On Mediums: Traditional Vs Digital Writing. Performance and Experience of Learners in Essays
Gian Harvy Bigtas, Rizal Technological University (Philippines)
Maxwell Flores, Rizal Technological University (Philippines)
Marinel Padernos, Rizal Technological University (Philippines)
Markjhun Perez, Rizal Technological University (Philippines)
Hazel Ann Serrano, Rizal Technological University (Philippines)
Abstract
In the 21st century, technological advancement transformed Philippine education, while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift from traditional to digital tools, influencing learners’ writing performance and experiences. Previous studies showed the efficiency, accessibility, and support of digital tools, while the traditional medium focused on the cognitive, motor, and retention benefits of handwriting, excluding the differing outcomes of the learners’ writing performance and experience.
This study further investigates the level of learners’ Writing Performance and Experience in Traditional and Digital Medium and identifies the significant difference of their performance and experience across two mediums. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study explored learners’ performance and experiences in using each medium. Data were gathered specifically using graded writing tasks, survey, and interview to cover both performance and experience. The participants of the study were Junior High School specifically Grade 8 students. They have undergone Elicited Writing
Task, Likert-scale Descriptive survey to determine their writing performance and writing experience across the different mediums. The findings revealed that the learners’ writing performance was still developing. Hence, they demonstrated positive writing experience in writing essays across mediums.
The findings suggest that traditional and digital writing provide comparable benefits that support the integration of both mediums in instruction to address learners’ diverse writing needs, strengthen skills, and improve writing experiences. This emphasizes that neither medium is superior, highlighting the need for balanced writing instruction that integrates traditional and digital approaches to strengthen learners’ writing skills and experiences.
Keywords: Pen-and-Paper; Digital Writing Tools; Essay Writing; Writing Skills; Writing Practices.
REFERENCES
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[2] Wen, X., & Walters, S. M. (2022). The impact of technology on students’
writing performances in elementary classrooms: A meta-analysis. Computers and Education Open, 3, 100082. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2022.100082
[3] Spilling, E. F., Rønneberg, V., Rogne, W. M., Roeser, J., & Torrance, M.
(2022). Handwriting versus keyboarding: Does writing modality affect quality of narratives written by beginning writers? Reading and Writing, 35, 129–153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-021-10169-y
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