help as well as how to effectively use the internet as a source of knowledge.
So with the internet playing such a huge role in the life of every student, it’s important that certain skills are adopted from an early age so that the most can be gained from them.
When it comes to online research, students need to:
- Develop the skills that can be used in their future careers.
- Adopt critical skills that will help them to distinguish facts from fiction.
- Realise the power of the internet as an effective communication tool.
- Be responsible about how to use the internet.
- Ensure that their knowledge of online practices is up to date.
Regardless of whether learners are using the internet at home or school, every student needs to understand the fundamental ethics associated with using the internet for research. One way to help a child eventually be able to do this independently is to use an online tutor for homework.
Essential Internet Controls for Children
Parents perform a major role in how children use the internet and essentially it is up to them to show them the best practices for using the internet.
Start by including controls for how your children use the web and also guide them on how to use it for research. By the time they are using it independently, they should aim to know which sites and sources are credible and accurate compared to which are not.
Teaching children how to use the internet effectively and responsibly is a big job which is why many parents combine the services of a homework helper to tackle this task.
Of course, primary school children will need more supervision than older kids, but the benefits of familiarising them properly from a young age are immense.
Once they have the tools, knowing how to use the internet for research is like riding a bike, they won’t need your help and they won’t forget what to do either!
As mentioned, it can be time-consuming in the beginning to ensure that children are using the internet effectively and responsibly. Finding a tutor who can offer online homework help will also show your children how to make the best of the internet’s homework resources for students is a good idea.
For learners who are already familiar with the internet, the option of still using website blockers and parental controls is still possible. Doing this will spare them from the plethora of unsuitable and shocking content that is found online.
Use these tools to:
- Control the type of content that can be accessed.
- Determine the types of actions that can be completed.
- Regulate how much time is spent online.
- Limit access to games and social networks.
- The option to refuse or authorise connectivity to certain websites.
Avoiding Plagiarism
Using the internet as homework resources for students can be potentially dangerous. One of these dangers is plagiarism!
It is in fact, fundamental to teach all children who use the internet about plagiarism. Unless they are taught about it, it seems easy enough to simply find the correct information and then cut and paste it, right? Wrong!
This starts with conversations and teaching about the issue of copyright as well as how to research which will become a valuable life skill for a child’s entire academic career.
An online tutor for homework who is complementing what they have learnt in their formal lessons should be well placed to also teach them about these independent study skills too.
It may be helpful to be aware that another reason why the topic of plagiarism should be introduced once homework is introduced is because as toddlers we are taught that cutting and pasting is a good way to gather information.
As children advance through their education they should begin to understand the major differences between research and plagiarism too.
Fortunately, for older children, there are many digital tools available today that include plagiarism checkers for school assignments and homework.
As a parent or homework helper, you will not be able to emphasise enough how important it is to never copy someone else’s homework or grab text from the internet to pass off as their own. Children need to learn how to research, what plagiarism is, how to avoid it and how to use the available tools correctly to complete their assignments, homework, and research.
Verifying Sources and Referencing
Using a private tutor for homework help online will give you a lot of peace of mind about a lot of things. A good homework helper will be able to teach your child how to cite references, quote other authors, and build references or bibliographies.
To summarise this point, learners should always:
- Reference an author’s ideas or opinions.
- Reference photographs and diagrams.
- Quote authors correctly.
- Follow the preferred referencing formats required by the institution or school they attend.
Avoiding plagiarism can take a few explanatory sessions and exercises to get right and it is certainly worth investing in the help of an online tutor for homework to address this issue for your child.
As a learner progresses they will learn to use quality academic sources and correctly reference their work too.
Avoiding Distractions Online
The internet is a world of information and of course, this can be good and bad. As a source of distraction for any child who is meant to be studying, the internet can be an enormous distraction.
Some websites, such as those with too many adverts and links to other content, will distract, while others simply don’t offer enough depth on a topic. As we call know, surfing the internet can be a great time waster and lead us down paths we didn’t intend to go down.
These are all reasons to try and use recommended homework resources for students. Not only that, it is essential that if your child is getting homework help online or receiving support from an in-person homework helper that they also learn skills associated with time management.
Find a Private Homework Helper or Tutor
If all of this sounds overwhelming there are plenty of private tutors who could support your child with their homework, teach them research skills as well as how to avoid plagiarism.
You could conduct various, haphazard internet searches or you could go directly to Superprof where there are tutors for every academic subject, musical instrument, art and craft skills, and even life skills.
Using Superprof will also offer you peace of mind in knowing that the credentials of tutors are verified. Not only that, you could try out the tutors who offer their first lesson for free and make sure that they are a good personality fit for your family too.
There’s no doubt that investing in private tuition is the fastest way to learn just about anything and contrary to what you may think it need not break the bank. There are tutors for everyone, every subject, and every budget.
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