C. Sandefur

4/9/2012

I found an article about a month ago online that related to our class. The article is about how some skills we found important in the past are now taking a back seat in the digital age. I noticed that this article is meant for an actual newspaper called the Post-Dispatch and I have even changed the way I receive my news from the past. I now read my news from newspaper companies online. Even my printed newspaper has taking a back seat in this digital age. I now read the news on their website. Look at what you do throughout the day. Is their anything you do now that changed in the digital age for you?

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/at-some-schools-cursive-writing-takes-back-seat-in-digital/article_8aff06d4-44a2-51b9-9794-7ca4ca72e3fe.html

The article above is about how a simple skill of cursive writing has taking a back seat in the digital age. Students are being exposed to typing skills before writing skills. Do you find this necessary in the digital age? Do you see this skill being eliminated from curriculum because of the digital age? Which skill do you find more important to be taught in the classroom keyboarding or cursive? I would love to hear from those who are currently teaching if you have seen any of these changes.

40 Comments

George Pincock

4/9/2012 11:32:06 am

That was a really good article and mentions some important aspects. This quote says it all for me...
We are in a hurry to do away with basic skills because they can be replaced by technology, What happens when technology doesn't work?"

We have to teach are students to be proficient at doing things the "old way" just in case something does go wrong with our technology. Should we stop teaching our students how to do long division just because we have calculators?

Ryan Mansfield

4/9/2012 10:48:18 pm

I think we are putting ourselves behind the proverbial eight ball with the overuse of today's technology. It was either last week or the week before my office computer, were the majority of my daily activities take place, was on the fritz and I was not able to log onto the internet. I would have liked to get some things done but without the use of the internet my workday comes to an abrupt halt. Are we truly that reliant on the internet in our daily lives that if we do not have access then we are not able to function? I would have to say yes.

Robert Thomas

4/11/2012 04:19:31 am

That is a good point, so many of us are reliable on the internet. Back to the last students blogs about how we talked about being able to do or find out information in more ways than one is important. Technoloy helps us be much more efficient in alot of ways which is a good thing. I also agree that technology is being overused and it will only get worse from now on in my mind.

Stephanie Armiger

4/15/2012 12:37:59 pm

Yes, I agree technology works great, when it works very quickly and efficiently. However, unfortunately when it doesn't work, we still have work to do. Many companies have stopped printing up files, so if the computer system isn't working you can't get any work completed. It is frustrating.

Audrey Crabtree

4/10/2012 03:32:04 am

I think that we are looking at technology in the wrong way. We need to find ways to help incorporate technology and the old way we used to learn things. I think that we can find positives and negatives about both and if we somehow find a hybrid between the two, we would really have something.

Jeremy Esry

4/12/2012 11:37:00 pm

I totally agree, we have to find a happy medium for the two because if we are naive to technology and what the future holds we will be far behind, however it is important to learn the past and respect the ways of how we got to where we are. If we can start appreciating where we came from but accept the future we will be in great shape.

casey costa

4/11/2012 04:19:52 am

You made a good point about long division. It is so important to learn the upcoming and new techniques, however doing things the long and old school way shows a different perspective and without the shortcuts really makes kids have to understand the material in order to have to do it by hand. A mix of old and new is the best way to go I believe because they are both valuable in their own way.

Popi Stevens

4/12/2012 01:12:55 am

Good Question... I think we still need to teach students long division or there multiplication tables even though we have calculators. The basics are very important and give students a foundation and base in education.

Ryan Mansfield

4/9/2012 10:44:06 pm

On the handwriting side of education, I agree 100%. I remember some of the handwriting classes I had in junior high and high school and they were classes that I had very little success in. I really don't want to see what my grades would be today in a handwriting class. I will say however that probably one of the most useful classes that I took while in high school and even college would have to be my keyboarding class. This in one class that I absolutely hated with a passion but especially in today's world, I am sure glad that I took it as it is one of the few classes I took that I am actually able to apply in today's educational setting.

As far as the news side of technology, I couldn't tell you the last time that I actually read a newspaper. Most of the news that I get nowdays is actually through sources such as google and yahoo which in pretty scary considering some of the bloggers that work those sites can pretty much put up whatever they want and people are going to believe it. The days of doing research and having sources through the course of writing and investigative journalism is damn near extinct.

Audrey Crabtree

4/10/2012 03:38:48 am

I think that you are right that we need to have a basic for handwriting so we can communicate in more ways than just one. I think that we can incorporate technology and the old way we did things to help students in all aspects.

