Just
today, a colleague inquired about how I give feedback on my students’
papers. Specifically, this person wanted
to know whether I print my comments, or use cursive.
The question
is a fair one, and it's part of an ongoing discussion amongst teachers. After all, instructor comments are an integral part of students' understanding how to write better. Because they are so important, we faculty members frequently talk about the most effective
and efficient ways to provide written feedback on the many papers our students
write.
My
colleague’s next observation, though, gave me pause:
“I have found that most students cannot
read cursive anymore.”
I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised in light of our increasing reliance on
technology for all things communication-related. After all, as one article details, there's been a significant decline in the teaching of cursive writing. This could be one reason some of my students really don't like to write.
Many, for example, have a
fierce aversion to note-taking in class.
So, when I announce each semester that I don’t post my PowerPoints to
D2L, and that I rarely even use technology during class, some are visibly chagrined.
“But how
are we supposed to remember what happens in class?” they ask—a question I love
to answer.
“Take
notes each day," I say. "Jot down some of
what we discuss. Annotate your
textbook. Or, if you are planning to resell it, write on
post-it notes and stick them next to the text we’re discussing.”
Some of them take my advice. Others don't. So I'm growing increasingly accustomed to students who, because they don’t like to write, simply choose not to.
And, believe it or not, I feel their pain. After all, no one has ever accused me of ultra-legible
handwriting. So why don't I use script, or--better yet--do all my grading on the computer?
My colleague's question caused me to reflect on why I haven't changed my ways. And this led to another (perhaps more significant) question:
How
should college faculty (and perhaps all educators) respond to the knowledge that cursive is difficult to read for some students? Should we adjust in order to accommodate this trend?
Please share your opinions here . . . you don't even have to write in cursive!
[by Anne Lowry Pharr, gritology moderator]
