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Current Issues in Teaching with Technology
Group 2 – Technology and the Future of Writing and Language
Members: David Hammock, Khanh Pham, and Darius Wimby
Discussion Platform: NowComment
A current issue concerning the ever-changing technological landscape is how technology affects the future of writing and language. As the technology advances, the more it becomes apart of our everyday lives. Social media, text messages, e-mails, emojis, and abbreviated (or shorthand) words have become a focal point in how we communicate with others, particularly in various work and school environments. As a result, it leaves people wondering: is technology helping or harming our writing skills and how we communicate with each other?
Our group will use a variety of online articles and YouTube videos we have found about technology and its effects on writing and language. The resources are to provide background information on the topic and to serve as a basis for discussion. After reviewing the provided resources, classmates will respond to one of the questions posed on NowComment and reply to another classmate’s response. We strongly encourage you to share your own personal experiences to help guide the discussion. We will read all comments and respond to each classmate, while monitoring and facilitating the discussion to ensure the conversation is on topic and always moving forward.
Resources:
Link: http://www.popsci.com/qa-with-john-mcwhorter-on-future-language
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArBJxImOjrA
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZQcfGsWGg
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu0ZcVesyz4
Guiding Questions:
Added October 06, 2016 at 4:43am
by Khanh Pham
Title: replacing old doc
Current Issues in Teaching with Technology
Group 2 – Technology and the Future of Writing and Language
Members: David Hammock, Khanh Pham, and Darius Wimby
Discussion Platform: NowComment
How to get on to NowComment?
A current issue concerning the ever-changing technological landscape is how technology affects the future of writing and language. As the technology advances, the more it becomes apart of our everyday lives. Social media, text messages, e-mails, emojis, and abbreviated (or shorthand) words have become a focal point in how we communicate with others, particularly in various work and school environments. As a result, it leaves people wondering: is technology helping or harming our writing skills and how we communicate with each other?
Our group will use a variety of online articles and YouTube videos we have found about technology and its effects on writing and language. The resources are to provide background information on the topic and to serve as a basis for discussion. After reviewing the provided resources, classmates will respond to one of the questions posed on NowComment and reply to another classmate’s response. We strongly encourage you to share your own personal experiences to help guide the discussion. We will read all comments and respond to each classmate, while monitoring and facilitating the discussion to ensure the conversation is on topic and always moving forward.
Resources:
Link: http://www.popsci.com/qa-with-john-mcwhorter-on-future-language
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArBJxImOjrA
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZQcfGsWGg
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu0ZcVesyz4
Guiding Questions:
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2. How do you think technology will shape future language and writing?This is a very interesting topic, and all that I can say is, I sure hope so. I am not at all sentimental to the past or to using something just because we used it in the past. I hate reading, because it is difficult for me. I would love to have a computer chip implanted in my brain that could search for information and deliver it to my mind. There will still be a need for writing for some time, but I think that it will evolve into something else.
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I do believe that educators and other professionals should be more open to integrating technology into their respective environments, because technology is constantly changing and if people do not learn how to progress with ever-changing technology they will quickly be left behind. I truly believe that individuals who remain complacent, and refuse to expand their knowledge of technology are doing themselves a huge injustice. From my experience, many job markets are changing the way they do business by integrating technology into the workplace, and for those who refuse to advance with the times could possibly be out of jobs because of their reluctance. However, I do believe that writing and technology has to have a boundary. Although I do believe that texting is an amazing tool for communicating with others; however, I do not think text slang should be used in a professional or academic environment. Nonetheless, there are exceptions to those rules. I am an avid texter and I do everything in my power to refrain from using text slang. I try my best to use proper grammar as much as possible, because I do not want text slang to have an impact on my professional or academic writing. As educators, I believe it is our duty to teach our students the importance of deciphering the proper times to use specific language.
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You make an excellent point in that technology is just the way of the modern world, and we would be doing our students a disservice by not preparing them for it. They need to know how to be smart, safe users of all the resources at their disposal.
