Whether at school, at university or at work: fewer and fewer people write by hand in everyday life. From a scientific perspective, it makes perfect sense to regularly write by hand instead of using the keyboard. The motor, handwriting process is associated with a number of benefits for the brain and general learning performance.
The brain processes information better
In various studies, neuroscientists have found that our brain processes handwritten information better. Evidence of this is provided by an experiment in which the participants watched films with lectures. While half of the test subjects took notes on their laptop, the other half wrote by hand. The test subjects wore an EEG cap for around 45 minutes. The electrodes attached to it record the smallest electrical brain impulses, which the researchers then analyzed. Their results were clear: In retrospect, those who took handwritten notes were able to remember complex connections much better than the test subjects who typed on a laptop.
The writing process itself provides an explanation for these results. As a rule, people who type on a laptop can create many strokes per minute. In contrast, handwritten notes require more time. This means that the writers have to make selections and select information specifically during their work. During this process, the brain processes information differently, creating neural connections. That’s why people who write by hand can usually remember the content better even after the writing process than those who work with a keyboard and mouse. At the same time, the scientists emphasized that the shape of the pen does not affect the result. The positive effect can also be observed with a digital pen and a touchscreen. This means that learners do not necessarily have to write in the old-fashioned way with pen on paper. Rather, it’s about the motor writing process itself, which can be carried out with a digital pen just as with an ordinary ballpoint pen.
Writing by hand activates several areas of the brain
Imaging procedures such as those from Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital explained, functional magnetic resonance imaging, show: Different areas of the brain are involved in the processing of language. This applies to writing by hand as well as Learning a new foreign language. The simultaneous movement and thinking process activates both hemispheres of the brain. In addition to the fine motor area, the photographic memory is also addressed. When typing on the keyboard, this activity in the brain areas can only be observed to a limited extent or not at all. Since both the right and left hemispheres of the brain are involved in handwriting, it has been proven that more complex and creative texts are created.
Children learn handwritten letters better
Children also benefit from the handwriting process. There is evidence that preschool children who cannot yet read and write memorize letters better. German researchers investigated this thesis with the help of a training course. They let kindergarten children learn letters using the keyboard or pen. As a result, the children who wrote by hand could recognize the letters better.
However, it is not useful or profitable to write by hand in every situation. Do children have problems with the German language and use providers like Tutorspace online one-to-one tutoring, you benefit from keyboard typing. Because: Typing on the keyboard relieves the strain on your working memory. As a result, students can concentrate better on material problems such as spelling or phrasing during tutoring. This ultimately has a positive effect on learning success.
Writing by hand promotes critical thinking
There is another effect when taking notes by hand: selecting information promotes critical thinking skills. This is particularly true for people who design their notes in different colors. The different color codes help to recognize complex structures and connections. In the long term, this will enable writers to think more critically and solve complex problems better.
Writing by hand strengthens memory
Anyone who writes by hand is exercising a motor action. This creates an unconscious learning process, as perception improves with each handwritten note. During the writing process, the motor system activates together with the brain areas responsible for visuals. As if by itself, the brain connects the words or numbers with images and creates a connection. This connection between the written content and the motor movement creates a so-called memory trace. Because the brain stores what is written, learning becomes easier. Neuroscientists refer to this as kinesthetic relief. But general memory performance is also strengthened by summarizing the content.
In addition, handwritten texts cannot be corrected as easily as notes on the computer. This also puts writers in a mindful state and trains their memory through the concentration that comes with it. In addition, there is less distraction when writing on paper than on a digital device. Due to the purist setting without emails and other digital content, the sequentially functioning brain focuses exclusively on one thing: writing.
Don’t see handwriting and keyboard as competitors
Based on the advantages mentioned here, it is clear that handwriting continues to be relevant even with increasing digitalization. It is still very important, especially at school, and makes a significant contribution to learning success. However, handwriting should not compete with mouse and keyboard. Rather, it is appropriate to use both methods – tactile writing as well as handwriting – depending on the situation. For normal lessons, experts still recommend handwritten notes so that students can better memorize the material. On the other hand, the keyboard is suitable when it comes to taking quick and complete notes. This is useful, for example, for students who have to do a homework or other written work. Ultimately, both types have their advantages and remain loud Study results of the educational and Educational Association (PDF-Doc) important learning and communication tools.
March 1, 2024