Internet Lingo and Academic Prose

In doing research for the Future of Literacy project, I keep thinking about the gap that exists between the writing done on the internet and the writing submitted in school. It’s only going to continue-what started off as chat sessions became instant messaging which became texting and facebook chats, etc.

If we say that we want to incorporate technology into classrooms, how do we locate and mark the difference between the more casual language found on the internet and more academic prose–and then teach the difference in a modern classroom? Is there a way we can contain the LOLs and 🙂 from popping up in essays if we so closely incorporate the newest innovations available? The dictionary itself conforms to include newer terms and computer jargon. Do you have any concerns that the English language will grow to incorporate this type of writing, and what do you think that means in terms of being considered “literate” in the future?