Are you asking if the the process of writing is different between the two mediums? An essay is an essay and the "process" of writing is the same through either vehicle. Of course word processors offer easier access to some tools (e.g. spelling, thesaurus...). Perhaps your talking about writing different genres however. Twitter as micro blogging, wikis for collaborative writing... again, these tools offer little different except access and audience in some cases. The effects of digital tools in this sense could be mimicked with paper and pencil, but I view authenticity as key. Students will be doing most of their writing through digital transcription tools - and thus, we should embrace those, just as we embraced paper. Did we still have students writing on slates and blackboards when paper became readily available?

Are you asking if the the process of writing is different between the two mediums? An essay is an essay and the "process" of writing is the same through either vehicle. Of course word processors offer easier access to some tools (e.g. spelling, thesaurus...). Perhaps your talking about writing different genres however. Twitter as micro blogging, wikis for collaborative writing... again, these tools offer little different except access and audience in some cases. The effects of digital tools in this sense could be mimicked with paper and pencil, but I view authenticity as key. Students will be doing most of their writing through digital transcription tools - and thus, we should embrace those, just as we embraced paper. Did we still have students writing on slates and blackboards when paper became readily available?

Great answer ! I absolutely agree with your ideas, Kimberly  .As change is the only unchanging law of nature ,we need to change our tools and embrace more effective tools provided by modern technology .I believe that our students are more comfortable with modern tools than the old ones.

Wherever you are, I think balance is the key. You can't avoid pen and paper in a classroom, however, modern teaching aids are always linked with technology. Students would prefer new methods if those ones can motivate their quest towards language acquisition.  

WOW wonderful discussion !

@Kimberly,  I know process is same but Web 2.0 tools offer easier way to avoid spelling mistakes which actually leads to less focus on spelling.Secondly, students in most cases produce writing on paper.I mean to say ,we should pay more focus on paper and pencil production rather due spoon feeding of word processors. Secondly,it causes anxiety for students during exam time when they are not allowed to use these tools.In order to avoid anxiety, there should be more focus on paper and pencil. It is obvious technology does have a positive impact on language acquisition especially with teenagers better to say "SCREENAGERS".

I used to provide feed back through Kaizena ,a free tool which  can be used in conjunction with google docs, it  relatively produced  less desired results in my classrooms.With that in mind, I think  more attention should be paid to paper and pencil and less focus be given to digital tools such as Kaizena, DraftBack ,No Red Ink ,virtual debate etc.

@ Francis Steaphen , I don't mind using valuable digital tools in my classroom from time to time but practically there should be a balance as Hridya said it already.Keeping assessment/evaluation  in our mind , I think we need to pay more  focus on paper and pencil duly supported/incorporated with technology ,where necessary. 

Depending on web tools especially in the writing process I feel, is just bringing the old habits to the new medium as letter writing has given way to e-mails. Once the student has an appropriate ability to write, the web tools serve as an aid to improve the quality of their writing. Can Web 2.0 tools be beneficial to the beginners?

I would say that it depends on what we are finding about the use of digital tools.  If the research says that they improve writing, then sure use them.  If not, then perhaps it is prudent to be circumspect.  Something I do admire about the Amish is that they choose which technologies to embrace, and don't simply proceed mindlessly because something new is associated with progress.

Web 2.0 as we would know is not a program that does the thinking and as such would structure the writing process for us. Web 2.0 is not human and does not have that biological make up to think and do writing automatically. This is just a tool that enhances everything that you think/ read/ structure/write/do etc. Web 2.0-4.0 are examples of a loosely defined term: i.e. "a second, third or fourth generation of Internet- based services that emphasize online collaboration and sharing of ideas among users," It is a tool that help students and teachers connect, ask and answer mind boggling questions like never before.

Web 2.0 technology include wikis, blogs,social networking and other applications, devices and software programs.

The challenge facing educators and administrators is how we can harness/utilize this astounding technology found in those Web 2.0-6.0 generations to create our virtual/Moodle/Google etc classrooms to enhance/support our educational activities

Key words: emphasize online collaboration, applications, teaching tool to harness/support.

Check out the links below etc.

http://www.cblohm.com/news/lightspeed/LS_090406/index.html

http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listwe20s.html

I don't believe that it is necessary to abandon one tool or another; both can be integrated with effectiveness.  The key to successful engagement and execution is the strength of the lesson.

Writing is an essential skill that is used cross-curricular.  What part of the writing process are you interested in integrating technology?  I can very easily see Web 2.0 tools used for mind mapping and brainstorming, while paper and pencil used for editing and revising.  As I stated earlier, both tools have their place in the writing process.

