A question was posed in the middle of this article that questioned the role of publishing and online feedback by youth while they are in high school. I think that the role that online feedback and publishing has in the lives of youth is very powerful, because if they are participating in this process at such an early age they will only get better as they age. The use of online tools such, “Sugar Quill” provide excellent platforms for youth to engage in the sharing and editing process.
Heather’s web-based school newspaper is such a success because the youth that participate in its composition are able to relate to the articles that are written, because that can relate to each other. I find that in order to obtain and retain the interest of today’s youth they have to connect with the text. Gone are the days of expecting our youth to read, retain, and explain texts that they simply cannot relate to. Most of the participants were probably initially intrigued in the production newspaper because it was being produced via a digital platform. The critiquing of a peers work is something that they tend to enjoy as well it’s almost as though critiquing is part of the DNA.