Friday, November 21, 2008
Can Technology Make Teens Better Writers?
In a recent article Melissa Slager adresses the issue of technology and its blaten effects on the youth. Slager found the writing scores on test like the SAT's and other standarize tests are actually increasing. But, Slager also found that few students are "pushing their pens beyond that to exhibit such skills as personal style, a varied vocabulary and an awareness of audience that goes beyond authoritarian grade checker." What this means is that students are just writing essays for tests and not challenging themselves. Many teachers are looking towards the technology of the youth for answers. In fact, most educators find that "Today's young writers are being encouraged to use everyday technology to find their unique voices."
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3 comments:
Teachers are looking towards technology to help enhance students desire to write instead of just writing to fulfill requirements and assignments to class and state standards. I feel Language is an issue with bringing technology in the classroom because not using proper capitalization and spelling in shorthand or using online abbreviations ("LOL") are issues that are teachers are faced with allowing students to use their everyday language.
Technology has rapidly grown in the past 10 years. However, people are still people. Technology has change are way of living but I believe our thought processes have remained the same. Technology can be used as a tool to help in some exercises, but does not directly create motivation. Anything including things that are not technology can be used to motivate students, therefore I do not believe technology plays a significant role in student learning.
Technology has most definitely had a major affect on teens and the way they write. When teens write in text message form they use the short version of words to write more. Along with that when it is time for them to write a formal assignment some students still use short word. This isn't always on purpose because it may just be out of habit but it is having an affect on the way that students write. Technology is allowing students to not have to put much thought into writing things anymore. They can just look it up and have a quick background on it and then write whatever they want on it.
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