Motivation and writing skills in elementary school: Comparing the use of keyboard vs. pencil and paper
Many studies have investigated the use of digital tools in the elementary school classroom and their potential for supporting motivation to write and writing skills. However, few of these studies have compared the same pupils when writing with a pencil and paper or writing with a keyboard. This study aimed to compare the motivation and writing performance of pupils in grades 2, 4 and 6 (N = 254) under these two conditions. The pupils completed two writing tasks and answered a questionnaire assessing their motivation to write. The scores obtained for the motivation (4) and performance (8) indicators were then t-tests. Overall, the pupils were more motivated to write using a keyboard, whereas their performance was better when using a pencil and paper. The advantages of these two writing tools are described in detail, considering the different indicators and grade levels.