Technology Take Over
“Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human being pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.” (O’Byrne, 2014, p. 103).
On Friday, Sarah came rushing in the door after school. She ran into her mother’s arms and showed her mother the book she had written. Sarah’s mother was immediately wrapped in a heartwarming feeling because her daughter was so proud of her work. The book bound together by staples with a construction paper cover and a picture on each page had a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. Sarah’s mother couldn’t help but laugh. She knew that Sarah’s kindergarten teacher was actively working with her to ensure that her letters always face the correct direction and were the correct size. Despite these common mix-ups, Sarah could perfectly read her story to her mother. Sarah’s mother hugged her tight and told her how proud she was. After her father saw the story, it ended up on the refrigerator right next to the story that Sarah had written last week.
Ten years from now, this scenario will be completely different. Michael, a kindergartener, will bring home a story that he wrote, but it won’t look like Sarah’s. It will be printed from a computer. The font may be funky and it could be all different colors, but there was no construction paper cover nor pictures on each page. The T’s are all crossed and the I’s are all dotted. All of the letters are facing the correct direction and they are all the correct size. Michael’s mother is proud of her son, but the story probably won’t end up on the fridge. It could land in a box or even the trash. Do the typed and printed stories mean as much to you, as a parent, as the handwritten version?
This debate between paper and technology is a hot topic in education. Many people say that paper is not necessary anymore and that students should be learning to read and write using technology, such as computers and tablets. Many schools are also in the process or have already converted to one-to-one classrooms. This means that each student has his or her own technological device, such as a laptop or tablet, to use throughout the entire day. Because of the increase in technology use and the students being digital natives, many people believe that moving from pencil and paper to technology is the best way to teach kids and prepare them for the future. There are many people who are also against this. How will students be able to read cursive and write check if they are not practicing their handwriting? This debate is being discussed throughout the world. Both sides of the debate have very strong supporting arguments including the ability to read historical documents, adding more to teachers’ schedules, the brain function of a child, the future of technology, incorporating technology in the classroom, and helping students understand safe internet use.
Why Handwriting?
Many schools have taken away cursive and handwriting standards. Because there are so many standards for teachers to teach their children, topics that are not required are often pushed to the side. Children are beginning to no longer learn cursive and print. The Common Core State Standards also require fourth graders to be proficient typers. This means that in elementary classrooms, teachers much spend more time teaching students how to type than using that time to focus on handwriting. Schools in Louisiana have started having classes as young as kindergarten take keyboarding classes.
Nola.com states, “Most high school and college students are expected to type, rather than handwrite, their essays. But asking students as young as eight and nine to type several paragraphs on a standardized test presents entirely new challenges. To ward off disaster, school leaders are contemplating adding keyboarding classes, introducing online assessments in kindergarten and taking students to the computer laboratory for writing class.” (Ribeiro, 2013).
Kindergarteners are learning to form sentences. They should be writing their sentences to become more familiar with the letters, but technology is beginning to take that a different way.
Some people are furious that children are not being taught cursive. These children will most likely never be able to read cursive either. That means that they will not have the ability to read important historical documents, such as the Constitution of the United States of America. These documents will lose their significance if no one has the ability to read them.
Without handwriting in classrooms, students will also have trouble signing documents, such as birthday cards or their driver’s license. Students will also have difficulty writing checks. Rebecca Silva, a third grade teacher in Rhode Island, has concerns that writing in general will lose its personal touch if handwriting is no longer taught in schools (Ribeiro, 2013). Students will not take the time to hand write a letter or thank you note.
Without handwriting, it may also be harder for students to learn to spell and read. IU psychology professor Karin James performed an experiment on young children. She took brain scans of each child. Then, she put the children into two groups. One group was show letters and they had to try to memorize them. The other group was taught how to write the letters. After taking another brain scan of each child, it was apparent that the first group showed very little difference, while the second group had a large spike in activity after learning to write letters.
James says, “It’s not just that you’re using your hands to create the letters, because typing seems to be different than handwriting. It’s that you’re actually creating those forms with your hands. That seems to be making a difference.” (Stokes, 2011).
James’s research shows that children should be taught handwriting in the classroom because without learning to write the letters, they will have a much harder time learning to spell and read.
Why Technology?
Learning to spell and read is important, but it is also important to have students engaged in class and preparing them for the future. Kids in the classroom these days are digital natives. They were born into this era of technology. Everyone has seen a two-year-old child have the ability to operate an iPhone or an iPad without any trouble and without having to be taught how. Technology is an instinct for them. When students are at home, they are playing games on the computer and iPad, reading on their kindle, watching television, and using any other sort of technology that they can get their hands on. This type of technological use interests these kids. By incorporating these technology ideas along with social networking, teachers can gain full attention of their students, and the students would enjoy it more.
There are many ways to incorporate these technology ideas into the classroom and continue to have a productive classroom. In Sydney, Australia, research teachers found “there was more problem-solving occurring as students investigated a topic and then negotiated the way they would create and construct a product to demonstrate their learning.” (Rosswell, 2011, p. 60). Teachers can use applications to create this product.
