Student Writing & the Information Highway

BY TIM NICHOLLS HARRISON

During the past twelve years, there have been attempts at encouraging Adult Literacy and Basic Skills students to correspond online.

While the concept has many educational benefits, the actual practice has been disappointing. Some students have enjoyed positive experiences from writing online, but many students have not been as fortunate. (Please see upper box.)

A better method can be found in the work of Célestin Freinet who was one of the first educators to discuss the powerful learning dynamic that student created learning materials possess. Using a printing press, students wrote and edited their own stories, created class journals and school newspapers. Fifty years ago, these packets of learning materials traveled from one Freinet inspired classroom to another, from city to city. Today, using the Internet, these city to city group packets would enable students and tutors to journey, together, on the information highway using a chartered bus. To find out more information about Célestin Freinet’s teaching philosophy, you can go to http://www.freinet.org/icem/history.htm. Tim Nicholls Harrison is the Co-ordinator of the Adult Learning Centre, Owen Sound, Ontario.