Why writing by hand is better for children’s memory and learning, according to experts

In the digital age, dominated by technology, handwrite may seem dated. For some, it is a significantly slower, tedious and more attention-consuming task compared to using the keyboard.

However, more and more experts suggest that traditional note taking with paper and pencil -or even with a stylus and a tablet-, is still the most effective method to learnespecially for the Small children. Precisely, recent research has begun to discover the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Now, a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology has confirmed that writing by hand has benefits for memory and learning. Specifically, the experts monitored the brain activity of students who took notes in their own handwriting.

“Given that traditional handwriting is progressively being replaced by digital devices,” in the words of the researchers, “it is essential to analyze what this means for the human brain.”

The findings revealed that those who wrote by hand exhibited higher levels of electrical activity in various regions of the brain responsible for motionthe visionhe sensory processing and the memory. Results suggest that traditional writing engages the brain more completely than typing.

In fact, the authors of the study, Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weelof the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) found that taking notes by hand forces students to process information more deeply.

“The pattern of visual information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a pen contributes greatly to the brain connectivity patterns that promote the learning”, they explain.

And unlike typing, where it is easy to transcribe everything verbatim without engaging with the content, handwriting requires students to prioritize, consolidate and relate new information to existing knowledge. An active engagement process that improves comprehension and the retentionaccording to experts.

To test the differences in brain activity between handwriting and typing, NTNU researchers conducted an experiment in which students wrote and typed 15 words displayed on a screen.

Using electrodes attached to a cap, they recorded brain activity and found that handwriting activated extensive connectivity in brain regions involved in writing. visual processing, sensory integration and motor functions. With typing, however, minimal activity was found in these areas.

Additionally, while typing uses the same finger movements for each key, when writing by hand, each letter involves different motor movements. This difference helps children who learn to read and write by hand to distinguish between similar letters in calligraphylike ‘b’ and ‘d’.

In this sense, Sophia Vinci-Boohereducational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University (USA), asserts that handwriting links motor actions with visual and conceptual recognition. Drawing or writing a letter strengthens connection between action and visual representationreinforcing the memory. In the same way that something from the imagination materializes, which solidifies the concept in the brain.

More benefits

In this regard, also the researcher Yadurshana Sivashankarof the University of Waterloo (Canada)highlights that handwriting activates more motor programs of the typing brain. She believes that this activation helps transform verbal information into a tangible format, improving memory retention. For example, in a paper he published in 2021 he discovered that participants remembered action verbs more accurately when they performed the corresponding actions.

Likewise, other studies have shown that children learn better when they produce letters or visuals using your own fingers and hands. This is the case of the work of Vinci Booherwhich indicates that handwriting improves letter recognition and has lasting effects on learning. In turn, engaging in fine motor activities such as handwriting can also help children overcome the phenomenon known as “mirror invariance”allowing them to distinguish between letters such as ‘b’ and ‘p’.

Balance technology and traditional methods

Therefore, while technology offers efficiency and equitable access to educational resources, over-reliance on digital devices can lead to “cognitive delegation,” where the brain’s memory and motor skills deteriorate due to lack of use. .

Van der Meer notes that some schools in Norway are moving towards fully digital classrooms, however this trend risks depriving children of the cognitive benefits associated with writing and drawing.

“We insist that children, from an early age, should be exposed to handwriting activities at school to establish the neural connectivity patterns that provide the brain with optimal conditions for learning”, emphasize the experts.

However, they add, “although it is vital to maintain the practice of handwriting in school, it is also important to stay up to date with continually developing technological advances.”

Therefore, “both teachers and students should be aware of which practice has the best learning effect in which context, for example when taking class notes or writing an essay,” they conclude.

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