What's better? Handwriting or typing?
In the modern world, it’s common to see most people using computers to do their daily work, but for most of us born in the 80’s or earlier, it was Pen to Paper with an occasional typewriter.
There has been concern and great debate on the affects that technology is having on child development and motor skills. Here is a simple breakdown of the difference between writing and typing.
Benefits of Typing:
Typing on computer is usually faster with the ability to capture more information. Typing is easier to read as everyones handwriting is different and some are illegible. Digital typing takes up less space and gives you the convenience of less physical file storage. If we are debating efficiency, computers seem to win. When we are talking about cognitive learning and motor development, lets see which method benefits more.
Benefits of handwriting:
There are two hypotheses as to why note-taking is beneficial to begin with. The first concept is called the encoding hypothesis, which says that when a person is taking notes, "the processing that occurs" will improve "learning and retention." The second, called the external-storage hypothesis, is that you learn by being able to look back at your notes, or even the notes of others. Using a computer makes you more likely to transcribe everything you hear, whereas, writing longhand, allowed the student to process the information better. We tend to learn more efficiently by seeing and touching.
Researchers found that students who take notes by hand tend to learn more than those who type their notes on a laptop. Why? because of how much more time your brain has to process the information verses typing out information in mass quantities. This is especially important for child development.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2016/04/17/474525392/attention-students-put-your-laptops-away
https://www.pens.com/blog/the-benefits-of-handwriting-vs-typing/