The Impact of Digital Tools on Student Writing and How Writing is Taught in Schools

 I was especially interested in reading this report because I teach an English class.  This was a rather lengthy article about teaching writing skills and how using digital tools impact the teaching, learning and writing.  So, I'll try to just touch on the main points that I found the most significant.  The survey responses came from 2,462 middle and high school Advanced Placement (AP) and National Writing Project (NWP) teachers and were based on their 2011-2012 school year.

• Even though I often hear from my students that they "hate writing," the report indicates that students are writing more than ever because of digital devices, social media, texting, etc.  (They just don't realize it!)
• Using the digital tools allows students to share work to larger and more diverse audiences.  They are also collaborating with others more and getting more creative.  Super!
• Teachers are finding that writing is becoming less formal and that students want to rush through their writing, possibly due to "instant internet information" and the short, quick texting and posting they are used to doing.  Grammar and vocabulary skills are also diminishing.
• Organization of their writing is overall rated pretty high, but coming in at the bottom are issues with plagiarism, copyright and citation.
• Teaching with digital tools has caused a realization that students must be taught the digital devices are not just toys, but are learning and working tools.
• Publishing student work online tends to cause students to become more engaged and invested in their writing, and to think more about the audience they are writing for. I like that!
• I thought this table was particularly interesting.

And finally, do teachers feel that using digital tools help teach students to write better?

228/150 pages

The Impact of Digital Tools on Student Writing and How Writing is Taught in Schools. (n.d.). Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/07/16/the-impact-of-digital-tools-on-student-writing-and-how-writing-is-taught-in-schools/