The status of Internet and World Wide Web use in the elementary schools of Gloucester County, New Jersey

Are schools preparing students for the new age of communication, where the Internet and World Wide Web will be an efficient way to access information? The purpose of this study was to determine the status of Internet use in the elementary schools of Gloucester County, New Jersey. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire sent to the library media specialists of the 48 elementary schools. They were asked if there was Internet access in their school building and if not, were there plans to have Internet access by the year 2001. Other questions about the Internet involved computer equipment available, teacher training, funding, specific uses, and personal opinions. These statistics were then compared to national statistics (from 1996) on Internet use from the National Center for Education Statistics. Fifty-six percent of Gloucester County\u27s elementary schools as compared to 61% of elementary schools nationwide have access to the Internet in the building. In Gloucester County, 87% of those elementary schools without Internet access plan to have access by the year 2001 as compared to 85% of elementary schools nationwide (in 1996). Thus, this study showed that the status of Internet access in Gloucester County\u27s elementary schools is good and will be improving over the next couple of years