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The Washington Post is running an article entitled, The Handwriting
Is on the Wall. The article states:

Scholars who study original documents say the demise of
handwriting will diminish the power and accuracy of future historical
research. And others simply lament the loss of handwritten
communication for its beauty, individualism and intimacy.
"It's like so many other things in our society -- there's a sense of loss
for what once was," said Laura B. Smolken, a professor of
elementary education and early childhood development at the
University of Virginia.

I'll never forget the time that one of my teacher education professors
said that he thought writing would disappear as typing became far
more common. This was in 1994. I was amazed at the thought.
Twelve years later, I think it's likely. What do you think?

Read the Article!!

Lesson Ideas:

  • The article explains that researchers appreciate the opportunity
    to view original hand-written manuscripts because this allows
    them to determine authenticity. Ask students to look at a
    manuscript of Alice's Adventures Underground written by
    Lewis Carroll as a precursor to Alice in Wonderland, or
    another handwritten manuscript. Ask students to consider if
    looking at the original handwritten manuscript brings up
    different feelings than looking at a computer generated page
    would raise. You might consider asking students to write
    explain exploring the difference in these feelings.

  • Unfortunately for individuals trying to authenticate originals
    many (nearly all?) originals today are typed rather than hand-
    written. Just because it might be difficult to authenticate
    originals written on the computer today, does not mean that it
    will always be difficult to authenticate them. Tell students that
    the Commission for the Authentication of Original Manuscripts
    has commissioned them to develop a way to authenticate
    original manuscripts written on the computer. In groups,
    encourage students to creatively generate ideas. Tell them that
    they can invent any new technology they will need.

  • This article is truly about changing technologies. As one
    technology becomes common other technologies lose their
    place in society. As keyboards have become very common
    paper and pens have lost much of their purpose. Ask studets
    to list three items that they use in their daily lives that they
    don't think their grandchildren will use. Tell them that their
    grandchildren won't use these things because use something
    else in its place. (You might ask students to blog these ideas.)
    After students have finished this work, reconvene the class
    and invite them to share their ideas.

  • Introduce students to a piece of technology that you used
    when you were younger that they've probably never heard of.
    I'll never forget the time that a teenage girl told me that the
    first time she saw a dial telephone she thought you had to push
    the numbers. If you have an old gadget you might show it to
    students. Ask students to consider how this newspaper article
    relates to an old piece of technology.
Handwriting
October 11, 2006
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