SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon students taking a state writing assessment test will be allowed to use a computer spell checker this year.
KTVZ-TV in Bend reports that, beginning with the new school year, the Oregon Department of Education will allow students to enable the spell check feature in the online writing assessment software.
Department staff met with school district representatives this summer to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of enabling the feature, which had not been previously allowed.
Issues included the increasing use of computers with spell checkers for communication in the workplace, college, postsecondary training, and the military.
The change will affect seventh-graders and high school students.
