Taken from the ASCD Smart brief 10-26-2009
Texting may help students improve informal writing skillsDespite a myriad of concerns about the increasing use of text messaging by teens, some teachers and researchers say texting does not interfere with students' ability to use language properly and may in fact help students better express themselves through informal writing. "Writing is good. Writing is expressing thoughts. Expressing thoughts is good. We just don't like their modality," says Larry Rosen, a researcher and author of a book on the issue. Charlotte Observer (N.C.), The (10/26)
Some people on staff responded below....what do you think?
Beth said:
"I think that kids/people learn through a variety of facets. This is just one. There is a great deal of thought that has to go into texting in order to make sure that your point gets across. I can see where the shift has left people "text abbreviating" words, myself inluded...but it is a new form of literacy and our children have to be literate in more than just book and traditional print to survive in todays society.
Gone is the day of paper and pencil...we have to expand our horizons! "
Michelle said:
"Very interesting...Aside from the safety issues, I don't think we need to worry about texting degrading our language. I've used comics in my teaching and have students make their own comic strips. The style of language and vocabulary is not always the most advanced in a comic strip but reading and creating them involve a lot of higher-order thinking. Also, we ESL teachers explicitly teach the difference between formal and informal English and the times that each is appropriate. I love the suggestion from the article about having students "translate" classic literature into text language to demonstrate comprehension! "
Lisa said:
"We discussed this in my technology through literacy master's class. Although informal, it is a new style of writing and we as adults better learn how to do it or we will be left behind. At least the students are writing in some form . . ."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I do agree that texting is the "new" way of writing. With the texting cell phones, instant message chats, and so forth, the children definitely get exposed to this at an early age. I think I even saw candy hearts last Valentine's day with "text messages" on the candies. So it is definitely out there.
ReplyDeleteBut on the flip side, we should also make sure the students know the difference and when each way is most appropriate, like Michelle said. If they use text lingo in an essay or paper for upper education (high school and college), it could reflect poorly on them. Knowing the text way to write is good, but so is the more formal way, as well.