Week #5 Article Effects of Technology on Critical Thinking and Essay Writing Among Gifted Adolescents
After I read this article, I was having a discussion with an ELA teacher. I was telling her about the study and results, about increased output from students when they were allowed to use computers for writing assignments. I asked her what she thought about this and I was a little surprised by her answer. She was opposed to allowing students to use computers for writing. She justified her response saying kids need to learn to write without all the editing technology available to them on a computer otherwise they won't learn to write correctly. My question to you is: Do you feel the ELA teacher's response is correct? Should students be restricted from using editing technology in their writing in order for them to learn how to write correctly?
I was not thrilled to read the response by this ELA teacher. Editing technology is here to stay, and will only improve as time goes on. As educators, we need to embrace technology. I feel there needs to be a balance between traditional grammar and spelling instruction and writing instruction via technology. My son has difficulty with handwriting and as he progresses in school, he is finding writing more difficult. His occupational therapist is introducing keyboarding and his writing has shown much improvement. He is is more easily able to implement his writing assignments without having to struggle with his handwriting.
ReplyDeleteThe depth of learning is based on the individual. Yes, using software is a time efficient method to developing documents however students will need to know proper grammar and punctuation techniques to proof read their work as editing technologies do not always identify these errors. It is known that the best writers are well-read and many students are not. Regulation of distractive technologies (cell phones, television, video games, etc.) will need to take place in order to steer their interest and improve their writing.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I have noticed is that students’ penmanship is extremely poor; this may be contributed to the overuse of technological equipment. Knowing that the keyboard is an alternative to handwriting has lead students to not practice their print. I found it disturbing when my students informed me, on top of everything else, that they cannot read cursive? Is cursive still taught in elementary education?
This is really an interesting question you bring up. With technology these days and in the future, will students really need to know how to write in cursive? Everything is becoming technology based. You don't even have to go to a bank to cash a check. You can scan it using your cell phone and just like that it is deposited into your account. Yes students should know how to spell words correctly, but with the use of technology the need for it becomes diminished. As a society we are constantly advancing. Should we stop using modern medicine and revert back to old methods? If using editing technology is the future, why shouldn't students use it? Someday, writing with paper and a pencil may be as obsolete as dropping a bucket into a well to get water.
ReplyDeleteThis has been the hot debate recently! I like how you present your standpoints, and I am going to turn this discussion into more questions. I agree 100% on the balance of traditional literacy and new literacies. I stress on the importance of having solid foundation of handwriting and beginning literacy. However, with the advancing technologies and required 21st century skills, we need to change our ways of evaluating our students such as on the writing across the curriculum as opposed to elementary (foundational) writing. As we are proposing computerized standardized assessment, what are your take on this? Read more on this:
ReplyDeleteRead more on this (wasn't able to post via iPhone): http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2010/0902/Race-to-the-Top-promises-new-era-of-standardized-testing?cmpid=addthis_mailto#.TsBzmUQFKII.mailto
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