Last week, I had my students read several articles on the idea of writing as something that is improving and increasing in society. Here’s one!-http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-09/st_thompson. We discussed the idea that all those blogs and tweets and posts and texts and comments all add up and the interconnectivity of the world leads people to actually write more than they have in the past. Looking at 21st century skills (skills needed to thrive in the 21st century), I felt as though these little written blurbs were just practice. Much like lifting weights helps people get stronger but those moves can’t really be used outside the gym, these little writings can help students get used to the idea and the act of writing but they still need to know what to do outside of the social network. In other words, yes we do write more, but we also write differently. We still need to know the difference between social and professional writing and though 21st century skills might help us connect, we need to know when we can use them and when we can’t.
What do you think dear readers?
I like your messages-well said writer! Yes, students definitely need to know those differences between professional and shall we say fun socializing. I read an article that said that all this social networking brings those shy or inward people out of their shell. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWell said writer! Yes, students need to know the boundaries of professional writing and social writing especially as they enter the work force. Good point!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I am impressed at the amount that kids are writing more and they are writing more without even realizing that they are actually writing MORE! However, they lack the abilitiy to differentiate between appropriate writings. But, sadly they also lack knowing the difference in their speaking as well.
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