Learning how to write in a digitalized society: a case study in a one tablet per child school

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a case study on the integration of ICT in the teaching of writing in elementary schools in Norway, where the Digital School Plan is advanced and widespread according to European indications. The objective was to detect the effects of the use of the STL+ method (Skrive seg Til Lesing med talende tastatur) in pupils of a second class considering the development of hard and soft skills related to the learning of writing. This method involves the use of tablets in a 1:1 ratio from the first day of elementary school and a writing program equipped with speech synthesis. The study involved 15 teachers, the school leader, 17 pupils from a second-grade class (aged 7), and 92 parents. The mix-method approach involved the integrated use of semi-structured questionnaires; interviews; focus groups; structured observation tools and classroom video-documentation. After one year of use of the STL+ method, the research has revealed over 70% effectiveness in the overall acquisition of hard skills related to writing as provided for by the Norwegian National Ministerial Plan for elementary school. In terms of the development of soft skills in pupils, the method has resulted useful in the activation of processes of self-assessment, perception of effectiveness, autonomous and collaborative learning.