Comments on: Writing digitally = better self-perception of writing skills

By: Susan V

Susan V — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:45:05 +0000

I’m all for writing and more writing – generally, the more you write, the better you get at it. That I can concur with, and I think that’s a positive sign. I think it’s great that kids are blogging, etc. What I take issue with is the idea that because they THINK they write better, therefore they write better. Having worked for newspapers and having been involved in numerous writing groups, I’ve often seen an inverse relationship between the quality of the writing and the pride the writer takes in it. Some of the worst writers I’ve ever encountered seemed to think that every word they typed was issued by the gods themselves. I mean, seriously dreadful, painfully bad stuff. And these folks wrote a lot, too.

By: Winnie

Winnie — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:09:22 +0000

I wonder how they define “better”. And I agree with Vickie – given that technology is not free perhaps the kids who do write “better” have other advantrages which have absolutley nothing to do with technology use. I am of the generation that was told television would rot our brains and I had to listen to people tell me that video games would rot my kids brains. Things are never that simple.

By: vickie

vickie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:27:47 +0000

Thinking back to my stats course in library school. I wonder if the technie kids are richer and therefore more confident and therefore rate their skills higher? By the way, I have read a few blogs by high school kids – and some of them are so poorly written and contain so little content of any use whatsoever that I can’t see the value in it. There are exceptions of course.
However, having said this, I do not remain convinced by either camp – I think there are other factors at work that make kids good writers rather than their tech savvy or screen time. I read a study last year or so that said that reading to children makes little difference in their ultimate reading ability or educational success — it found that the most important factor was the socio-economic well being/educational attainment of the parents. So don’t bother reading “Night Moon” to little Timmy; get yourself out there and set up a global corporation or get your MBA in night school.

By: peter

peter — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:38:06 +0000

I can’t comment on the report b/c I haven’t read it, but I don’t necessarily agree that b/c you write alot – digitally or otherwise – you’ll be a better writer. Now, if you write alot and you have someone proofing your work then I think you have a shot.

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Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:45:42 +0000

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