I know that computer time is limited and in order to expedite the process, most teachers reserve lab time only for students to type their final drafts. However in doing so, larger problems are created. In reality, for many writers, writing does not occur in separate steps. As writers draft, they may find they need to gather more information to support a particular point. They may reorganize or edit as they draft.
Word processing facilitates the recursive nature of writing.
Students can easily move between prewriting, drafting, revising and editing. By taking students to the computer lab only to type their final drafts, we are sending the message to our students that the computer has no part in their writing process. In using the computer lab only for typing the final product, we are denying our students use of a valuable tool especially to aid in revising their pieces. Without teaching our students computer aided strategies, we are limiting them in the creation of the best writing possible. It is imperative that if time is to be reserved in the computer lab, some of this time should be devoted if not to the creation of text, then at least to revision of text.