EDITOR'S BLOG

GOOGLE IT!

RECENTLY, while travelling by train from Kolkata, I met a trio of students who appeared to be playing a strange sort of word power game on their mobile phones. One of them would toss up a bizarre word from a sheet of paper and then all three would be immersed in searching for the meaning of the word. The first one to get the correct meaning scored a point. They were on their way to an entrance exam which would have, among other things, verbal competence as a criterion for the test. Instead of carrying bulky and heavy text books, they decided to go digital. They had a list of words to be learned and Google provided the meaning.

Ask any net-savvy teenager what the best way to learn anything new is and prompt comes the answer: “Just Google it!” — the most commonly used three-word phrase when it comes to information search! Today the internet has become synonymous with a giant public library. Students and even professionals spend a lot of their time browsing websites for relevant information. It’s an almost indispensable feature of modern student life.

In our January 2010 issue, we shared with you the pros and cons of social media, an integral part of the ‘net-world’. I earnestly believe the information has helped you make your personal and social life safer, richer and purposeful.

Undoubtedly, classroom and textbook based education still plays a vital role in a student’s life. However, given the competitive nature of today’s education, students are encouraged to go globe-trotting for the latest info to widen their horizon. Easy as ever, the internet becomes the first search stop for all and sundry!

It is in this context that team has put together a cover story on how the internet can help you study better — a detailed list of online search tools to enhance your study skills and knowledge.

Granted, the internet is one of the greatest tools of the electronic age. However, just a word of caution: Like everything else that is good, the internet too is a wonderful thing when used in moderation, but can lead to a whole new level of trouble when abused. So, what do we do? Google it — but with care!

Happy Googling!