Instructify

In our rush to infuse our lesson plans with tools like blogs, wikis, and other fun words that didn’t exist until a couple years ago, we must remind ourselves this stuff is still new to a lot of teachers. And most importantly, it’s new to a lot of parents and administrators who like things the way they are, thank you very much. Before we go storming the Bastille and demanding schools tear down the firewalls, we must arm ourselves with arguments as to why it’s a good idea.

In the Raleigh News & Observer article, “Embracing E-Writing,” Bradley A. Hammer, an instructor at Duke University (a fact which we UNC folks will try to ignore) states that writing for the Web has distinct advantages over the traditional research paper:

“[Students] defend their analyses and argue with real purpose because they are forced to be conscious of an audience beyond the limited scope of the instructor…Often they’re shocked to discover that effective academic writing is more complex than adherence to grammatical rules. They’re arguing, debating and, yes, writing about real-world issues in a context that the traditional classroom fails to offer.”

If you read this blog, Hammer’s article is probably preaching to the choir. But remember, it’s not written for you. It’s for the people who look at you funny for trying to do things differently. Or for the PTA member who yells blogs would open the door to Internet predators and porn. To overcome the Luddites, it’s vital to show them how and why Web 2.0 tools are an improvement over the status quo, and not just the latest tech toys. –BILL FERRIS

Embracing E-Writing