Reflections on Writing and Technology from the Net Generation Joyner Elementary School

JaLisa the Future Children's Book Writer

MIDTech(MT): So what do you learn when you use computers?

JaLisa: You learn how to spell by using the spellchecker and you learn many fonts . . .

MT: What is a font?

JaLisa: It's kind of a style that is different from regular styles. And the style that I am writing in is kind of like a cursive style. Computers help you learn better. See if you were going to California and wanted to write a letter before you went, Email would be better because it wouldn't take like a lot of time. And the best thing I learned about the computer is that I learned how to type fast through all of the years. And I learn most of the keys like the home key and the third key and the second key and it's real fun.

MT: Wow, and I can tell that you don't mind taking about it either. You're very articulate. So how long have you been using a computer?

JaLisa: Since I was in the first or second grade

MT: And you're in fourth grade now. So you've pretty much grown up with computers, right? Yea. So can you tell me something about using email. Do you get to use email?

JaLisa: Well, I don't have email but Mr. Treichler showed us email on the screen. I used it last year to write back and forth to a pen pal and it's fun.

MT: So what do you think email is good for in school?

JaLisa: Email is good to write pen pals like I said. It's good helping you with how to send email and when you write pen pals you get to learn about other people so it can help you in school.

MT: Is it good to learn about other people?

JaLisa: Uh-huh, I learn a lot about other people ­ people in my class last year and this year and the year before. So it's fun.

MT: So what advice would you give to other fourth grade students and teachers who are just beginning to use computers who maybe weren't as advanced as you and Mr. Treichler?

JaLisa: Well, in our class we have computer experts and I am one of them because I love to use the computer. I would just make sure they learned how to use a computer because you use a computer about all of your life.

MT: So you're a computer expert?

JaLisa: Yes.

MT: So how do you think that you are going to use it all of your life?

JaLisa: Well, first, I think I want to become a writer or write songs and I can write children's books. I guess I would use it the way I use it now. It wouldn't be anything real different.

MT: So in the fourth grade you already know you want to write children's books? How did you make that decision?

JaLisa: Well, first of all, when I wrote a story called, "The Twins Called Leprechaun." And then I wrote another story called, "A Cold January." And it's like 13 pages long.

MT: And you typed that on a computer?

JaLisa: Yes, on Easybook. I like to draw. I can't draw really good but I'm getting to the hang of it. I just decided because writing is fun and I like writing.

MT: When did you learn to write?

JaLisa: I learned how to type on the computer, which keys, and other things . . .

MT: How about more that actually getting the writing down on paper? How do you come up with the writing?

JaLisa: Well, first I think about and when I get all of my thoughts together I ask my teacher if I can type on the computer and he says, "Yes." I put down my thoughts that I thought in my head. I write my thoughts down in my journal and then I put it all together. But I think of a title first because you don't want to go out without a title for your story.

MT: Have you ever met a real children's book author?

JaLisa: Yes and I know her name, Ann Fearrington. She helped us make our newspaper, Treichler's Times. She showed us one of her books and she can illustrate real good.

MT: So she sort of inspired you?

JaLisa: Yeah.

MT: That's great.

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Sandy on Writing, Technology and Sports:

MT: I'm really interested in how kids are learning to use computers? In your opinion, you've been working on what looks like a really long story, and you say you've been working on it a week. Do you think computers help you write stories?

Sandy: I think they are a lot better than just writing because I think it's an easier way than just writing on paper. I don't have the best handwriting so it's easier and the computer makes it all look nice. The font makes it all the same.

MT: Yes, it certainly makes it look nice for publishing. How about for getting your thoughts down?

Sandy: I think it's just about the same for getting your thoughts down.

MT: That's interesting. You know there are famous writers who talk about how they write and their styles can vary greatly. One will say, " I have to write it in long hand first," and another will type right into the computer.

Sandy: I write it first on paper just so I can get my thoughts down and then I can make it sound better when I go to the computer. I think this is easier for me.

MT: So you're actually revising when you go to the computer?

Sandy: Yes.

MT: I bet you guys learn a lot about the writing process?

Sandy: Oh, yes.

MT: So how would you say using computers helps you with the writing process?

Sandy: The computer helps me with vocabulary and spell check. Sometimes on paper you can miss a word and it looks right but really it's wrong. Where on a computer you can use spell check and it makes it all look nice with no mistakes.

MT: So you really think the computer helps you a lot when you prepare your writing to share with other people?

Sandy: Yes.

MT: And as a writer that's your primary concern, right?

Sandy: Yes, mam.

MT: What's been your favorite project using computer?

Sandy: I'm a big Carolina fan and for each game I've written a summary of it and then printing it out. So that's just part of my project I'm doing so far.

MT: Wow, what a great project. I want to take a look at that. Maybe we can include some of that on the website for your class. Did Mr. Treichler tell you that you're going to be helping us develop a website for other teachers and students?

Sandy: Yea, I'll have to find out where it is so I can take a look at it.

MT: So, is there anything else you'd like to share about computer?

