Writing in the 1:1 classroom

According to Warchauer (2006) Internet browsing and word processing are the two most common uses of laptops in the 1:1 classrooms he studied. The word processing functionality of the laptop allowed for writing to be integrated into more areas of instruction, to be an iterative process, to be public and collaborative, to be authentic and allowed for diverse genres (76-79).

However, despite the presence of the laptops the quality of the educational experiences does not truly shift for the students. Laptops do allow for the amplification effect to occur - whereby good teaching and sound pedagogy can be made better through the use of technology to further support and individualize instruction. The presence of the laptops however do not guarantee that this will occur.

In reading this book it is clear that while technology holds a promise for supporting reform, without the foundation of the pedagogy and content knowledge, as suggested in the TPCK model, teachers and schools will not be able to leverage this tool.


Some thoughts about what students can do with the laptops in the writing process
PreWriting

• Background research
• Graphic Organizers

Writing Drafts

• Keyboard vs. Hand
• Scaffolding tools

Rewriting

• Reading and evaluating
• Providing feedback
• Editing and revising

Dissemination