Writing can be a challenge for students of all ages. As educators, we are always searching for ways to help students, wanting them to perform to the best of their ability. With so much technology around us, it can make one wonder whether it is helping or hurting, or maybe it isn’t making much of a difference.
As I started to read other articles, I noticed that often times if it dealt with technology in the classroom, it was specifically about which types of tools/resources were best or the best practices for using technology. I was curious how technology affected student writing on a basic level.
My study consisted of 30 fifth grade students. Fifteen of the students had handwritten responses to a writing prompt that was opinionated and informative, while the other students typed their response. After collecting responses, the amount of writing mistakes, grammar mistakes, and the word count were analyzed and compared. Although students who typed made fewer writing mistakes, quantitative analysis did not expose a significant difference. Students who handwritten actually made fewer grammar mistakes, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, analysis did show a significant difference in word count with respect to opinion responses.
Although the study only revealed significant difference in one of the observed measures, it is important to continue the study of how technology affects student performance and the ways in which teachers can use it to improve student outcomes.
Effects of Technology
On Writing
By: Paige Kitchenmaster
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