Processing Ideas

This article basically talks about incorporating different ways of using word processing technology. The authors present good information, but the article left much to be desired. The two main examples of using word-processing technology given here were newsletters and posters. These are both good assignments to give young people. However, I feel that the authors weren't convincing enough to sell the idea that these things should be a staple in my classroom. These ideas have a lot of potential, however, the authors do not tell me how to use these items to better engage kids and raise their achievement. The main focus seems to be the fact that these are alternative ways to meet certain standards. This is also important, because as public school teachers we must connect whatever creative assignment we do with the state standards. However, I was looking forward to finding out how such alternative methods would excite my students. I was disappointed in this respect. I think that something like a newsletter could be used effectively to engage students, but engaging students must be it's primary goal. If students are allowed to put there own personalities and interests in such documents as well as learn course material, they will greatly benefit.