Writing Re-Launched: Teaching with Digital Tools

Writing is such a difficult task for so many students.  I always hear I don't know what to write about.  I don't like to write.  I like the idea of using technology to help spark those students imaginations. 

As teachers you still need to teach the basic steps of writing but then what.  You still have those students who hate to write.  From videos to storyboards kids are given opportunities to express their thoughts in other ways then just writing them down on a piece of paper. 

Blogs and wikis are giving the students opportunities to collaborate with their writing.  All of these new ideas and strategies are giving students the confidence they need to be better writers.  It is alleviating some of the pressure students are feeling about having to write paper/pencil.  This is just another way as educators we are preparing students for the future. 

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

I agree that BYOT can work.  I feel that you initially need parents on board so that they will allow the student to bring the device in.  In the classroom you need to discuss and come up with the expectations of what it will look like in the classroom when devices are being used.  Students need to be a part of this and have some ownership of it.  Give the students opportunities to practice using the device in class with short easy tasks.  Have a central location for websites that you know you will want them to use often.  I think that BYOT does require more planning and anticipating any problems that might arise.  As the article stated students are using devices on a regular basis at home and I feel they should be able to transition to using them in school on a more regular basis.