My writing history started with a notebook and pencil, moved up to ink and then I actually owned my own typewritter. The first computer I owned was an Apple and I loved the idea that making changes in what I wrote didn’t involve erasing carbon copies. Can you still buy carbon paper? I’m glad I don’t even know.

Some of the things I most appreciate about using computers today are: legibility, and the ability to edit and most of all SAVE. When students hand in papers, unless they choose one of those wierd fonts, I am able to read it fairly easily and if they use size 14 print even without my reading glasses. In years past handing a paper back to a student with suggestions for editing corrections and revising often met with a look that said If you think I’m going to do this you are crazy. Today I can hand back papers and students go immediately to their computers and begin making changes. When they bring the new paper to me I often ask if they think it is better and they usually smile and tell me how much better they feel it is. Now it is a big deal for me when I tell students that this is a one shot deal and they won’t be rewriting, editing or revising. They actually worry when they know there won’t be a second chance to make things better. I also like the idea that I have a sort of electronic portfolio of work of past students. I just remove the names and instantly have exemplars and examples of what not to do for students. I teach writing so differently because my students have access to technology on a daily basis.