Handwriting for Education

Handwriting notes in class might seem like an anachronism as smartphones and other digital technology subsume every aspect of learning across schools and universities. But a steady stream of research continues to suggest that taking notes the traditional way—with pen and paper or even stylus and tablet—is still the best way to learn, especially for young children. And now scientists are finally zeroing in on why. A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology monitored brain activity in students taking notes and found that those writing by hand had higher levels of electrical activity across a wide range of interconnected brain regions responsible for movement, vision, sensory processing and memory. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that has many experts speaking up about the importance of teaching children to handwrite words and draw pictures. #handwriting #memoryboost https://lnkd.in/eDyX52Ca

“Both handwriting and typing involve moving our hands and fingers to create words on a page. But handwriting, it turns out, requires a lot more fine-tuned coordination between the motor and visual systems. This seems to more deeply engage the brain in ways that support learning. "Handwriting is probably among the most complex motor skills that the brain is capable of," says Marieke Longcamp, a cognitive neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université. Gripping a pen nimbly enough to write is a complicated task, as it requires your brain to continuously monitor the pressure that each finger exerts on the pen. Then, your motor system has to delicately modify that pressure to re-create each letter of the words in your head on the page. "Your fingers have to each do something different to produce a recognizable letter," says Sophia Vinci-Booher, an educational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. Adding to the complexity, your visual system must continuously process that letter as it's formed. With each stroke, your brain compares the unfolding script with mental models of the letters and words, making adjustments to fingers in real time to create the letters' shapes, says Vinci-Booher. That's not true for typing.” #cognitivescience #memory #learning #informationprocessing https://lnkd.in/ejK7Gcr9

I love my screens. Honestly, the past 25 years of my career have been changed dramatically by tech. Thank goodness. But - there is one tool that I would recommend to every professional, student, and creative individual. Because it will enhance your cognitive skills in a way you can’t imagine. Drum roll, please…. It’s *Pen and Paper*! But to be serious - we are living in a time of blue-light glasses, constant stimulation, and shortened focus. Taking some time to go back to the basics, and put pen to paper has improved my memory recall, creativity, and focus. Here are 5 lessons that will challenge how you think about writing by hand: 1️⃣ Boosts Memory Writing by hand requires more mental energy, resulting in better memory recall. When you write something down, you're more likely to remember it than if you add it to your notes app. 2️⃣ Improves Creativity Sketching your thoughts opens up creative thought processes. The physical act of writing can lead to ideas that might not occur otherwise. 3️⃣ Prevents Distractions Unlike digital devices, a pen and paper come without pop-up notifications. This simplicity can lead to more focused and uninterrupted thought processes. 4️⃣ Upgrades Learning Writing by hand engages parts of the brain associated with learning. It's a multi-sensory process that can help to consolidate new information and concepts. 5️⃣ Promotes Mindfulness The slower pace of handwriting can encourage you to be more mindful, present, and engaged with your work. It helps you to reflect more deeply on what you are doing. When was the last time you put pen to paper? 

Devices vs. pen / paper: who wins the note taking battle? A fascinating 2014 Princeton study provides an answer. Here's what they found: • students who took notes on laptops performed worse on conceptual questions than students who took notes by hand  • laptop note takes wrote thing verbatim vs. pen / paper users put concepts into their own words • overall, handwritten notes lead to deeper processing This has big implications for how we work and learn. As a former teacher working in education technology, I still grow less comfortable with my own kids using 1:1 devices for learning the more I look into it. Can tech help us learn? Of course. But it's important to draw clear lines where pen / paper is better. Accessibility aside, this is one of those cases. PS - The study is called The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking.