The Writing Process

When was the last time you wrote a rough draft out long hand? Or the last time you edited a document without using a spell check feature?
A teacher came to me the other day and asked “Why do we still make kids write out their stories on paper, edit them on paper, and only use the computer to ‘publish’ their final product?
I got thinking about this. Why do we make students write their stories before typing them, especially after they watch us all day type directly on the computer? I understand the importance of writing, and IÂ’m not saying that all writing should be done on the computer (though find me a high school teacher who wouldnÂ’t.) But shouldnÂ’t students have the option of using the computer for the writing process? Microsoft Word has all the tools a student needs to complete the writing process. They could make comments, use the review toolbar to edit and revise their story, or even have others edit and revise their story for them (peer editing). For some students this might be a way of motivating them to write.
Just thinking out loud