So Are We Guilty?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I like this fellow's career advice columns although I am surely not looking for a career. This week he talks about something that really bothers me in others and yet to some degree I too suffer from technology obsession. Is DK included I wonder? Anyway here is a link to an article to ponder.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/jobs/career-coach/commentary-part-3-ob...

His Commentary II was on communication skills in young folks, another bugaboo for me.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/jobs/career-coach/commentary-part-2-ho...d

The first commentary was on Gen V, as in virtual:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/jobs/career-coach/commentary-part-1-ge...

All in all I wonder what people are becoming. Are they losing the ability to connect without devices? Losing the ability to speak in sentences? Where is all this leading us? Yet, this follows Cheryl's blog about our DK community and the friendships we've made and all we have learned from being here. Something to think about anyway. And yes, like the author I risk coming off as an old curmudgeon. My sister sent me this cartoon a while back after I had a spat with a  cousin, one generation after me, who was checking out not one, but two phones, as we waited for dinner. It made me laugh and is apropos for this blog and for dog owners I think.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sadly, this was my conclusion. Shortly after I wrote this, I added text messaging to my cell phone  :(     Now, I don't regret adding it to my service.

In part...................."

At this time, texting is not going to go away. It has our children’s full attention and educators should research more ways texting can be utilized to enhance writing and reading"

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

One more and I'll stop! LOL But since you are a teacher, and you also find this as astonishing as I did
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So where do educators begin to harness this ‘texting fad’ and take advantage of texting as a teaching tool? A cell phone did not write this document nor would abbreviated texting be appropriate in this formal document. O'Connor, (2005) suggests beginning with some basic internet etiquette. “Students need to understand the importance of using the appropriate language in the appropriate setting, and that who one is writing for affects the way in which one writes” (http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/strategies/topics/literacy/art...). Bernard states, “A new form of communication is taking hold in the linguistic sphere, which means new challenges for teaching and learning -- but also new opportunities” (2008, http://www.edutopia.org/text-messaging-teaching-tool ).

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Again, this was not an extensive paper. It was more about literacy, but I did note that verbal language was a concern with instructors, but pros were found here also.

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O’Conner stated there have been some impressive results so far with using various txtspeak in the classroom and suggests teachers use IM texting language in the classrooms to speak to the students. “If students understand where and when it is appropriate to use certain types of language, then allowing them to use IM-speak can be beneficial in building student-teacher relationships, in enhancing students' comfort level in school settings, and in improving academic performance (2005, http://education.jhu.edu/newhorizons/strategies/topics/literacy/art...). If instructors break the conventional standards and use technology correctly it is possible that the Gen Net’s may even participate more. They can relate to and understand, thus establishing a comfortable learning environment. Are we rewriting and changing the English language? Texting may be truer to the way we verbally communicate. Turlow (2003) argues that text reading and writing is more like normal speech but written formal language is required, composing a more formal, outdated method not true to real speaking. (http://vosloo.net/wpcontent/uploads/pubs/texting_and_literacy_apr09...). Vosoloo, recommends instructors should embrace using the technology that is in the hands of the youth. “It's much more about giving students an opportunity to write so extensively and so often that their writing develops” (2009).

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Hang on.. I'll look to see if I noted that finding. Nancy, the research came from Educational Journals :) Interesting to see what they are really finding. Be back in a few

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ah, Joanne, but what about learning the nuances from vocal intonation?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Unbelievable but I guess true.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

In part.... kids are doing better with literacy than ever before because they are having fun and learning at the same time......

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Many parents, teachers, and older generations are concerned not only with the frequency in texting but the long-term outcomes concerning literacy. Classroom teachers are expressing fears that reading and writing skills are not being used, are not being learned, or just forgotten. “More and more shorthand text messages are appearing on homework papers where the students do not realize that this is not the correct way to formally compose a paper” (Bernard, 2008). The high numbers in texting have also brought on health issues and cause for concern. One survey showed increased stress and anxiety, permanent damage to the thumbs from repetitive use, and lack of sleep (Sanders, 2009).
But newer evidence has shown that although numbers are high, reading and writing is not dying with this generation. “If we are seeing a decline in literacy standards among young children, it is in spite of text messaging, not because of it” (Goswami, 2011). "These kids are engaging with more written language and they're doing it for fun (Plaster, Wood, & Bell, 2009).
Researchers found that texting may help kids with spelling, understanding rhymes and syllables in speech. “Children who are fluent at text messaging have better literacy skills than youngsters who do not use mobile phones” (Thurlow, 2003). Another 2009 study found children who use "textisms" have a tendency to grasp word reading, vocabulary, and phonological awareness (Plester, Wood, & Bell).

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This was a week assignment and not a semester -long project but if you would like, the references are there to show, technology is enhancing, so far, the next generation.  Not destroying their minds.  It is actually causing entire generations to read more, write more, but the jury is still our on long-term effects.

Darn,  I have no idea how to upload a Word File. Maybe I can't. I was going to share my research with you. 

Funny, this is the first time, research proved my theory wrong.   I strongly believed that the next generation was damned!   Not so fast... I found mostly POSITIVE results from texting especially. 

 

[Pat and Traveler]

F and Laurie--I have a Kindle, which I haven't used much.  Truth is, I just prefer books, although reading in the dark is a real attraction.  lol

[F, Calla & Luca]

@Pat, I love to read too. I still read real books but often I now read on my tablet. Why I can even read in the dark!
L, as if everyone didn't know that. Luckily you have few opportunities.