The use of Pen and Paper-Is it beneficial for sessions?

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I am very interested in the impact of the use of pen and paper v technology during sessions. Students, and even us tutors, have become heavily dependant on technology to write papers and to make presentations. The use of laptops and computers has almost completely replaced the use of pen and paper. Still, I believe that the physical use of pen and paper is necessary. Even more so, I believe that it is a useful tool to use during tutoring sessions.

I have found it to be useful in several ways. I have found that the use of pen and paper during sessions helps students organize their thoughts and memorize things faster. I try to implement the use of pen and paper with my students in every single one of my sessions. It might seem a bit old fashioned to use, but it seems to me that pen and paper gives more freedom to writers. My students have expressed to me that it gives them a greater sense of freedom especially during the drafting period of a paper. The students I have interviewed regarding the subject have told me that the implementation of pen and paper is very important to them in the writing process. They feel that it is an easier way to write down important points and doodle ideas. What do you, as a tutor, think about the implementation of pen and paper during your sessions with your students? Is it useful to your students? If so how so?

Comments

  1. Unknown9:38 AM

    Hi Ally, as a comp fellow I have had a direct connection to the use of pen and paper vs. the use of electronics. Whenever my students are told to jot something down, whether it be an organizational pattern, idea, or a rule of writing, the majority of my students pull out a piece of paper and writing utensil. During sessions we mostly refer to the internet to look up data needed for the completion of the research projects.

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  2. Unknown11:29 AM

    Ally,
    I believe the use of pen and paper is very helpful for brainstorming and mapping. It is faster and easier to handle than the computer. I use it very often for developing an action plan for the session, it is very handy and it works for me. I highly recommend it!

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