The word processor re-visited: observations on the use of the word processor to develop literacy at key stage 2

Background to the study The word processor has been present in schools for over twenty years and has longed seemed an ideal tool to encourage pupils to re draft text as well as offering other advantages such as a shared screen for collaborative working and professional presentation of writing. Not surprisingly some case studies have provided valuable evidence on the value of word processor for young writers ( eg, Dauite, 1985; Dalton and Hannafin, 1987; Breese, Jackson and Prince, 1996).