Writing technology tools are very trendy right now. Every student who is about to start his professional career must fully acknowledge the importance of writing in today’s marketplace landscape. Teachers should do that too, as it’s their job to adapt to the current trends but also to their students’ needs.
In today’s post, I’ll cover the main ways in which technology helps kids and college/university students develop their writing expertise.
1. Dictionaries and Thesauruses
Out of all the writing tools for students available on the internet, dictionaries and thesauruses are probably the most important. Great writing requires an abundant vocabulary, and that’s where online dictionaries and synonym tools become important.
Nowadays, students are extremely used to fast searches. A traditional dictionary book is no longer appealing to the millennial and Gen Z generations because they take too much time and effort. Instead, tools like Merriam Webster (the most popular dictionary) and Thesaurus.com (the most popular thesaurus) can help every kid and student perfect their understanding of words, terms, and correct uses.
2. Grammar and Spelling Tools
Teachers used to be the main go-to resources when students had trouble with grammar and spelling. Nowadays, advanced software like Grammarly can solve that problem in a matter of seconds. There’s no wonder why these online tools are way more preferred. Just type in an error and the software will immediately highlight the mistake and provide useful fixes that are one click away from happening.
3. Plagiarism Software
There’s nothing new under the sun, they say, but what about plagiarism? This is a paradox and a problem that many students face when having to complete difficult assignments that require a great deal of research.
Plagiarism tools like Quetext allow students to acknowledge potential problems, so they’ll get the chance to fix their mistakes before turning in their papers. This simple technology feature can motivate students to create unique pieces of writing without being afraid of being accused of plagiarism.
I remember having to write an essay writing service review while I was still a university student. Even though writing never represented a problem to me, having to deal with such an important task (being intimidated by the expectations of a reputable company) was extremely challenging. Plagiarism tools allowed me (as they allow other students) to relax and stop worrying about messing things up.
4. Prompts and Rubrics Tools
Technology writing prompts allow students to reflect on the importance of both technology and writing in the context of professional careers. Nevertheless, it’s quite difficult to create an excellent rubric from scratch. This can often prove to be demotivating for many students. However, when thorough rubrics are present because of today’s technology, students can easily find their way to writing success.
There are plenty of useful rubrics and prompts tools like Rubric Creator, New York Times Writing Prompts, and CommonLit that can make the entire difference between disorganized and organized writing.
5. Communication and Writing Collaboration
Technology helps students improve their writing by simply giving them the opportunity to share their work and receive immediate relevant feedback. When you’re “done” with the academic environment, most writing is done in a collaborative context. If you were to write an article, that piece of work will end up in the hands of an editor. Once the editor has done his job, a second check is performed by a marketer who has business writing knowledge.
Every professional team works together, and mostly every piece of writing is worked on by more than one person. Technology is not only useful but necessary in this context. Nowadays, tools like Google Docs, Dropbox, or Evernote are essential for every student or employee who produces content for professional purposes.
6. Professional Writing Opportunities
If money doesn’t motivate students to improve, I don’t know what else will. Freelance writing is a very popular gig that students from all over the world seem to care about. Aside from the fact that freelance writing is a flexible way to make money without having to sit eight hours in an office, it can also open up many career opportunities. Platforms like Upwork make it possible!
Takeaways
Our technology will never stop evolving. The world changes so fast because of it, and so does the mindset of our young generations. Students who ignore this basic yet critical skill will have a really hard time finding stable and satisfying office jobs because most of them require a certain degree of writing expertise.
If you’re a student, start leveraging today’s information to shape a better future. If you’re a teacher, do your best to encourage students to acknowledge the importance of writing and to start taking action in this particular direction!
PIC: https://www.scribendi.com/advice/what_is_a_techinical_writer.en.html
BIO: Jeremy Raynolds is a full-time technology writer who has begun his career as a freelance ghostwriter. Having a Ph.D. in psychology, Jeremy is currently helping students figure out their professional path. In his free time, he’s traveling across the world with a bunch of likeminded friends.