Hope this helps!

When working on writing skills, I think both methods are effective.  In my opinion, the only difference is that it is easier to work on a computer than with a pen and paper.  You have access to many different tools on the computer, as opposed to writing with a pen and paper.  But, you can learn just as effectively by hand or on a computer.

El lenguaje es un instrumento para pensar, y hay dos "instrumentos primarios" para materializar el lenguaje-pensamiento: la forma oral y escrita. Al mismo tiempo, la escritura puede acudir a diferentes herramientas (el papel y la pluma no son ni primeras ni últimas). El medio exige ciertas características, por lo que, desde el punto de vista tecnológico, el "pensar oralmente" no es lo mismo que el "pensar por escrito". Si se trata de los instrumentos "duros", o "blandos", o "virtuales", claro que muestran diferencias técnicas, lo que se refleja en el lenguaje-pensamiento. Hay que explorar estas diferencias y definir los objetivos de escritura para escoger un medio adecuado. Es para la enseñanza. Sin embargo, coincido con que es imposible regresar al papel y la pluma o a los libros impresos (asimismo a los manuscritos), aunque últimamente se habla mucho de las pérdidas de ciertas habilidades en el entorno computacional.

I believe writing tools can be used in schools as well. I cannot see why students have to loose a lot of marks based on spelling errors if they are able to tell the most amazing stories. When we speak, spelling does not matter, so why should it matter when we write our thoughts down. Technology can dot it in the background, and the results can be amazing stories. Personally I change my sentences whenever I read the work again. If I would have to use pen and paper, I wonder if I would be able to complete it without rewriting all the correct work more than five times?

At what point does one medium outpace another? And what is the difference of the tool used?  Whether writing in  the sand, scribing on Papyrus, stone or paper, the point of the exercise is getting across a message not the style in which it is performed. The message was the important thing, not so much the medium. Since when has it become the important thing to master writing by pen and paper? What happens when  the computer screen is outpaced by virtual screens in the thin air?  like on NCIS or Star Trek? These are mediums in use already and will  be taken on soon in the future. Will there be a Force for holding off the medium as writing with pen and paper are seen as being too important to phase out?  Who  uses CD's anymore, or tapes?  Have we all mostly gone to  the cloud to listen to music, pods or  movies? Do  we see people Kick up because it is new technology that  we should not let our children experience? Our students embrace new technology far quicker and far better than we could dream of, lets not hold them back nor their ways of articulating their message.

It is worth to know how other teachers (for example from different countries) perceive science writing, so such tools as a e-courses about writing may be very interesting - see Stanford University Writing in the sciences open course https://www.coursera.org/course/sciwrite . Such tools for sure are not harmful. In the other hand, I think that  internet dictionaries and translators make students lazy - they forgot many words and phrases because they don't have to remember its. Traditional English writing makes, that your "hand" (if not mind) remember these words.

Shahid, It depends on what you mean by "depend more on" and "writing process".

However, I'll make some assumptions and get right to the point. Writing with a word processor is a fundamentally different way of writing.  Web 2.0 tools can help us correct mistakes while we are in the process of making them.  Having grown up learning and demonstrating learning through writing with pencil and paper I can report that the thought process that accompanies writing with pencil and paper is different.

Similarly, using an audio transcription tool like Dragon Dictate places a different demand on the writer and subsequently his or her approach to the writing process. If you are interested in having students experience a writing process that is highly iterative, collaborative and can facilitate a great deal of feedback during the entire process I would recommend tools such as Google Apps which are free to students and built for collaboration. 

If you feel that there is value in a traditional writing process that features a different kind of effort to produce the text, then by all means include paper and pencil in your teachings so that students can experience the difference. 

It is also important to note, that students and adults see text differently on a screen than they do paper that is in hand. We produce text in boxes that change what the text looks like as the size of the viewing window changes.  We also scroll through the text so longer pieces are not viewable in their entirety. If this matters to you in any way then it should be part of your considerations. 

I would say it is practical to depend on Web 2.0 tools if your student have regular access to technology. 

Calculator ,computer has made the work fast but at the cost of our mind merely working as machine .Even for calculating of addition of few items traders & shop keepers have to use calculator .

Knowledge of computer & using calculator are necessary not for the student who are studying in the primary & secondary school . Besides using of pen,ball pen for writing are also necessary & essential  for our mind to concentrate efficiency & effectively while writing in through till ball pen these should not necessary we should not used electronic method but at same time we have to see that our mind remains as a mind & not machine.

