Google it

In 2014, this seems to be a perfectly acceptable verb. In fact, many of our students, staff and parents use this phrase every day. What is the population of China? Google it. What is the largest mammal on Earth? Google it. Should I buy a new iPhone? Google it. The Oxford Dictionary has included the word 'Google' in its publications since 2006.

In an age where we have the internet permanently connected to our hands, it seems there is no question that we cannot answer in a nanosecond. At Scotch College we have a great range of tools that allow our students to be connected globally.

Yet, as teachers, while this has put the power of the world's information at our students' fingertips it is also worthwhile to stop and ask a question that perhaps the amazing Google machine cannot answer. To whom did we ask our questions before we asked Google or efore Google: B.G? To answer this question, I asked Google. I received 212 million responses which brought up a range of answers to this question!

The reality for students in the 21st century is that our sources of information have changed. At first, this does seem fantastic, however, I encourage our students to consider what they are losing by finding the answer to everything on Google. Googling is easier than thinking, the work is done for you. The truth is, all you are provided with, is an answer. What is missing is how you came to that answer, the thinking. Thinking skills are what separate humans - it is what has allowed us to develop into the most complex organism on the planet. The thought that Google is giving you the advantage, the edge, the information, is in fact a fallacy everybody has the ability to Google. So, it is what you do with the information that you find, that is more important. It is your ability to select information that is relevant and this requires you to analyse, to think and to problem solve. All of which, Google cannot teach you to do.

Sitting with the IB Diploma students as they were introduced to the Extended Essay, it became very clear to the boys that they were about to embark on a level of research that Google would be only one of the ways that they would come to the final result. The benefit of the IB programme at Scotch College is the academic and personal rigour and challenging students to excel in their studies and in their personal growth.

So as we continue to the end of 2014 and beyond, keep Googling yet when doing so, think about how the answer got there and that if your question can be answered so easily by so many people, think - are you really asking the right questions?

Mr Peter Allen
Director of Teaching and Learning