Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department
Faculty Mentor
Joyce Kinkead
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Students in Honors 1320, History of Writing, investigated traditional, college-aged students and their preferred writing implements. Digital Natives--people born after 1980 who grew up with technology--are assumed to prefer digital writing implements such as computers, tablets, and Smartphones. Do they really tend to use digital implements, or do they use analog instruments such as pens and pencils? To find out, the researchers designed a Qualtrics survey to ask students about their use of digital and analog writing tools. A second data source were essays on the topic 'My Favorite Writing Implement,' which were analyzed on a spreadsheet, counting each instance of tools noted, ranging from digital to analog, from tablets to gel pens. Participants were enrolled in two USU classes: one lower-division, and one upper-division. Their majors ranged across all colleges. Through a review of literature, the researchers found that a trend actually exists toward Gen-Z using analog writing tools. Some steer clear of digital altogether. David Sax notes in The Revenge of Analog (2016) that analog offers 'real and tangible experiences' that are tactile.So, are USU's Digital Natives committed to digital or analog writing tools? It depends. Results noted that most academic tasks require digital implements; however, for social or non-academic writing, students often prefer analog for their 'intimacy, aesthetics, and physical feel.' Gel pens top the list, followed by ballpoint pens, and mechanical pencils. Although few in number, some students turn to fountain pens or even dip pens. Sixty percent of respondents said that their choice of writing implements contributes to their identity as writers, and many are loyal to a particular brand.IRB Protocol #11481
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2023 11:30 AM
Included in
Is the Pen Mightier than the Computer? An Analysis of Digital Natives’ Preference for Writing Tools
Logan, UT
Students in Honors 1320, History of Writing, investigated traditional, college-aged students and their preferred writing implements. Digital Natives--people born after 1980 who grew up with technology--are assumed to prefer digital writing implements such as computers, tablets, and Smartphones. Do they really tend to use digital implements, or do they use analog instruments such as pens and pencils? To find out, the researchers designed a Qualtrics survey to ask students about their use of digital and analog writing tools. A second data source were essays on the topic 'My Favorite Writing Implement,' which were analyzed on a spreadsheet, counting each instance of tools noted, ranging from digital to analog, from tablets to gel pens. Participants were enrolled in two USU classes: one lower-division, and one upper-division. Their majors ranged across all colleges. Through a review of literature, the researchers found that a trend actually exists toward Gen-Z using analog writing tools. Some steer clear of digital altogether. David Sax notes in The Revenge of Analog (2016) that analog offers 'real and tangible experiences' that are tactile.So, are USU's Digital Natives committed to digital or analog writing tools? It depends. Results noted that most academic tasks require digital implements; however, for social or non-academic writing, students often prefer analog for their 'intimacy, aesthetics, and physical feel.' Gel pens top the list, followed by ballpoint pens, and mechanical pencils. Although few in number, some students turn to fountain pens or even dip pens. Sixty percent of respondents said that their choice of writing implements contributes to their identity as writers, and many are loyal to a particular brand.IRB Protocol #11481