Christopher Sandefur

4/13/2012 12:04:01 am

Great point. It is hard to believe we trust this information that could have no credibility. I understand hating keyboarding but it turnout to be one of the classes I use the skills taught the most.

Nick Camp

4/9/2012 11:23:26 pm

George, I believe you hit it on the head. Why not teach students things the "old way", just in case technology fails. Which it may very well do at some point in time. To rely on something and not have a back up plan is pretty foolish in my opinion. We never really engage our brains anymore, we rather allow technology do all of the thinking for us. Math is a big one with calculators and what not, but another one that comes to mind is spelling. Its a lot easier to plug a word in to Microsoft Word and get the correct spelling, rather than sounding it out.

Ryan Mansfield

4/10/2012 10:21:25 pm

I think I good point is made about sounding out wording and stringing sentences together to make a valid point. However when are kids going to learn this. It seems that almost as soon as kids are born they are using computers and spell check is almost instant therefore eliminating the need for learning how to spell. To go one step further, there are several programs on the market today that eliminate the need for typing. There are programs today that type whatever you dictate into the microphone.

George Pincock

4/10/2012 11:54:37 pm

Spell Check on computers and Auto Correct on cell phones are, in my opinion, two of the biggest problems encountered by students today. They have no "need" to pay attention to details because someone/something will take care of it for them.

Heather Kirkendoll

4/11/2012 10:22:12 pm

I hate anything with voice recognition. I have a Minney Mouse sounding voice, and no program understands what I am trying to tell them. It is very frustrating. But that said, I do like your point about how somethings we see as valuable now may become obsolete as well in the future. So I think that main thing we can do for kids is teach them the skills of how to think.

Audrey Crabtree

4/10/2012 03:27:06 am

I think that we need to learn how to print and write what we want to say, but I think cursive writing is of no use today. I didn't even need to learn about it back then. I think if we should spend more time on math and learning how to use the words we want to write in cursive the correct way. I do think that technology has allowed for somethings to take a back seat, but what do we need cursive for? It is harder to read and not everyone uses it after they learn it. This doesn't mean I think that we should get rid of subjects to better understand technology. I do think we need to look at what is relivent in the here and now. We still need math, english, reading, and PE. These things will always be needed, but I think we need to look into if the information we are teaching and make sure it is relivent to the time.

Nick Camp

4/18/2012 11:32:24 pm

Cursive isn't used as much now because students type their reports and papers instead of writing them as we previously did. The core subjects must be covered, its in the matter they are covered that I have an issue with.

Casey Costa

4/10/2012 05:22:26 am

The biggest thing that I've noticed changing is my form of communication. Before you made plans in person a few days before and would call to confirm if you had any questions now plans are more last minute and almost always through text. I can't remember the last time I've been asked to hang out in person. I still feel that good handwriting is important to have and cursive should be taught I know people that write in cursive because it's easier or quicker for them and in an education we need to be exposed to many things not just the most convenient way.

Nick Camp

4/18/2012 11:39:07 pm

I remember before I had a cellphone and I would walk to friends house to see what they were doing because you couldn't text them. All of the texting has hampered our social skills tremendously

Cara Barth-Fagan

4/11/2012 12:10:20 am

Technology is the future of many occupations, we can't get away from that. However, when it comes to cursive & it taking the time to learn how to sign your name, I disagree. My 2nd grader has been teaching himself how to write in cursive, because he likes the way his name looks in cursive. I write most of my notes/memos, etc in cursive, however my husband on the other hand, prints EVERYTHING (except his signature). I know we are coming to a digital age where our signatures will probably turn into pressing our thumbs on a screen or punching in a code on the computer number keypad but I still like the fact that I can write in cursive and it means something. In the future our students will be typing their notes rather than writing them and the art of writing will probably be lost . . .
As far as the newspapers/print materials, I think it's great that we're saving trees and going green. Apple has put a cap on the amount an electronic textbook in education will cost at just $14.99. Imagine the savings in $$$ in the educational system in books and paper alone!

Kelli Miller

4/11/2012 03:39:32 am

I agree with you that cursive writing will probably be a lost art form in the future. I used to love practicing my cursive in school and it's great that your son wants to practice on his own. I, too, see us using our finger prints and entering codes in place of our signatures.
I am on the fence about newspapers/print materials going digital. I like how green the print industry is becoming and the cost saving it will bring to schools around America. However, I think jobs will be lost, won't they--if the majority of newspapers go viral?