This is my personal opinion ,

I believe that balance is the key word. Balance between the use of modern technology and traditional means. It is for sure that today word processors offer a lot on correcting spelling. But, students need also to learn how to write on paper as well. Paper is still part of our lives and it cannot be considered as obsolete. My opinion is that it is not the means itself that matters most but its right use. That is why we need to adopt modern pedagogy in every teaching process and combine it with whatever means we use. As Jim Martinez stated above, it is practical to use Web 2.0 tools, but this cannot assure a successful teaching. From my experience on using Web 2.0 tools in combination of modern pedagogy, I can tell that students value very much the practical application of this combination which brings each one of them to the front of the teaching process.

Academic writing  in EFL scenario is different.I agree with Anastasios  and Martinez in terms of keeping balance.Students get excited with the use of modern technology and at the same time, get bored easily.I mean to say- there should be more focus on paper and pencil  for writing skill to avoid anxiety in exam, where they are tested on a piece of paper.Secondly,SCREENAGERS should produce desired and required academic piece of writing.There should be strict control over googling every thing ,cut and paste. Web 2.0 tools should be used as a tool to promote motivation and understanding the fabric of writing process otherwise critical thinking ,which is relatively at stake , will fade away more in academic writing.

Christa Van Staden, Spelling does matter a lot in writing by means of which we measure writing fluency to some extent,whereas in speaking body language and several other indicators demonstrate speaking fluency.There is no need of spelling in speaking.

I think that students schould learn and should know all the wirting roles and should only depend on tools (text-software or web 2.0). To realise that goal there are many opportunities: To learn all the writing-roles without web 2.0 first and then use web 2.0 later. Or on the other hand start wrinting with digital support and then learn all the roles. There are many ways and cominations of the two extremata above.  

It is interesting to see these discussions. However, one fundamental question has not been answered. Which level of education and age group are we talking about here? We have not stated which level of students' writing and the use of web2.0 we are talking about. Are we discussing the beginners?, elementary school?, lower, upper primary/grades?, K-12 ?, secondary school stage or adult learners?

If we can establish that, then we should know where to go

Dora,You raised a valid question.Here you go .

•  Adult learners :Foundation Program /Prepratory Year Progra ( Gulf countries) Students complete 12 years schooling in Arabic Medium where English is taught as a Foreign Language - EFL. 
• Pre-sessional (Other regions)

While I do agree that the the Web 2.0 tools provide greater scope for students to engage in the whole range of writing experiences and activities associated with the writing process, I think it would also be a mistake to suggest that the writing process cannot be meaningful and rewarding via the 'pen and paper' route. This traditional approach is not limited to the individual  writing, probably in isolation, on a piece of paper.

Related activities such as journal writing, poster making, magazine production, setting up and maintaining a noticeboard, book reports, annotated bibliographies conducting surveys have all been used as extensions of the basic pen and paper approach, requiring the use of suitable 'paper-based technologies' appropriate to the task as well as the conditions under which the task is to be performed. For example whether as individuals or in groups, to be done in a single sitting or over several days, to allow for group review and editing etc. etc. . In my view, the emphasis should be on being clear about the kinds of activities that learners are expected to engage in and ensure that the tools used (whether Web 2.0 or pen and paper) are appropriate for the tasks to be performed.

One should admit though that the  more multi-dimensional Web 2.0 technologies hold an advantage over pen and paper approaches.

Colleagues may find the following useful re- Web 2.0 technologies:

Strampel, K & Oliver, R. (2010). They think they are learning, but are they? Strategies for implementing Web 2.0 to positively impact student learning. In C.H. Steel, M.J. Keppell, P. Gerbic & S. Housego (Eds.), Curriculum, technology and transformation for an unknown future. Proceedings ascilite Sydney 2010 (pp. 924-935). http://ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Strampel-full.pdf

I think with today's digital learners you may want to use more of the Web 2.0 tools that allows them use their digital devices anywhere and anytime. However, I do endorse all that Dr. Kuboni has said regarding the use of the traditional "pen and paper" method.

Best regards,

Debra

Hello, in a world where everything is base con technology if you want your students to be competitive on it, you should not only consider Web 2.0 but also Web 3.0 which is now in use. Best regards.

Milagros:

Well I think we can also add Web 4.0 as described in this conference paper:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281455061_What_Comes_after_Web_3.0_Web_4.0_and_the_Future

Best regards,

Debra

Conference Paper What Comes after Web 3.0? Web 4.0 and the Future