Undoubtedly, technology has infiltrated every part of human life, including education. Evidence shows that developmentally appropriate use of technology helps students grow and learn, mainly when families and educators play an active role in the learning process. Learners use tech to explore new worlds, envisage scenarios, and actively participate in fun and challenging activities.
There are numerous tools and methods available for teaching writing that can make the process more effective and exciting for students and educators. While not every approach will be appropriate for every student or class, technology provides enough variety, meaning there is something for everyone. A recent survey found that about 68% of teachers believed that digital tools make students take shortcuts and not put effort into their writing. This article explores the role of technology in improving students’ writing habits.
Positive Effects of Technology on Writing
The effect of technology on effective communication has attracted considerable interest in the world of academia. The introduction of mobile phones has revolutionized how we communicate and interact with each other. Also, the internet has evolved to bring a faster way of accessing millions of people in an instant. Writing has not been left behind, as evidence shows an increased reliance on tech for writing assignments and research. Here are some unusual ways technology improves students’ writing:
Technology Helps With Monitoring and Correcting Language Mechanics
A helpful way technology in academia can improve writing is by monitoring and correcting language mechanics. Besides, built-in language features like autocorrect, applications, and browser extensions such as Grammarly are very useful in helping students grow their linguistic skills and vocabulary. Students can identify mistakes in grammar use and language mechanics.
As long as these tools help students learn the rules of writing instead of lowering their need to know them, technology will continue to shape education in monumental ways. For example, students struggling with an assignment can easily order online assistance from an essay writing service.
Automation Supports Grading and Feedback
Another unique way in which technology affects learning and writing is through automation. According to experts, automation excels in two notable areas: feedback and grading. It allows instructors to grade writing assignments and exams faster than possible without tech. Professors can also provide immediate feedback, allowing students to move forward at their own pace, having mastered a given learning area.
The workload on teachers can sometimes be overwhelming. One may be asked to grade the work of a hundred students at a given time while also creating room for kind comments and feedback to improve writing. While budgetary constraints limit teachers’ ability to take on lighter class loads, technology offers excellent solutions for students and teachers.
There are increasingly complex and efficient systems to help students correct mistakes in their writing and can provide feedback on the process when it matters the most. Thanks to technology, students can use the feedback to adjust their writing before handing in projects for assessment. Although these programs are still evolving, they hold much promise regarding helping instructors teach effective writing over the coming years.
Technology Produces Visual Data and Reporting
Technology also helps improve writing by producing visual data and reporting. Evidence shows that writing-focused software is available to help teachers monitor student progress as they generate papers or work on assignments. The data produced from the monitoring allows teachers to help learners from the start of their projects to the final product. Teachers are always available to offer assistance at any stage of the student’s research and writing process.
Technology Supports Writing by Combining Media Forms
Today, many multimedia tools are available for teachers and students to use. Lots of these tools integrate perfectly with the writing assignments that students find challenging and engaging. For instance, some teachers can ask students to combine videos they create with poetry they have written. Here, tech allows the integration of visual presentations with written tasks. Tech can also be used to turn stories written by students into animations.
While educators may need to inject some small investment in tech to get this kind of program working, the benefits are immense. According to experts, technology that combines different media forms allows students to become more creative. Also, learners who use tech tools to support their writing work harder, more willing to revise and perfect their work.
Technology Allows Collaboration and Publishing
Another notable way in which technology fosters better writing is by enhancing collaboration. Technological innovation makes it easier for students to communicate across boundaries and collaborate on almost anything. Learners can share ideas on writing projects and give constructive feedback to help their peers improve their skills.
Tools like Google Drive allow students to work together on projects while providing feedback critical to effective writing. Furthermore, access to technology allows students to publish and promote their writing. Blogs, for instance, encourage students to create writing targeting larger audiences. The implications can drastically differ from asking learners to create essays or term papers.
The Bottom Line
The impact of technology has been monumental in academia, and the promise it holds for the future is exciting. Tools like social media, the internet, and smartphones encourage creativity and personal expression. Today, writing is more important and prominent than ever before. Technologies like word-processing programs, grammar-checking tools, online publishing programs, and speech-to-text programs make writing exciting and more straightforward. Furthermore, technology allows students to share their writing with more extensive and diverse audiences.
Despite its many benefits, technology also has some challenges that teachers and students need to address. For instance, evidence shows that digital tools can sometimes blur the line between informal and formal writing. Students can also spend too much time choosing suitable graphics and fonts instead of focusing on the real purpose of writing. Remember that using tech in education aims to improve learning and foster better writing skills and habits.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Ain Media.
