| There has been a giant leap in the amount of research | | | | 1. Create a Connection |
| that is being done by students, teachers, and research | | | | Students are using the internet and all that it has to |
| alike. While its use has increased, there is still a large | | | | offer at a continually growing rate. By utilizing online |
| majority of these groups who either prefer not to | | | | reference materials, you are able to make a |
| utilize online resources, or simply do not know how. | | | | connection with the students. This will normally increase |
| There is also a large percentage of individuals, | | | | their attention to the project as well as increase their |
| especially in the academic arena, that find online | | | | overall level of engagement. A more engaged student |
| encyclopedias unreliable. This mindset has proved to | | | | will not only work harder, but will also naturally retain |
| be an unfortunate one because online reference | | | | more of the information that they find. |
| materials are often as factually correct as their printed | | | | 2. Image Building |
| counterparts. In order to discuss the benefits of finding | | | | In order for a teacher or researcher to be taken |
| facts online, it is important to address the issue from | | | | seriously and be more respected, they must gain the |
| the standpoint of both a student as well as a teacher | | | | approval of their audience. With more people utilizing |
| researcher. | | | | the internet, a teacher or researcher will naturally |
| Student Benefits of Using an Online Encyclopedia | | | | appear that they have utilized resources that their |
| 1. Speed | | | | audience would find acceptable, thus improving their |
| It is much faster to use online encyclopedias to do | | | | image. |
| research than to spend hours in the library. When | | | | Should Online Encyclopedias and Reference Materials |
| working online, the student needs to simply find the | | | | Trusted? |
| encyclopedia of their choice and type in a search | | | | While the benefits of using online reference materials |
| phrase. From here, the student can be given a number | | | | to find important facts, whether or not they can be |
| of articles relating to the focus of their research. They | | | | trusted has been up for debate for some time. At the |
| will be able to amass a wealth of information in a | | | | core of this debate, there is one major issue; where do |
| matter of minutes. This same process can take literally | | | | online reference materials and encyclopedias get their |
| hours when using printed materials in a library. | | | | information. If they are getting their information from |
| 2. Updated Information | | | | low-quality resources, then the information is likely to |
| When using an online encyclopedia, students will | | | | be incorrect. There are many printed encyclopedias |
| receive updated information. If the facts change, these | | | | and reference materials that have been replicated |
| changes will be reflected by the online reference | | | | online, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, and are |
| materials. With printed materials this simply isn't possible. | | | | considered to be legitimate. However, the most popular |
| Once a book is printed, it cannot be changed. Many | | | | online encyclopedia, Wikipedia and similar websites, is |
| schools and libraries have encyclopedias that are five | | | | often criticized. |
| or ten years old. Students that are forced to use | | | | Since anyone can contribute to Wikipedia, many |
| these materials, may be absorbing information that has | | | | scholars argue that it is full of mistakes and inaccurate |
| been long out of date. | | | | information. The founders of Wikipedia admit that |
| 3. Depth and Breadth | | | | some of the information may be inaccurate, however |
| Because online encyclopedias are constantly being | | | | in total it has been found to be shockingly factual. In |
| updated, they often have more depth and breadth | | | | order to contribute to a Wikipedia entry, it must be |
| than a traditional encyclopedia. This gives students a | | | | cited. It is then reviewed by editors and the citation |
| chance to find much more information on any given | | | | must be from a source that is unbiased and proven to |
| subject. Additionally, if they are focusing on a topic that | | | | be factually accurate. In fact, several studies have |
| is not well known, it may not be found in traditional | | | | been conducted and concluded that Wikipedia is nearly |
| printed reference materials. A final advantage is that | | | | as factually accurate Encyclopedia Britannica and |
| when there is a citation or footnote in an online | | | | Encarta. If you are still wondering if Wikipedia can be |
| encyclopedia, it is often accompanied by a link to the | | | | trusted, keep in mind that it took over 70 years and |
| original source. This gives students an easy way to | | | | thousands of contributors, including an inmate in an |
| gather more information as well as easily reference | | | | asylum for the criminally insane, to create the original |
| original sources. | | | | Oxford English Dictionary. Just because thousands of |
| Teachers and Researchers Benefits to Using Online | | | | people have made a contribution, that doesn't |
| Encyclopedias | | | | inherently make the information incorrect. |