There are also many other ways to keep students engaged, such as games where you try to make as many words out of a certain amount of letters as you can. This type of game would keep students engaged, but it would also help students how to spell by having them dissect letters and put them back together. Students can also have an infinite number of books at their fingertips. There are videos of people reading stories. You can also download many different books to your computer, tablet, or phone. This makes reading a lot easier because you do not have to carry a book around. These applications that have the books are also very useful. They can define words for you. You can also highlight and add comments in the borders. Some authors also have links from the text to websites that can provide additional information on the topic (Carrington, 2005, p. 280). You can also find videos of authors reading their own stories. Children who cannot read proficiently can still have access to reading on the internet.
Many people are turning to the words “digital literacy”. Digital literacy is defined as “the capabilities required to thrive in and beyond education, in an age when digital forms of information and communication predominate.” (Jacobs, 2013, p. 102). This term describes what digital natives are doing on technology, but it also focuses on both in school and outside of school. With digital literacy comes the need for students to properly use the internet. There are many websites and applications that are not apporpriate. It is also easy for children to get involved in cyberbullying. By not avoiding technology in the classroom, teachers should tackle it head on. They should teach students how to properly use technology, including everything from how to find a credible source to ensuring that what you are posting to the internet is appropriate. It is important for students to be able to learn in a technology-rich environment, but it must be done appropriately (Jacobs, 2013, p. 102).
Wrap Up
Print and technology is a huge debate. Right now, there is no answer, but many people have strong feelings on the topic. The arguments for both sides are reasonable. The print side says that children in kindergarten should not be going to keyboarding classes, students will not be able to read historical documents, the personal touch of handwriting will be gone, and learning to write letters creates more brain stimulus, allowing for children to become better readers. The people who side with technology say that kids are more engaged when technology is involved, there are many ways to productively incorporate technology into the classroom, and this gives teachers the opportunity to teach students proper technology use. This is a debate that is not going anywhere any time soon, but many people continue to search for an answer every day.
Genre Pieces
Flyer
No More Handwriting in Schools
Poem
The Technology Debate
Learning to write is pretty fun.
Computers and tablets can cost a ton.
Crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s.
Technology gives you unlimited tries.
Writing makes us better readers.
Everyone uses technology, even leaders.
Handwriting is becoming less important today.
Children use technology in every way.
Should kids know how to read and write print?
Technology allows kids to do more of a sprint.
Is print reading and writing done?
Many schools are moving to one-to-one.
Many states removed print writing.
Technology is very inviting.
Historic documents are handwritten.
This will majorly affect your grandchildren.
The constitution was written in cursive.
Technology has more than one purpose.
How will children write checks?
Technology has many effects.
Print is gone like a grandma’s hips.
The world is at their fingertips.
Cursive is no longer taught in the classroom.
These kids have used technology since they left the womb.
Many people are feeling blue.
Downloading books is easy to do.
Will every grade have technology classes?
Typing will be done in much larger masses.
Is there a way to come up with a truce?
Kids need to be taught proper internet use.
Print, it has been real.
Technology and typing has made a better deal.
Obituary
R.I.P. Print Reading and Writing
Print Reading and Writing
Late 17th century – early 21st century
United States of America Schools
Print Reading and Writing has past away in the early 21st century. He was a resident of United States of America Schools at the time of his passing.
Print Reading and Writing was born in the late 17th century, mostly due to the Industrial Revolution. The first full English dictionary was published during this time as well.
Throughout his life, Print Reading and Writing impacted many people. He worked in school to help students learn to express themselves and understand other people’s expressions. He was never seen without Paper and Pencil. They were the best of friends. Print Reading and Writing worked nonstop for four centuries because he felt such a passion for helping children learn.
In the early 21st century, Print Reading and Writing became gravely ill. He often felt that he was not needed anymore and that truly hurt his feelings. After many years of struggling, Print Reading and Writing past away.
Print Reading and Writing was preceded by his children Computer and Tablet. The two plan to continue the legacy of their father. Computer and Tablet has been increasingly working in school to help children. They hope that you always remember Print Reading and Writing.
Donations can be made in Print Reading and Writing’s name to: www.apple.com.
Resources
Carrington, V., and Marsh, J. (2005). Digital Childhood and Youth: New Texts, New Literacies. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 26.3. 279–85.
Jacobs, G. E. (2013). Multi, Digital, or Technology? Seeking Clarity of Teaching Through a Clarity of Terms. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 57(2), 99–103).
O’Byrne, W. I. (2014). Empowering Learners in the Reader/Writer Nature of the Digital Informational Space. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 58(2), 102–104.
Ribeiro, R. (2013). Handwriting vs. Typing: Which Skill Do Students Need Most?. EdTech. Retrieved from http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/10/handwriting-vs-typing-which-skill-do-students-need-most.
Rosswell, J., and Walsh, M. (2011). Rethinking Literacy Education in New Times: Multimodality, MultiLiteracies, & New Literacies. Brock Education, 21(1). 53–62.
Stokes, K. (2011). Why Schools Should Keep Teaching Handwriting, Even If Typing Is More Useful. StateImpact. Retrieved from http://indianapublicmedia.org/stateimpact/2011/09/29/why-schools-should-keep-teaching-handwriting-even-if-typing-is-more-useful/.