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Kyla,
I agree with your point that those who fail to expand their technology base will generally fall behind, and in the competitive marketplace, that can sink an individual. You made another point that I find myself constantly checking. You pointed out that you make it a habit to refrain from using slang in your texting. I find that I am constantly checking my spelling, punctuation, grammar etc. when texting. The reason I do this? I don’t want to give off the impression to others, even my friends and family, that I “sound” ignorant. I suppose that is somewhat vain, but it keeps my messages clear and gives me the feeling that others do not have to translate my messages.
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I do not think that you checking your spelling, punctuation and grammar is vain at all. It is smart in my opinion! I firmly believe in the saying, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” For example, after I graduated from undergrad, I can honestly say that I stopped reading and writing as frequently as I did when I was in school. Fast forward to two years later, concepts and forms that was second nature to me in undergrad became foreign and it was because I stopped in some senses educating myself. The same concept applies to texting, using slang and abbreviations can easily become apart of your everyday vocabulary; however, monitoring your own text language is a brilliant way of preventing that from happening.
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As I watched the YouTube video (How Technology Can Benefit Classroom Writing) and read the article How Slang Affects Students in the Classroom I found that I was in agreement with the premise that slang/shorthand writing and technology language in the classroom is here to stay. How they described this new use of slang and technology is where they differed. I agree that this newly adopted use of slang is prevalent and will persist as a form of communication among the younger generation(s). The video and article both cite that students are self-aware of slang versus formal structured language, as used in an educational setting, but the article pointed out that several college admissions officers are encountering slang on admissions applications. This is a point that I find interesting. It seems to imply that SOME students do recognize the ramifications of structured writing as compared to slang, but what if the trend shows an increased use of slang? I disagree that students will continue to differentiate between slang and formal writing. Will higher education have to “reteach” formal writing or will slang become more acceptable? I do not want to sound like the old man who always says, “get off my lawn”, but I hope this trend of the use of slang can live a peaceful coexistence with formal writing.
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The video “Innovative writing program brings needed technology into local classrooms” really caught my attention because the educators kept repeating the phrase “college readiness”. The goal of infusing technology into the classroom is to prepare our students for what is to come in the real world. Almost all jobs today require the use of computers, laptops and/or iPads. Some students in low-income areas do not have access to this type of technology at home, so the classroom is the only place they could even come into contact with it. However, I do think it is important for students to practice both writing with pen and paper, as well as with a computer. During the SAT, there are timed, writing segments where students must complete an written essay. Knowing how to effectively utilize both writing skills is extremely important.
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I agree with your statement that students should practice both writing by hand and with the computer because there will be times that they will not be able to rely on the computer to fix their mistakes when writing. It’s interesting because I’m taking Composition Pedagogy, and the issue about technology in writing classrooms can be seen as two-fold. On one hand, it helps students to improve upon their writing skills and the computer will fix some, if not most, of their mistakes. On the other hand, students will rely so much on using the computer that they will not know what to do when they are given pen and paper, particularly when it comes to editing their papers for content, grammar, and punctuation.
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1) There has been a whole new element in the way people interact with each other other then talking face to face. It is all by the writing language over texts and social media. As a result the slang and informal speaking that is used to communicate quickly in these other mediums are used.
2) I think the tools that are available will help students learn. we are exposed to so many resources. It would be a shame not to use them.
3) I loved the quote “If we are lucky, today’s young people will do what countless generations before them have done: defy authority.” at the end of at the end of the article “Could Written Language Be Rendered Obsolete, and What Should We Demand In Return?” because of how true it is when talking about the future of language and communication. It is going to change. We don’t talk how people did 100 years ago did we?
4)absolutely, simply editing a paper as a group on google documents is a huge step and easily accessible. there are other wring resources available to use as tools for the benefits of writing.
5)They for sure should. Pretty much all writing today is done over technology. Why not practice at it and improve writing from that standpoint?
6)The constant fight that is not going to change is the slang and improper language. Students can adjust while writing formal papers ect., but language will become more informal because of social media and the form of communication that is most popular today.
