Organization and revision on a computer takes less writing, but is actually harder to visualize for kinesthetic learners. Moving ideas - cutting and pasting - can be difficult because the computer screen always looks the same: lots of black and white text. It is difficult for some students to hold the ideas and their relationships to each other in mind as they cut and search for the proper place to paste.
To utilize the benefits of computer revision (no retyping, immediate corrections) and minimize the organizational challenges, I adapted an activity I was introduced to at a TYCA conference.
When students bring a paper to class, they receive a stack of Post-It notes. Using the notes, they create an outline for their paper, with one main idea or example on one Post-It. Then they arrange them on the desk in front of the computer.
Next, partners switch computer stations. As the students read through their partner’s paper, they can follow the Post-It outline to evaluate the organizational firmness of the essay. If an idea or example seems misplaced, the student can move the Post-It to a more appropriate place, with an explanation as to why it should be moved.
When the authors return to their own computers, they can compare their essay to the suggested organizational changes. When cutting and pasting, the Post-It notes help them remember where they are moving an idea.
While a traditional outline indicates the same organizational concepts, this activity is effective because it utilizes tactile/kinesthetic modalities as well. Such an approach also helps students connect pieces to the whole picture.
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Two-year College English Association (TYCA)-West Conference Discussion. Tempe, AZ. September 2000.