Why Use Computers Why Use Computers for Writing?for Writing?

Computers are

•motivating•patient•non-judgemental

Writing with computers promote risk taking.

• Writing behaviors increased with the support that computers offer.

• Students engaged in more hypothesis testing.

• Students were more persistent.• Rosegrant 1988

Writing with computers promote positive attitudes.

• Students who use computers have positive feelings about the computer, writing, themselves and school.

• Using the computer gave writers a sense of purpose for their writing.

Using a word processor for writing

immediately lets a child enter the world of adult print

with adult help, lets the child create a more sophisticated big book

lets a child interact with the text that is more dynamic than using pencil and paper

The public nature of the word processor promotes

* peer interaction* peer coaching*peer support

Writing with computers helps students see writing as

recursive. The ability to change andmanipulate text promotes

revision and more concentration on the content.

Writing with the computer is a

great equalizer.

The end product will have the same letterquality.

This increases the ease of reading and allows

the reader to concentrate on content.

The ease of publishing

gives students a sense of

pride in authorship.

The success of using the computer in the classroom depends

on the teacher.

.

• a coaching style of teaching

• a high level of comfort and knowledge of the writing process

• flexibility• skill of observation

and analysis

• ability to work with individual differences and learning styles

• an ability to integrate computers within the curriculum

• ability to communicate the concepts of this with parents

Qualities that the teacher Qualities that the teacher should possess areshould possess are

By developing these qualities a teacher

can then....

Be a model of the writing processRespond to the student’s writingValidate what the student is doingHelp the students extend their effortsMonitor student progressBe observant during the writing processProvide and develop reasons for writing

Because as David Dockterman states in his book

Great Teaching in the One Computer Classroom

If you give great If you give great teachers powerful teachers powerful tools, great things tools, great things

will happen!will happen!