Stacy Crommie

4/12/2012 12:17:40 am

I didnt even think about fingerprints but I can see it heading that way too. Cursive writing will probably be a lost art but I believe some of the nostalgia of it will stay and never be totally lost, like calligraphy.

Cara Barth-Fagan

4/13/2012 04:51:20 am

You're right, some jobs will be lost, but someone (or some people) will still have to report the news, edit it, publish it, do touch ups to the website, etc . . .Maybe they will create new jobs for those who used to deliver . . .

Thomas Buehler

4/11/2012 12:42:14 am

I think that fundamental skills such as reading and writing are crucial for young kids. We need to learn to crawl before we can walk. WIth that being said, I also believe that learning the fundamentals of technology is just as important. Knowing how to write is important, but we need to make changes in cirriculum to meet the demand for technology. We need start meeting the demands of technology in an increasingly paperless world.

Elyce Lamphere

4/13/2012 03:32:04 am

I completely agree with you that fundamental skills such as learning how to write should not be lost. With the way our world is heading to a paperless world, I feel our view of fundamental skills should be adjusted, the basics of technology should be added to the basics of reading writing, socializing, well technology should be added but should certainly not take out some of the fundamentals as writing in cursive.

Kelli Miller

4/11/2012 03:29:52 am

I can definitely see how the digital age has changed some of the daily activities I do, especially with coaching. In the past, maybe 15 years and beyond, coaches rarely spent time in an office and if they did, it was because they were done recruiting for the next couple recruiting classes or they were just finishing up some loose ends with their programs. In the past, coaches were on the road, visiting athletes face to face; visiting families in their homes-trying to sign great athletes to their program. Now, coaches have online media forums, Skype, texting, etc...that we use to connect with prospective athletes. I can now Skype a player from Germany or from one of the coasts, rather than either of us having to travel great distances. Coaches are spending more time in the office these days.

Robert Thomas

4/11/2012 04:35:42 am

Writing and Spelling are two of the biggest subjects that will take a hit from the use of todays technology. With texting and things like twitter peoples writing skills are going down. There is so much broken english that is used in both texting and twitter it has alot with people being lazy with their writing. I know when I text I dont spell out everything correctly much spell the entire word. With it happening on a daily basis creates bad habits. I didnt start texting and things like that untill a few years ago think what it will be for the kids that start at 10 years of age.

Melea Shimkus

4/11/2012 02:15:35 pm

I like that you brought up spelling and texting. I did not start texting until I was in college. It's hard to believe that 10 year olds have cell phones now. When I was that age I was more concerned with playing outside until it got dark, not texting my friends basically saying nothing. I agree that all of these new developments create bad habits.

Melea Shimkus

4/11/2012 02:08:58 pm

This was a really interesting article and something I had not really thought of before in regards to technology in the classroom. I think it is still important to teach children how to write in cursive. It is a skill they will have to use in the furture for signing their name on important documents. I liked what the teacher at the end of the article said about typing skills and writing in cursive: "both are important." I agree that both are important skills that should still be taught in schools.

Heather Kirkendoll

4/11/2012 10:15:18 pm

I thought this article was very interesting. On the outside it does seem that cursive writing isn't needed as much as before, but the effects of not teaching it are showing. I never knew that handwriting helped in the development of reading, writing, memory and critical thinking. I found it interesting what they found with the brain scans. As a teacher, I am seeing a huge decline in handwriting. And it frustrates me when I write something on the board in cursive and I always have a student say, "I can't read cursive." I think handwriting has become a lost art. Now, I do agree that keyboarding is a very critical skill for our students. Do they need to learn it before handwriting? I don't think that is necessary. If they start keyboarding about 4th grade or so, I think that would be sufficient enough to prepare them for the future job market.

Christopher Sandefur

4/13/2012 12:08:21 am

I agree with you Heather. I think starting keyboarding at such a young age is overkill. That is interesting what you have found in your class. I could see this being frustrating with the lack use of reading cursive. I think by teachers like yourself using cursive will help enhance their skills.

Stacy Crommie

4/12/2012 12:14:46 am

I believe that cursive writing is still important. I still write my study guides out in cursive and then type tyhem in the computer to send them in for my online classes. It is like a double way to study. Plus everyone signs their name in cursive and each signature is unique. If signatures were printed, most of the uniquesness would leave. There are just some things that cannot be taken out of the curriculum. We have to keep up the "old ways' just on the chance technology fails. Look at how everyone freaked at the "Y2K" scare. What if all information was lost or technology shut down. Cursive is still important.