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3. What is one key point found in the supplemental materials with which you agree or disagree?
I agree with the argument that texting improves your literacy skills. That any form of written communication practice is good, even in the form of emojis. Letters are merely symbols for sounds, and words are symbols , so why not use emojis as symbols? (As long as you know what they mean.) I am not suggesting that someone’s grammar, or spelling ability improves necessarily, but becoming proficient at communication is what is necessary and important.
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The literature teacher in the last video discussed how he left the mechanical way of teaching poems and novels in order to invigorate the class. He used technology to post papers and articles up for the class to discuss together instead of him just lecturing. I think technology helped him get creative and adjust to his students’ needs. If more teachers were as open-minded as he is, students would learn more and enjoy school. The students learning with technology in the project held by UAB and AT&T was just as fascinating. The common idea here is that students need to be excited about learning new ideas. We need to continue to be innovative.
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I completely agree, Rachel. Whenever I reserved the iPad cart for the day, my middles school students were ecstatic. It seemed as if using the iPads made them want to learn even more because it seemed “cool” to them. I think it is so crucial to continuously use technology because this is what many students are accustomed to (i.e. iPhones).
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My content area is ELA and I think you bring up a great point about adapting to student needs. Obviously, not all high school students are going to study English at the collegiate level and I think there is too much emphasis on literary analysis instead of developing real-world reading and writing skills. However, I do think you can use technology to enhance students’ experience when studying novels or poems and we don’t have to abandon them altogether.
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I think technology, specifically social media and texting, impacts the development of student writing. The effects of confining thoughts to small social media posts or shared graphics can create problems with making good inferences and uncovering meaning in a text. However, technology such as this nowcomment website affords us the opportunity to instantly post our thoughts about the topic and discuss with our peers.
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Norvig’s views in the written language article offer an interesting and kind of frightening idea of where the future of writing and education may be headed. This search-engine based education seems to ignore the question of what happens if the technology were to fail us. If students are only used to learning with technology, I worry will they be equipped to handle situations where they are without a search-engine and other technology. Technology should enhance education and our daily experience, but I think we have to be careful not to become overly dependent.
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I like that you brought up over dependence on technology. I agree that technology should be used to enhance education, but education should not become dependent on technology. I think it is extremely worth while to discuss what over dependence. Can it happen? Will it happen? What will it look like if it does happen? These are all questions that need to be considered, but for now I am content with having technology as a useful resource that can help supplement education.
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Going through the videos and reading the articles and from my own experiences in the classroom and talking with colleagues,we teachers are going to have to be more open to integrating technology into the classroom. The way the world is going and the ever present use of technology, and reliance on it, we are going to have to find ways of integrating it into the classroom. Now that being said, we must be careful in what we do allow and to monitor its uses in the classroom. Technology can open so many uses and sources for learning in all areas but it has its down side as well. Teachers must not be too reluctant and be able to take steps they are comfortable but they must be willing to adapt as well. I am not saying all technology in the classroom is great nor bad but each teacher must be comfortable with what they are using and confident it will be useful in the classroom. We must be careful of technology for technology sake. Teachers must be prudent in what they use and not push newer and newer technologies without vetting them for usefulness. So all in all, teachers have to be open to new technologies but make sure the technology in use betters the learning of the student and isn’t the just the next and newest thing but has no real benefit ti the classroom.
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I watched two of the videos: How Technology Can Benefit Classroom Writing and Innovative writing program brings needed technology into local classrooms. I have mixed feelings about both videos. I believe technology is important for today’s generation, but I also feel that because of technology, writing skills are deteriorating. I am a math teacher, so writing is not a part of my every day instruction. But when I do incorporate it, most of my students’ writing is sub-par. They want to write like they are texting. In order to be a good writer, thought has to go into the writing. Whether the students are typing or writing, the thought behind it should still be the same.If teachers allow students to continue to write like they text, writing skills will continue to decrease, instead of increase. When that happens, standards will have to be lowered in the high school level and eventually in the college level for the graduation rates to stay high and for colleges to make money.
