| The important issue for me is what might be | | | | much to my surprise, I discovered that I could |
| called "appropriate use". So, to take an extreme | | | | write sections of a book chapter better by hand |
| example, if you were quickly exchanging phone | | | | than with a computer. It was a pain having to |
| numbers with someone you just met, it probably | | | | type it all up later, but somehow the use of a |
| would not be appropriate to ask them to wait | | | | notepad seemed to free up my creative juices. |
| while you fired up your laptop so you could enter | | | | "So what?", you may ask. Well, I certainly think it |
| their details in a database. It may be appropriate | | | | has implications for the way schools organise their |
| to enter their details into a phone or a handheld | | | | computer rooms (if they still have them), and |
| computer. It may be better in the immediate | | | | how they organise the pupils in lessons. For |
| term, though not necessarily in the long term, to | | | | example, I have always advocated that pupils |
| use a pen and notebook. | | | | should have space to work away from the |
| It seems to me that whether the use of a | | | | computers, both on their own and collaboratively. |
| computer is "appropriate" from an efficiency point | | | | Those computer rooms which have been |
| of view depends on a range of factors: | | | | designed to house as many computer |
| Does the data need to be stored electronically? | | | | workstations as possible, with no room for |
| If so, is it quicker to enter the data electronically | | | | anything else, are not only hopeless from a |
| now, or quicker to write the details now and | | | | collaboration point of view, but may also leave |
| enter them later? | | | | something to be desired from a personal |
| Should you even keep the data electronically? | | | | creativity point of view. |
| Clearly, the answers to these questions will differ | | | | In fact, my ideal computer lab has easy chairs |
| according to circumstances. | | | | and coffee tables too, and my ideal rest and |
| Efficiency is not the only consideration. When it | | | | relaxation area has computer workstations dotted |
| comes to creative writing, many people find it | | | | about. |
| better to use pen and paper. So, although it is | | | | Whichever way you look at it, the technology |
| apparently inefficient to write something by hand | | | | should serve the learner, not the other way |
| and then type it up, in terms of quality it may be | | | | round. |
| the better option. I have to say that recently, | | | | |