Popi Stevens

4/12/2012 01:11:03 am

This was a really cool article. It hit on a very good point (that we have discussed during the course of this class) about how kids need to still learn good fundamentals and basics of what they are learning. In English students should still learn how to spell and not depend on spell check soley. In math students should still learn there multiplication tables. After students have learned the basics then from there technology can be used to assist and help students. But it should not be a replacement for students learning the basics!

Cara Barth-Fagan

4/15/2012 06:27:24 am

I don't think technolgoy was ever intended to replace teachers, but it was to be used as a tool or an enrichment to the lesson or support for the students/teachers. I still believe in students learning their basic skills, like reading, writing & artithmitic- it's up to us, teachers, to present it to our students in a way that meets their needs. So if using technolgoy to enhance our lesson meets their needs or sparks some interest, the better we'll be able to get our point/lesson across.

Jeremy Esry

4/12/2012 11:34:03 pm

This was a really great article that got me thinking a great deal. I can see cursive writing being eliminated from the curriculum and as much as I hate to see it happend just because of tradition I can fully understand the need to and why. I probably use cursive once a day to sign my name on a check, reciept or piece of paper, however I use my typing skills non-stop thru the day. I believe that keyboarding is definatly more important in todays day and age and should be taught before cursive writing. As far as technology changing my everyday habits, I too am guilty of reading the newspaper every morning online instead of using a hard copy. What I really enjoy most about this is I can check out numorous newspapers from around the country.

Thomas Buehler

4/15/2012 05:17:06 am

I agree with you Jeremy. Knowing how to type is more applicable today than knowing how to write in cursive. With that being said, I don't want new generations to miss out on the chance to learn these fundamental skills.

Elyce Lamphere

4/13/2012 03:41:26 am

This article certainly made me think about a couple of things, such as even though technology is very important and is just going to get more and more important, what happens when technology fails? If schools just stopped teaching our students how to write our children are not going to know what to do when technology isn't there. I do not think that is a good thing. Yes, we as a society are becoming paperless, but that does not mean that we still don't use paper. We have to sign our names as an example on important papers, such as a contract. Teachers and school districts should create a system where our students learn basic technology skill and still keep handwriting in the curriculum.

Stephanie Armiger

4/15/2012 12:33:44 pm

That is a good point, "What do we do when technology doesn't work?" Do you all remember when dial-up was the only way we could get online? We were so happy to get connected, that we sat patiently and waited for the connection to take place. Wow! Fast forward, now I could not imagine having internet if it was dial-up, I could not sit and wait patiently for it because I know there is faster and better internet service available. I also know that I could not complete an online class using dial-up internet, because by the time I would have to wait for all of the questions to load, I would run out of time.
Yes, technology is great and we depend on it for many things. It is frustrating to have technology not available when we plan on using it to complete something. However, when technology doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean we can quit for the day and go home, we still have to be able to complete our work. Therefore, I do believe in teaching our students how to work with and without technology. We all of the advantages technology offers our students it would be a shame not to incorporate it in to the daily curriculum, but they still have to work (on the job or classroom) when technology does not.

Matthew Clanahan

4/15/2012 10:28:53 pm

I definitely find myself changing the way I do things in the digital age. For example, I grew up with television news and paper (print) magazines and newspapers. Now, 95% of my news consumption is online. I get immediate notifications on my iPhone whenever any big event happens. Likewise, I get severe weather warnings for the National Weather Service on my phone faster than on the radio. The digital age has, arguably, improved the way we receive this type of information.

Even the way I watch TV has changed. My family no longer pays a ridiculously high Dish Network bill; instead, we have a set-top box called a Roku that allows us to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and other online services. I can stream everything I want to watch, in HD, for a fraction of the cost of a satellite or cable subscription.

As a young guy, though, there are some things I've ALWAYS done differently than previous generations. I've never had the headache of balancing a checkbook; online banking ensures that I always know how much money is in my account. I rarely even write a check because I use my debit card, and the payment immediately shows up online. I can check my balance from my phone. Also, I don't have to mail my payments or take time out of my day to go pay bills; instead, I can set up all of my payments online. Technology has certainly made things easier and more convenient.

Matthew Clanahan

4/15/2012 10:33:24 pm

To answer Coach Sandefur's other question, I don't see why students can't/shouldn't be taught to write and type concurrently. Focusing on either one to the detriment of the other would be a shame. Both are essential skills, and both should be taught.

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This blog is for class conversations for ED 514 at Central Methodist University. These post are by the students of ED 514. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms.

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