Texting might be a form of communication, but addressing a thesis with supportive and appropriate research is an art. Texting is conversational, comparable to an everyday meet and greet. Grabill said, “As with other writing genres, it’s communicative and it’s a vehicle to conduct real-world work.”

Grabill’s conclusion points to something interesting. As a student, when I conceive “real-world work,” I think of working in my career field and networking with other professionals. In addition, I use more professional modes of communication instead of texting, such as e-mails, face-to-face interactions and phone calls.

Grabill’s study proves texting is a meaningful and effective way of addressing efficiency. But making permanent connections and networks of professionals cannot be done with text messages.

Even e-mails are proving ineffective for students. Grabill’s research suggested students perceive e-mails to be for older people such as their parents and professors. Students might send e-mails often, but they do not think much of them.

Social networks such as Facebook encourage writing in the computer-age generation. Students use Facebook to post everything from screenplays to poetry. Twitter has its advantages as well. Twitter is a huge network, allowing a user to tag multiple users or trending topics in a variety of subjects.

Professors are realizing that to reach students, they must become ingrained into our everyday lives. Moreover, the common path in our everyday lives is technology. I think this study is a good start. Innovations in teaching need to be made to keep up with the exponential growth of technology.

Some people might contest the fact that students of all ages are writing more than any other generation, but Grabill’s study proves otherwise. It might not be the traditional pen-to-paper research writing, but all types of writing can be mentally stimulating. Texting, tweeting or instant messaging all require someone to focus on a given point and communicate it effectively to a separate party.

Texting cannot replace writing within academia, but it can be a stepping stone to other, more direct forms of interaction.

In a world consumed with convenience, it is no surprise texting is the premier form of writing among college students. It’s fast and easy to communicate the same message to many different people with a few clicks or touches from a cellphone. Like anything else, texting has its place and time to be used. Colloquialism of text messages need to move aside when professional business matters come into play.

It’s no doubt people use hundreds, even thousands, of text messages routinely. However, it is truly a fortunate situation when teaching starts to adapt to modern standards. As the computer generation becomes younger, educators of all levels can reach into their students’ lives earlier and earlier.

In contrast, when educators fall behind modern innovations, their students will lag in their studies because they find themselves bored and unengaged with the instructor’s lesson. Students need an extra incentive to learn effectively and retain information.

If other instructors adapt this way of thinking, school systems across the nation will evolve. However, forms of communication do not replace each other, rather they complement one another. From tweets to a business conference call, all forms of communication should be valued for what they are.

Anthony Harvey is a State News staff writer. Reach him at harveya4@msu.edu.