Balance. We need some balance in classrooms today. We need to be reminded that technology is a tool and not a fix-all. Paper and pencil still have their places, and I believe the pendulum needs to swing back . Many have asked my opinion on students taking writing exams via word processor, and I have thought much about that subject for years. What follows is based on research and on my own experience as an educator since 1980.
What is it that we really want of our students? Do we want them to retain information, process at a higher level, and to activate their brains regularly? Hopefully, that is a resounding YES. Writing activates the brain in ways word processing cannot. Writing by hand enhances learning and assists in developing conceptual understanding. Learning to write by hand and composing that way actually helps in learning to read.
Handwriting is a sensory experience as art is and can help develop brain connections. Writing is another way to give greater understanding of material. Some research exists that shows sensory activities build nerve connections. Sensory activities “support language development , cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, and problem solving skills.”
As students get older and must take notes, writing by hand also allows brains to engage with the information more which improves comprehension. Most type faster than writing, so when note taking by hand, students must summarize the information while taking notes. This allows more understanding. Taking notes by hand also improves recall.
Research seems to indicate that students who type notes usually just type lectures verbatim without conceptualizing as they would need to do when taking notes by hand. Perhaps the answer is to use a balance of both and to teach students HOW to really take notes.
In a nutshell: Writing notes by hand rather than typing them increases understanding.
Let’s make some changes to help our children maximize their learning.