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I have to agree with you in regards to students write how they text. Alot of students use short text and use abbreviation. I currently see it in my Math class. When I ask them to write, they tend to write how they text. Using “you” as “u” and using “is” as “iz”.
However, I think students need to us the same writing process as the old days. We can use technology/word document to make the process faster by brain storming ideas on the word document instead of drawing/hand graphing.
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The line between texting and writing continues to blur. In my Language Arts class, I do not see a ton of “u” and “iz” abbreviations, but do see to/too/two and there/their/they’re transpositions quite often. I do not think there is an inherent problem with text lingo as long as there is a clear distinction between it and formal writing. The problem is, this distinction is not being made clearly enough in our classrooms/society.
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The funny thing about young adults is that trends change often. I student may use LOL one month and then, all of a sudden, it is no longer acceptable. And, once adults start using this abbreviated form of acronyms, it suddenly gets pushed out. The article about seven thousand languages being reduced to 700 in a century just is not possible.
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When your students are writing in your class is it sub par because it’s Math? It’s just curiosity. I may write for Math teacher like I would talk to him/her, but I would know better with my English or Social Studies teacher.
I’m not wholly convinced that technology is to blame for writing skills. The requirements for how to convey the proper message using more formal writing styles has never changed, but perhaps the expectation of educators has. I don’t really know what’s happening, but I do know I see it.
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I am not sure. Maybe since I don not grade for punctuation and grammar, they may know this and do not worry about that when they write. I know I do emphasize that I am a math teacher and not a language arts teacher. Thay may just be following my ;lead.
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I actually have seen a great decrease in text speak in the classroom. About 5 years ago, I saw lots of it in my math classroom, especially idk, but being persistent about not having it used in the classroom and I think some help from the English department. It has been pretty much eradicated. However, I still try and emphasize correct spelling and grammar in my class but don’t take off for spelling because I know some of the math words can be difficult to spell sometimes. Math itself can be a language all unto itself and just learning to speak it and write it can challenge many on top of having to do the actual work with it.
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I am all for technology and the advancements that are taking place; however, there are some things that should stay the same and one of those things is proper writing. If students chose to use short text when talking to their friends via text, that’s fine with me. Nonetheless, students need to be taught the appropriate times to use certain language.
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In reading through some of the articles and watching the videos I found myself understanding where the educators were coming from when they decided to use technological programs to enhance their students learning. I loved the BYU teacher who was using pre-class answers from his students to address the concepts they weren’t grasping.
That being said I think the way technology can be used to benefit young writers is to use it as a tool to still educate them on the very necessary formal writing style as well as how to use technology to find reputable sources when writing research papers.
The US News article touched a little on how there are some concerns about the way “short hand” in texting can affect some writing and while I think that is true I can image that if you use technology in the right way you can mitigate that.
Applications like Grammerly are a great tool for young writers. It helps you to find simple mistakes as well as making sure you don’t plagiarize, which we all know is one of the most important aspect of writing.
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I think that using technology to teach formal writing will be much better than the old way of having a teacher grade your paper with red marks and return it. I found it helpful, and became a better writer, just from simple programs like Word that does spelling and grammar checks for you. I imagine that a program that looks at your writing more in depth could make strong improvements.
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I agree that the free grammar checking software is a tremendous asset for improving one’s writing skills. I know that I have benefitted from programs that point out my many writing errors. I think using multiple programs (e.g., Word + Grammarly) only helps students and adults strengthen their familiarity with structured writing. One question I do have about Grammarly is its obsession with passive voice?
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1) As the US News article put it, informal syntax and text abbreviations that students use on social media “creep” into their formal writing. I am forever reminding my Language Arts students to capitalize and punctuate correctly. It is also true that in an age of tweets, students can feel overwhelmed by 5-paragraph essays. It appears that while social media and related technology have strengthened more vernacular forms of speech, they do not prepare students for more formal, academic modes of communication.
