Handwriting Vs Keyboarding

Blog #5


Commenting on Heidi Cross blog #4 inspired me to do a little research on Handwriting. 

Handwriting is one of the basic three skills of education; reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The invention of typewriter and ever-increasing use of computers are writing off handwriting. 

This video expresses how student perceive handwriting in this digital world.

Handwriting is seen as one important developmental stage. According to Pica, (2011), “a pediatric occupational therapist confirmed to her that, handwriting promotes manipulation and finger isolation skills that are useful for other fine motor activities, including self-care and use of technology.” She continues to say that “learning to write by hand has a positive impact on emergent literacy, as it gives children an important opportunity to physically experience the spatial orientation and directionality of letters in a way that keyboard simply can’t”.  

Research indicates that, there is a correlation between handwriting and brain development, therefore hand is essential to both verbalization and increased creative thoughts. Some experts ague that, when handwriting is taken away from the curriculum, we impede that part of development of the right side of the brain hand-eye coordination and creativity.

Handwriting expresses identity, others gain self esteem in writing.  Studies show people retain information better when they write than type it.

We cannot do away with handwriting. Students are going to sign their names on legal documents and also write checks. 

In todays world, we communicate through a range of of media including emails, blogs, online-environments, chats, texting and  many more all using keyboard. Students are actively more engaged and motivated to complete work when they use these technologies. This calls for the teaching of keyboarding skills. Keyboarding skills are taught earlier in schools now and handwriting appears to slowly recede into the background.

Parents these days show of their children when they know how to work these modern technologies, rather than showing of their children’s beautiful hand writing. 

In our U.S history class, we give extra credit to students who type their outlines and project works. It looks like handwriting is losing its grounds.

On the flipped side, considering the developmental importance of handwriting, do we have to teach handwriting, or teach more keyboarding skills which is a key surviving skill in the 21st century.

References

Luck, M. (01-31-2011) Good Question: Should Schools Teach      Handwriting?

kxly News

Pica, R. (07-21-2011) Should We Teach Handwriting in the Digital

Walker, S. (08-23-2011) Still the Write Stuff: Why We Must Continue Teaching Handwriting

http://www.kxly.com/news/26681353/detail.html

http://www.scilearn.com/blog/teaching-handwriting-skills.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rae-pica/should-we-teach-handwriti_b_905721.


http://youtu.be/YcaXce85STU

Schools and Social Network

Blog #4

Thinking through what to post on my blog this time, I had to do lots of reading and came across an article by Nancy Willard which gave me an idea to discuss “ Schools and Social Networks. 

Before we discuss what Nancy said, lets look at “What Social Network Is? “

Dictionary.com define social network as “ a network of friends, colleagues, and other personal contacts.” It gives another definition as “an online community of people with a common interest who use a web site or other technology to communicate with each other and share information, resources etc.”  

I underlined the above words to emphasize what I think social network is all about. The  video below gives further explanation of Social Network and Why Social Network?

Considering the different definitions of social network or networking, we can say that social network could be a very good tool for teaching and learning. We live in a social world and we have to teach our students how  to be effective collaborators  in “this world” how to interact with people around them, how to be engaged, and informed 21st citizens. 

The evolving world of internet community; blogs, podcast, tags, file swapping, offer students radically new ways to research, create and learn. Is our responsibility as educators to teach students the powerful ways networking can change the way they look at education, not just their social lives. A school could use blog software to bring together students who are writing or working on the same topic, research, or project work. A teacher can set up students with accounts  at a website, which let them store, organize and share links; for example, an annotated resource list that can be used on a project. They can also see links other people have saved or browse to see what everyone has bookmarked on a subject. 

It looks and sounds good what students can do with social network. On the other hand,  we all agree to the fact that, social networking can be abused by students when there are no rules to regulate its use. Willard  (2011), outline the following as what “schools can do “ to make good use of social networking ;

WHAT SCHOOLS CAN DO

A comprehensive approach to addressing student Internet access is necessary. That approach requires:

1. A clear policy with a strong focus on educationally valuable use of the Internet -- no "Internet recess." The policy must be supported by curriculum and professional development, and a clear expectation for teachers that all student use of the Internet should be for high quality, well-planned instructional activities.
2. Student education about online safety and responsible use.
3. Effective technical monitoring.
4. Appropriate consequences. Schools and districts should consider a full review of Internet use management policies and practices. A needs assessment and evaluation of Internet use would provide helpful insight. Safe school personnel must be involved in that process.

Do we agree with Nancy Willard that, when  the above is done or put in place, Social Network could be a very good source or material for schools?  

References

Willard, N. (2011) Education World: Schools and Online Social      Networking. EducationWorld Community.

http://dictionary.reference.com

http://www.commoncraft.com/video/social-networking

http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues

Who Rules? Digital Natives Or Immigrants

Blog #3


The digital world is a world furnished and landscaped with technology. Two groups of people make up this world-; Digital Citizens and Digital Immigrants.

The citizens are those born into technology and never known anything without a keyboard. Our students are the predominant members. “Digital immigrant” a term coined by Prensky, (2001), identify the generation that was not brought up with technology but has to learn quickly how to live with technology. They are individuals born before the existence of digital technology and adopted it  some extent later in life. They are the ones that had to wait for pictures to be “developed”.  Strangely enough they are the educators of the citizens.

 What an irony!!!. In the real world, citizens teach immigrants how to adopt into their new environment but, in this “digital world”, the immigrants are the ones who are responsible for helping the citizens to adopt into their own world. 

The immigrants created the digital world and invented these new networked technologies.

These natives do not understand or align with their own cultures and values, yet, they look down upon the immigrants and think they know it all.

Watch video below and let’s reflect on this; ”Do we as educators(immigrants) let go our old ways and make room for the learning styles of our digital natives or improve on our old ways where we use reflections(mental contemplation) as a learning tool or adopt to these digital citizens who look for more interactive forms of learning ”Clicking”, where everything is already  made”. Calculators, e.dictionary, e.books, e.everything, less critical thinking skills. Don’t think they can be creative like the immigrants who invented this technologies. 

                                       References

Georgieva, M. (2009) Be a Digital Citizen, Not a Digital Tourist.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6. doi: 10.1108/10748120110424816

http://youtu.belovsymMbMYHA