Technology and Writing.. Yuck or Yay?

     Technology is affecting so many things around us every day. One positive change is that more and more technology is becoming available to students both in the classroom and out. Many students are more familiar with technology than their parents or teachers are. Technology can be easily adapted to fit in with most subject areas and lessons.

     One subject that many students struggle with and often times dislike is writing, because it is so difficult for them.  There are several ways writing can be integrated while using technology. Since all of our students have their own device this year, the easiest way to use technology when writing is to allow them to type their writing. When I was younger, we had to write first and then only the final draft was typed. Students can also be motivated to write if they know they're going to be able to record their voice or make a video of them self reading their story, as digital storytelling allows. Digital storytelling makes student writing come to life.  Another easy way to incorporate technology and writing is allowing students to write emails. Letter writing is becoming a lost form of writing, and our students practice their letter writing everyday on our reading program Achieve 3000. Students are becoming so proficient in texting, it is becoming more difficult for them to write correctly in the classroom. 

      Another way of encouraging students to write is to offer the opportunity for them to publish their writing on the internet. Kid Pub is a website that allows students to put their writings on the internet and share with other kids. The site even features a never ending story that kids can add on to. Kids can also read other student stories and then leave comments or ask for feedback on their own. By having kids write with the intention of putting it on the internet and sharing it with the "world" it's going to motivate them to write and do their best work.

     One thing my students love is chatting and texting. I've seen teachers use a Twitter type bulletin board and letting the students put short updates or exit tickets before leaving. I think something I would really like to do is start a classroom blog. We use My Big Campus which is a school friendly site which is set up like Facebook. Students can have class discussions on there, and they really enjoy using it. I think by having students blog about class activities, things they've learned, or about a topic they've researched. This is also another way to make writing a positive thing and not just another essay assignment. Students can interact with one another and even leave positive feedback for their classmates.

    Technology is here and it's time to embrace it! I challenge all of you teachers to try something new at least once a week. You'll be surprised by how your students will embrace it and maybe even teach you something new! This is how our students learn and spend a lot of their free time, so we should use that to our advantage!