2) Obviously common words such as “tweet” have evolved new meanings because of technology and some words like “Friend” are now verbs in addition to their traditional noun sense. But technology will only change language as much as we let it. Informal speech seems to have had little bearing on what is expected of more formal rhetoric. In the same way, the informal modes of writing students use on social media will fade once they are taught what is expected of formal writing.
3) I was intrigued by what linguist John McWhorter wrote, but I don’t know if I agree with his dire prediction of so many languages being lost. Certainly a few will go extinct, but in my studies as a historian I have observed that in recent decades there has been a concerted effort by populations of minority language speakers to preserve their language tradition. Most of this has to do with the decline of imperialism allowing the resurgence of native languages. For example, native Hawai’ians are reinvigorating their language and culture after years of oppression by the US government. Furthermore, technology is actually helping preserve these languages through thorough recording projects and apps like Duolingo that continue to add courses in such languages as Irish Gaelic.
4) In my support classes, technology is a gift for students who struggle with the mechanics of penmanship. For kids with dyslexia or issues with fine motor skills, it is perhaps easier to type responses than try to form the letters by hand. Final products for a given assignment are more polished this way, and furthermore are easier to collaborate on via technology such as Google Drive.
5) Technology can be an incredible resource that empowers students, so long as there are clear guidelines and expectations. Students are empowered by access to research resources, study tools, and a wider audience with which to communicate and share work.
6) Technology can amplify issues that have always plagued education. For example, plagiarizing is much easier with a digital “copy/paste” function. And a child’s naturally short attention span is enabled by the instant gratification of today’s media. However, many of these challenges can be addressed with clearly established rules, vigilance, and engaged teaching.
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David, I agree with you. Why should we give in to allow our language to change? When does it stop? That is the problem with changing to fit what is popular is that it is ever evolving. It will never end. Students are going to have to learn what is proper (and still need to learn cursive).
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That is so true about cursive! I learned cursive early, but that may just be my Catholic school education. =) Written memos somehow just look more polished in loops and swirls.
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1) What aspects of language and writing do you feel are affected by technology? The aspects that are impacted by technology can vary. Obviously, the actual written word itself can change. Here is where we see shorthand come into play (lol/brb/gr8). So the technology can change the actual written word, but it can also change the language by making it commonly acceptable to use these types of “words”.
2) How do you think technology will shape future language and writing? I think a good conversation point for this question is material that mentioned college acceptance. As of now, college selection committees seem determined to stay true to an “old style” of language when it comes to what is acceptable. However, I think that as the next generation comes of age, it will become even more acceptable to write in a newer, more condensed way. I do not think brb or gtg will ever be acceptable, but t form of communication centered on brevity may become acceptable (ex. 140 characters on Twitter).
3) I found the CNN video to have a very useful piece of information which I agreed with. I do not know if this is fact, and it can certainly be disputed, but I believe that new technology helps young people learn communication skills. The skills may be different, and the way the communicating is happening may have changed from the past, but it is still a way in which they learn to get their ideas across to another person. The communication may not be correct in grammar or be very eloquent, but they must obtain the basic communication skills if they want people to understand them.
4) I think technology can be integrated into the classroom in a number of different ways. I think the professor at BYU had a great idea in asking his students to send him a writing sample before class. When projected on a board, the writing samples become a useful workshop. The class as a whole can highlight key phrases, change sentences, rethink themes, and all other types of workshop practices. All of this directed by a teacher can prove to be very useful in developing young writers.
5) I do think educators should be open to integrating technology. The simplest reason why is because technology is not going anywhere. Odds are, every student I ever come in contact with will be well versed in modern technologies. It would be bad teaching in my opinion to always refuse this new technology. However, I do think there is something to be said for forcing students to learn in other ways at times. So maybe an older style of learning can be beneficial if used properly.
6) I think the major concern is technology becoming a distraction to students. I agree with this on some level, but if the teacher can plan carefully and monitor well then the distractions should be held to a minimum.
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On behalf of Group 2, we would like to thank everyone for contributing to our discussion. All of your responses definitely provided great insight into technology and its effects on writing and language.
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