Research on the web
Point. Click. Think? discusses how students are using the internet (specifically Google) to do their research.
“If students cannot come up with their own ideas, cut-and-paste technology allows them to lift someone else’s sentences or phrases with ease.”
Whilst the article gives both sides of the story, it seems to start from a premise that there is a new type of person called a “net-thinker”. This is a bit odd. Students are the same as ever. Studious ones will do lots of research over a suitable period of time, using a variety of resources. Lazy ones will do as little research as possible, over the shortest time period possible, and with as little effort as possible.
People’s way of thinking hasn’t changed, just because the internet exists. The lazy students will see use it because it is quick and easy, but they will have just found some other way to be lazy if the internet hadn’t existed (cough, cough).
Conversely, the studious will utilize the internet as well, as an extra research tool.