Thanks to Doug Gowan at the Open Learning Partnership for this link to the Executive Summary of the UK National Literacy Trust's report (by Christina Clark and George Dugdale): Young people's writing: Attitudes, behaviour and the role of technology [55 kB PDF]. The report echoes the US Pew studies on the role of ICT in the lives of young people. Some big snippets:
- 56% of young people said they had a profile on a social networking site, such as Bebo or Facebook. 24% said that they have their own blog. While frequently vilified in the media as ‘dumbing down’ young people’s literacy, this research shows that technology offers different writing opportunities for young people, which is seen in a link between blogging and (self-reported) writing ability and enjoyment of writing. For example, young people who write on a blog were much more likely than young people who do not write on a blog to enjoy writing in general (57% vs. 40%) and to enjoy writing for family/friends in particular (79% vs. 55%). Young people with a blog (61%) as well as young people with a profile on a social networking site (56%) also displayed greater confidence, believing themselves to be good writers. Blog owners and young people with a social networking profile were also more prolific writers than their counterparts. They held more positive attitudes towards writing and computer use, and viewed writers more favourably.
- Owning a mobile phone does not appear to alter young people’s enjoyment of writing, their writing behaviour or their attitudes towards writing.
- Most young people said they used computers regularly and believed that computers are beneficial to their writing, agreeing that a computer makes it easier for them to correct mistakes (89%) and allows them to present ideas clearly (76%). Overall, nearly 60% of young people also believe that computers allow them to be more creative, concentrate more and encourage them to write more often.
- The relationship between enjoyment of writing, writing behaviour, attitudes towardswriting and socio-economic status, assessed by proxy using free school meal (FSM) uptake as an indicator, is complex. Pupils who receive FSM in the present study were not more or less likely than their more privileged counterparts to enjoy writing or to write regularly. There was also no relationship between socio-economic background and enjoyment of writing, writing behaviour, linking writing to success, views of writers, computer use, or attitudes towards computers. However, pupils who do not receive FSMs rated themselves as better writers than pupils who receive FSMs.
In summary, this research provides us with an up-to-date insight into young people’s attitudes towards writing. Most young people write regularly and young people write technology-based materials, such as text and instant messages, most frequently. While owning a mobile phone does not appear to alter young people’s writing behaviour, having a profile on a social networking site or having a blog is connected to enjoyment of writing and confidence in writing. Young people today use computers regularly and believe that computers are beneficial to their
writing.
We believe it is paramount that the school curriculum reflects and utilises writing forms that young people enjoy and engage with, in order to demonstrate that writing is more than a compulsory task: it is an essential life skill.
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