Evaluation of Inspired Writing Voices of Littleton Students September 27, 2010 Evaluation of Inspired Writing Voices of Littleton Students September 27, 2010

Continuing the Use of Laptops

Tools for Better Writing Tools for Better Writing

- Improved Physical Appearance Appearance - More Focus on Content - Less Physically Strenuous - Faster Writing & Editing - Fosters Creativity - Word Processing Tools - Improved Physical Appearance Appearance - More Focus on Content - Less Physically Strenuous - Faster Writing & Editing - Fosters Creativity - Word Processing Tools

Back before laptops,... I was too concerned with having correct grammar and correct spelling. While they are still important today, they do not consume all my attention when I am writing. I spend more time developing my ideas and my sentence structure. With laptops, we can spend more time making our writing perfect.

Access to Information Access to Information

Computers open a door from the classroom into the world. There is so much more knowledge accessible to students who have access to computers than there is to those in traditional classrooms. Instead of remaining ignorant to the issues that spread all over the world, students can educate ourselves in order to make a difference. The Internet: Learning Outside the Classroom The Internet: Learning Outside the Classroom

The presence of laptops in class enables instant learning. If no one knows the answer, they can look it up and learn immediately. Without laptops, many things would go un-learned or researched at a later date. [E]verything relevant to a subject should be learned at one time, so it can be grouped in a brain as one.

Engagement with New Media Engagement with New Media

Now students can’t wait for math, writing, and science because we get to use the laptops and it is way more fun with the laptops the little laptops make 5th grade a little bit easier and more exciting

I now feel that what I am writing is much more relevant. This semester our class wrote a paper but instead of writing a black and white paper, we made a website and added links, pictures, and videos. Writing that paper, or website for a lack of a better term, made me feel empowered because I felt that what I was doing mattered and related to the world around me. A New Creative Writing

Share & Learn from Peers Share & Learn from Peers

- More Comfortable with Sharing Writing Sharing Writing - Provides Fresh Eyes/ Different Perspectives Different Perspectives - Formulate Complex Questions and Responses Questions and Responses - Analyze and Challenge Information Information - More Comfortable with Sharing Writing Sharing Writing - Provides Fresh Eyes/ Different Perspectives Different Perspectives - Formulate Complex Questions and Responses Questions and Responses - Analyze and Challenge Information Information

Having the laptops in class increases my enthusiasm to actually come to class, and participate in online discussions. I look forward to having my laptop everyday, and that makes me enthusiastic before I even step in the door, and that positively affects my writing [style] and pieces.

More Efficient & Productive Learning More Efficient & Productive Learning

Whenever we [discuss a book], about half of the class is in the "inner circle" and they just talk. [T]he rest of the class is in the "outer circle" and they [blog] about the same subject as the inner circle. This way, the whole class can talk about something and we all wouldn't have to wait to hear what everyone had to say about one thing before moving onto another because everyone has their own time to say things. Maximized Time & Producivity

More Individualized & Differentiated Instruction More Individualized & Differentiated Instruction

- Less Reliance on Teachers/Peers Teachers/Peers - Less Time Spent on Inquiries of Other Inquiries of Other Students Students - Write and Learn at Own Pace Own Pace - Motivated to Take Initiative Initiative - Less Reliance on Teachers/Peers Teachers/Peers - Less Time Spent on Inquiries of Other Inquiries of Other Students Students - Write and Learn at Own Pace Own Pace - Motivated to Take Initiative Initiative

I have learned responsibility and I have also learned that thinking outside the box isn’t just going farther than the question asked, its finding things out for yourself and challenging the system that is given to us.

Remaining Relevant in a Technological World Remaining Relevant in a Technological World

There are very few jobs left that do not require knowledge of computers in some way. In colleges, students will be required to type up their papers, fill out online applications, and use the internet to complete research papers. If schools are to prepare students for success in today's world, they must spend money on computers.

I used to not like writing but now I keep looking at the time and inside I am saying, "Is it time for writing yet?" If you don't believe me come visit us…. You have to see it to believe it because your eyes will pop out. I used to not like writing but now I keep looking at the time and inside I am saying, "Is it time for writing yet?" If you don't believe me come visit us…. You have to see it to believe it because your eyes will pop out. I used to not like writing but now I keep looking at the time and inside I am saying, "Is it time for writing yet?" If you don't believe me come visit us…. You have to see it to believe it because your eyes will pop out.