The Internet as an accessible source of knowledge with special reference to undergraduates of the University of Kelaniya

Abstract

The invention and development of the internet were the biggest discovery by mankind in the 20th century. Today, the internet is used by more than 50% of the world population. Its applications are found in every field, be it communication, knowledge, news, shopping, marketing, entertainment, education, etc. With the advancement of the use of the internet, it has become essential for undergraduates to utilize technology in a variety of ways. But the problem is, are they using the internet in their education successfully? The main objective of this research is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet in education. Fifty students were randomly taken as the sample of this study. Both primary and secondary data capturing and fact finding methods such as questionnaires were referred to as primary data and books, journals, and relevant online resources were used as secondary data. Data analysis has been done by using the descriptive method. The findings reveal that today, many students are using the internet to do research and complete their assignments. Since the internet is full of information, most students use both correct and incorrect data in their education. In fact, there are now even online programs and courses available, which students can easily access to study. This will help them to make their education successfully. But it is important to avid the incorrect data and use only correct information.