The Evolution of 21st Century Writing

As I progress through my research, my problem statement is evolving and I will use a mixed-method research design to determine the outcome. Explanatory design seems to be a useful approach because it will allow me use qualitative findings (students' level of writing) to back up the quantitative data (the amount students' technology use).

I plan to determine the impact of technology usage on writing quality of middle and high school students and which forms has the greatest impact - negative or positive.

Who: Grades 6 - 12

What: The impact of technology by middle and high school students.

Why: Although, the different forms of technology are great tools for education, are they creating generations of students with poor writing skills?

Descriptive: What are the writing levels of general education students in middle and high school students?

Relationship: Do the scores of students drop on standard writing tests for students that accumulate more than 1000 texts per month?

Difference: Is there a difference between the writing skills of students that are dependent on technology and the students that only use technology as a supplement?

With the help of my classmates and instructor here are some questions that I will use in my research:

1. What type of technologies are being used to increase writing quality? (word processing, software programs, internet sites/tutorials, blogging, etc?). Is one seen to be more effective than another?

2. Home much time does the student spend texting, using word processors, etc. at home?

3. Does the teacher allow "texting" language and symbols in classroom assignments?

4. What are teacher expectations for writing and grammar skills in the classroom?

Does technology make our students lazy?

As a world history teacher, my students must be able to communicate to me in writing. As we continue to introduce technology to our classrooms, our students benefit from the accessibility and ease of putting together their assignments. Some forms of technologies, which are not common to the classroom, have also contributed to the decline of our students' writing skills. Many students have the ability to communicate in writing, however the short messages used in text messages, emails, and other forms of electronic communication have led to improper writing habits in the classroom.

Problem Statement: I plan to research the over use of technology by today's students to determine if it has led to poor writing habits in the classroom.

Who: Grades 6 - 12

What: The over use of technology by pre-teens and teenagers.

Why: Although the different forms of technology are great tools for education, are they creating generations of students with poor writing skills?