Because Digital Writing Matters    by National Writing Project Order:  USA  Can John Wiley & Sons, 2010 (2010) Softcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Bob Walch As with everything else associated with the digital age, the continual use of texting, tweeting, blogging and social networking is having a profound impact on the writing skills, or lack thereof, young people are exhibiting today. This book (by the National Writing Project with Danielle DeVoss, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl and Troy Hicks) addresses the situation and points to some ways that educators, parents and policymakers can meet the challenges of new digital literacies. The idea is to equip students with the technology-related communication skills they need to thrive in school and in the global workspace. 'Today's young people are using a range of digital tools to compose and create in new and exciting ways,' explains Sharon Washington, executive director of the National Writing Project. 'The very notion of what it means to write is shifting, and educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to integrate new technologies while redefining writing and learning for the 21st century.' The authors of this book stress that teaching will need to embrace tools, strategies and skills beyond those of the traditional classroom to hone these skills in their students. The use of stories, examples and vignettes illustrates how cutting edge educators have successfully used digital writing tools in diverse school settings to enrich learning and provide meaningful writing instruction for youngsters at all grade levels. Anyone interested in practical solutions and models for planning, implementing and assessing digital writing programs will find this book useful. Two key chapters that will prove quite helpful are Revising the Writing Process: Learning to Write in a Digital World and Standards and Assessment for Digital Writing. The National Writing Project is a nationwide network (the United States, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) of educators who have come together to improve the teaching of writing. The NWP provides professional development programs to teachers in a variety of disciplines and at all levels, from early childhood through university. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews