Writing Functionality

Composing

  • Rapid text generation, modification, and manipulation

  • Changeable text design—font; layout, size

  • Outlining aids (topic generation and design)

  • Hypertext/hypermedia composing

  • Research-based discourse connects with outside sources through hypermedia

  • Support apparatuses—spell/grammar checking; comments

Inscribing

  • Creation of “published” product, paper or on-line

  • Networked connection with other written products

  • Publishing-support apparatuses: table-of-contents generation; indexing; noting

 Accessibility of digital tools

Socioeconomic factors

  • Access issues—income levels correlate closely with computer use  Chart

  • Linguistic, cultural factors play major role in computer use—certain groups put computer use at a higher priority regardless of income   Chart

Generational factors

  • Parents, teachers, and students may think of technology differently, affecting curriculum and literacy training

Personal factors

  • Digital technology helps many accommodate to disabilities

No simple answer to increasing access to appropriate digital environments

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