The son of a friend of mine is studying at the Masters degree level in public policy at George Washington University in Washington, DC. As a project for

his statistics class, he wanted to test was that free and available broadband internet access would improve academic performance as measured by students' educational test scores.

Everyone, from his professor to his colleagues, liked the idea and thought the data would bear that out. It did not. Statistically, at least, it had a net effect of zero.

In fact, in the program he designed there was only one variable, which had any measurable effect on educational test scores - family income.

In short, poor kids will always do worse, statistically, and middle class and upper class kids will do better, and free broadband internet access by itself will not change that.

Do you find that surprising?

Conventional wisdom suggests that increased internet access leads to better access to information and should, in theory, help make people smarter.

What this small piece of research does point out is that economic background matters. But not whether you have access to the internet.

Does the internet make a difference?

I’ve been active on the internet for twenty years. Although I can’t claim invention of the internet, I was using it for church community building almost as soon as it was publicly available.

I will say that for me, it has been a very useful tool. But it hasn’t improved my academic performance, even though I did complete a second professional degree in the time of internet availability.

What the internet has changed for me is the way I work.

Recently I visited a member of my congregation in palliative care at our hospital. The person was resting peacefully, and woke up once. I spoke to them and asked if they were awake. "No." they retorted sharply, and went back to sleep.

After my visit, I used my iPhone to send a quick message to a close family member who lived several hours away, briefly telling of my visit. I described their loved one as "being quite peaceful".

The response I received was quite remarkable. The family member answered within a few minutes and was deeply appreciative of my visit and my reassurance that their loved one was resting well.

What else has changed?

I no longer, where it is possible, take paper copies of meeting minutes or agendas or other documents with me. I use and read electronic copies on my tablet computer.

Some people have noticed that I no longer use a hymn book or paper printed sermon in worship. I find it easier and more readable to use the tablet computer, again. I discovered that the tablet us the ability to read back printed text. In theory, it could be plugged into an church’s PA system and the whole service given by synthesized voice (male or female, depending on your preference) with a variety of accents. I can think of a few times in the past when, after losing my voice, I could have still delivered a sermon or led a funeral if I had that technology at my fingertips.

Finally, it is useful for last minute inspiration.

I was going to talk about the sculpture "Jesus the Homeless" recently in our children’s time in worship. Then I realized I needed a picture. During the first hymn I did a quick internet search on my iPhone and had it all ready to show our young people. They were quite unfazed that I passed my phone among them to show them the picture.

Like anything else, the internet is not a magic life changer, in and of itself. But as a tool in our life and faith, it can help us engage God and each other more deeply and bring us together in community. At least that is my hope and prayer.

Rev. David Shearman is the minister of Central Westside United Church, Owen Sound and host of Faithworks on Rogers TV - Grey County