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Processing
Ideas
Move Beyond Word
Processing
into Critical Thinking
By Sara Dexter and Susan Watts-Taffe
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Technology can help students access and process
information
to generate knowledge and communicate it to others. However, most
classroom
technology use focuses on access and communication without paying
adequate
attention to the critical processing component. This article
provides a
detailed look at how teachers can support students in using basic
word processing
technology to influence the way students reflect and respond to a
wide variety
of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of these
texts.
Self-Assessment
Checklist
Name: ___________________________________
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Check
off this
characteristic
if present
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Characteristic
of written piece
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Provide
a specific example from the assignment
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Appropriate
for audience, including language use, tone, topic choice
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Level
of detail is appropriate for format and audience
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Graphic
design enhances communication, does not distract the reader
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Feedback
on draft gathered and responded to
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Dr. Sara Dexter (sdexter@tc.umn.edu) is a research associate in the Center for Applied Research and
Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota. She teaches
courses about integrating technology into the K–12 curriculum and
conducts research on how teachers develop new instructional practices
that use technology. She is the Project Director of Ed-U-Tech, a teacher
preparation and technology outreach program at the University of Minnesota
(http://ci.coled.umn.edu/edutech). Sara can be reached at University
of Minnesota, 150 Peik Hall, 159 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455;
612.626.7261.
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Susan Watts-Taffe (smwatts@tc.umn.edu)
is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum
and Instruction
at the University of Minnesota, where she teaches courses
and conducts
research in literacy education. She has published in a
variety of
areas related to literacy, including vocabulary development,
students
experiencing difficulty, and cultural and linguistic
diversity, with
an eye toward helping teachers to grow as effective
instructional
decision makers. Dr. Watts-Taffe is an active member of the
International
Reading Association and Past-President of the Twin Cities
Area Reading
Council. She can be reached at University of Minnesota, 150
Peik Hall,
159 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455;
612.625.0541.
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Dr. Rose Reissman (maskin@martnet.com),
L&L’s language arts editor, is currently
president
of the Association for Computer Educators, New York; R&D
consultant
for FutureKids Technology Literacy Training Center;
president of the
NYCATE; and educational consultant for the Museum of the
City of New
York. She has developed media and technology courses for the
reading
and writing master’s program at Manhattanville College.
Contact
her at 110 Seaman Ave., 5C, New York, NY 10034.
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“Processing Ideas: Move
Beyond Word Processing into Critical Thinking” by
Sara Dexter and Susan Watts-Taffe
Learning & Leading with Technology,
Feb..
2000,
Volume 27,
Number 6
© 2000, Freely reproducible for
classroom
use.
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Copyright © 2000, ISTE (International Society for
Technology in Education).
All rights reserved.
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