From NewsWise:

Analyzing test performance and computer uses of 986 fourth grade students from 55 classrooms in nine Massachusetts school districts, the study found that the more regularly students use computers to write papers for school, the better they performed on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems (MCAS) English/Language Arts exam. This positive effect occurred despite the fact that students were not allowed to use computers for the test.

Conversely, the study found that students’ recreational use of computers to play games, explore the Internet for fun, or chat with friends at home had a negative effect on students’ MCAS reading scores. Similarly, students’ use of computers to create PowerPoint presentations was also negatively associated with MCAS writing scores.

It would be so easy to use the PowerPoint to deliver, deliver, deliver, spoonfeeding anyone who will listen long enough. Getting students to create a PowerPoint might also seem like a good idea to get students creating something of their own. But, as the research indicates, this is not such a good idea. Students who are told to write as much as they can on a computer will tend to copy and paste from web pages found through Google.

However, if you get the students to apply these 10 tips - especially Point 6, out on Monday - then they will be forced into synthesising anything they find, forced into writing something original. This kind of activity will help their writing and speaking as copy and paste will not do the breaking down of information for them.

Rather than being given information on the internet or through a PowerPoint and doing little with it, try encouraging tasks that make the students recreate a summary of what they’ve seen and describe it in their own words.

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