iGeneration - 21st Century Education (Pedagogy & Digital Innovation)

This article discusses the benefits of using the Internet instead of the traditional dictionary.

The Internet has taken resources that have been used for years to a whole new level. Before the Internet, when someone needed to find the definition of a word, check the spelling of a word, attempt to pronounce a word, he or she would use a dictionary. The Internet provides a lot more information for each word than a traditional dictionary, which is limited. There are many links available to see more examples and other ways to define the same word. Going online also enables one to click and listen to the correct pronunciation of a word with the option of it being read to the person instead of reading and attempting to sound it out. Images are also provided when searched for online. It is also a lot more convenience to have access to a dictionary without having to carry a traditional dictionary. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets provide people with access to the Internet wherever they go. This means that there is access to the dictionary online. Also, you can type in a word rather than look through pages and alphabetically search for a word one by one. Traditional methods of finding a word can be difficult and frustrating when one does not know the correct spelling. Online attempts to spell a word immediately offer suggestions that can lead you to the word you are searching for. Overall, students and teachers in today’s technology age use traditional dictionaries less, due to the benefits provided by the dictionaries on the Internet.