Digital Technology and Linguistics Part 3

 The Differences Between Digital and Physical Writing 

I Need to Figure Out How to Make a T-Chart on Blogger

    Digital writing and physical writing both have their places in today's world, but it's important to distinguish their differences and why those differences matter. 

Digital Writing:

• creates a different structure for the narrative and changes the roles of the writer and reader
• engages students while entertaining them (via video or audio)
• allows teachers to find multiple ways to frontload information before a lesson
• through digital media, e-grammar has emerged 
• allows for both the consumption and participation of media
• the Internet is a digital archive and doesn't hold the sentimental value of a book
• typing requires greater memory function for remembering the position of keys and how to strike them for the desired words, numbers, phrases, or characters
• more convenient

Physical Writing:

• requires more complex thought
• does not use autocorrect
• provides more interpersonal connectedness
• requires fine-motor training for optimal line trajectory, curves, and dots that make up the alphabet
• gives people better recall with words and letters
• a preferred method for those wanting to hold something of material value, as reading and writing are multisensory disciplines

Why Do These Differences Matter?

    These differences shape the way we learn and process information. As Mangen & Pirhonen explain, "for human beings, reading and writing skills are not instinctive. There is no genetic blueprint for them" (2022). Reading and writing are learned behaviors and while it is fantastic that technology offers us new and more ways to make learning relatable and convenient, we can't lose sight of the personal connection and metacognition we learn from communicating without screens. I have seen too many parents who, instead of connecting with their children, will hand them an iPad or iPhone with an obnoxious song at full volume, then proceed to complain about how children are lazy and always on their devices. 

    In the last blog, we'll be looking at ways to include digital media in teaching and what our responsibilities are in the ever-changing world.

Resources:

Devisfruto, Janella C., and Joemark D. Ablian. “2. Exploring Digital and Physical Communication as a Medium for Social Connection: a Literature Review .” Galaxy International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (GIIRJ), Feb. 2023, Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.

 Karaktan, Anju, and Akash Verma. “Role of Digital Pedagogy in Teaching English Literature .” The Research Dialogue, Jan. 2023, https://theresearchdialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/37-Dr.-Akash-Verma-.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar. 2023.

Mangen, A., & Pirhonen, A. (2022). Reading, Writing, Technology, and Embodiment. In S. L. Macrine, & J. M. B. Fugate (Eds.), Movement Matters : How Embodied Cognition Informs Teaching and Learning (pp. 103-117). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/13593.003.0013