Sandy: Well, I really like the email. If you write a letter sometimes it can take a long time but this way it only takes like a second to get there. And last year in my class we emailed my teacher's daughter in Charlotte, North Carolina.

MT: So, there is this immediacy of response?

Sandy: Right, if I send something I kind of want to get it back quick rather than waiting a long time for an answer. I think this is an easier way than sending a letter because you can get an answer a lot quicker.

MT: You sound like you really think about things a lot. Have you thought about how using computers is going to help you in life?

Sandy: In the future, the computer is probably going to become part of our everyday lives. You're going to have to be really good on a computer to get a job. And I if we learn now then when we get older we will know how to do it instead to just learning how.

MT: So everyone will be expected to know how, right? What do you hope to be doing when you grow up?

Sandy: My dad is an accountant and I'm not going to do that. I hope to go into the NBA or NFL.

MT: Well, you're certainly learning a lot about sports by reading and writing about them.

Sandy: Oh, yea. Especially on the Internet. My dad has a laptop at home and we look at the website pages and you learn a lot of stuff.

MT: So would you say that computers are like ­

Sandy: TV, I think. Because we you go to the Internet it's like seeing commercials. Then you have all of the other stuff which is a lot.

MT: Is it better than TV in some ways?

Sandy: Yea, I think it is because you can see a lot more. And it's a world-wide thing and TV stations are not world-wide -- they are more like North Carolina. So if you go to the Internet you can see sports from all over the country.

MT: So your teacher is doing some exciting things with technology?

Sandy: Yes, ma. He does a lot of things like you can put headsets on and if you say a word it comes up over there [pointing to the screen.]

MT: I have seen Mr. Treichler do that. That's amazing.

Sandy: That's a lot easier than just typing it.

MT: I just think that was a wonderful project that you did with your game summaries. I was thinking you might like to become a sportswriter.

Sandy: Well, in fact, after I get a career in football, I might like to a writer with, say, The New and Observer.

MT: You have done a lot of thinking. That's good. So how would you advise schools and boards of education about spending money on computer?

Sandy: I think that schools don't have enough computers and that companies like Microsoft should donate computers. Because the money that the PTA raises, it doesn't need to go all to computer but for textbooks, library books, and all that. So I think that the computer companies should donate them. I think that would be real good.

MT: So you think businesses should get more involved, because after all kids are going to grow up to work in businesses.

Sandy: Right!

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Martha and Beth on Writing, Technology and Blackbeard:

MT: Martha, tell me about this piece that you're writing here?

Martha: We're writing how we can help the world ­ so many things that we can do to help the world.

MT: Would you read what you have written?

Martha: My gift to the world is to have peace. To let everyone have a place to stay. The other thing is to let people not have drugs and to not smoke. [Martha would ask that you please note that this is a draft.]

MT: Sounds like you've done a lot of thinking about how to make the world better. How about you, Beth?

Beth: My gift to the world is to try to make peace and harmony. Try to pick the trash up when it is on the ground. If someone is on the street, I would ask a homeless company so he or she could stay there. [Beth's first draft.]

MT: Oh, that's thoughtful. So do you think that being able to write on computers helps ­ wait a minute did you write this on paper first?

Beth: I didn't because I just wrote it on the computer.

Martha: I did because sometimes I just think about what I want to do before I go to the computer.

MT: Do you think it makes any difference?

Martha: Not really.

Beth: Well, sort of. I think you use your hands a little tiny bit more when you write instead of typing [demonstrates by writing in air].

Martha: I'm not sure but when you do type you have to go back and shift and delete and all of that stuff and you can just capitalize letters by hand.

MT: You know, I've heard famous writers say that they have to write in longhand for exactly that reason ­ because it "feels" more ­ feels more like me when I'm writing it when I write with my hand.

[Agreement.]

MT: Maybe I should try that because I always think right into the computer because it seems like it makes it easier to get it down fast ­ out of my head. So what are some of your favorite projects that you've done with computers?

Beth: I like the lighthouse project. I did it on Ocracoke and it was a two week long project and it's in the library.

MT: Wow, tell me more about it.

Beth: Ocracoke is the smallest lighthouse on the east coast. Blackbeard was a pirate there . . .

MT: Oh, and they just found his ship didn't they?

Beth: Yes, and Ocracoke got it's name when he said, "O Crow Cock," he wanted it to be the morning.

MT: That's interesting. Did you draw pictures and everything?

Beth: Well, I made a lighthouse model.

MT: That's impressive, and then wrote your report using the computer? How about your project, Martha?

Martha: I did the same project but I have one thing to say about Blackbeard. Blackbeard lived behind the Ocracoke Lighthouse and that's where he kept all his things behind Ocracoke.

MT: So anything else you'd like to add about computers and writing?

Martha: I sort of like writing [by hand] better but computers are nice to have like when you want to write. But you don't want to write with your hands you could just talk into the microphone and it just comes up. Mr. Treichler has one.

Beth: I think that you can learn a lot from them. I think they are a lot better than TV because with TV you just sit there and watch; here you use your hands and you watch it and you learn something.

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