As digital technology increasingly infiltrates every aspect of our learning and living, traditional handwritten notetaking might seem outdated. However, research continues to prove that notetaking with paper and pen or with a tablet and stylus is an effective learning tool. This is especially evident for preschool-aged children, where the benefits of handwritten notes are more obvious.
Scientists have explored the reasons behind this phenomenon. A recent study, published in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology,” monitored the brain activity of students during the notetaking process. The study found that during handwriting, there was stronger electrical activity between different regions of the brain, emphasizing once again the importance of teaching children to learn words and draw through handwriting.
These new findings are based on a significant study from 2014. That study noted that while typing may help people record notes more quickly, it might not encourage deep thinking about the content. In contrast, handwritten notes, although possibly slower, can prompt people to pay more active attention and process the information they are getting, a more conscious learning activity built on existing knowledge. Therefore, students are more likely to absorb and master new information when recording it by hand.
Specifically, researchers recruited 36 students to determine the difference in brain activity between typing and handwriting. In the experiments, students were asked to record words shown on a screen by both handwriting and typing, while researchers, using a cap worn on the participants’ heads with 256 electrodes, recorded their brain activity in detail. The results showed that handwriting involved a wider range of brain connectivity, including the visual areas responsible for receiving and processing visual information, and the motor cortex involved in controlling body movement. Notably, these areas encompass the ability to integrate the sensorimotor system, which is essential for processing environmental information and making decisions. On the other hand, when taking notes by typing on a keyboard, the activity in these brain regions was much less.
According to Audrey van der Meer, a neuropsychologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and co-author of this new study, “When typing, we perform repetitive and simple finger movements to input each letter; in contrast, when we write by hand, each letter, such as ‘A’ and ‘B,’ involves a completely different physical sensation.”
Van der Meer points out that children who primarily learn to read and write by tapping on digital tablets often struggle to differentiate letters that look similar or are mirror images of each other, like “b” and “d”. And research has shown that children usually learn better when they are required to coordinate their hands and fingers to record letters or other visual information.
Sofia Finch-Buch, an educational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University in the United States, also commented on this new study, suggesting that the research results more clearly demonstrate the close connection between motor actions and conceptual understanding. She explains, “When you write down a letter or word, you are actually concretizing it through your motor system based on a tactile understanding of something.”
The act of handwriting has a creative aspect that stimulates the brain’s visual system, reinforcing the connection with related images or text by processing the creative act again. In modern educational environments, while technological devices such as tablets and smartphones have increased efficiency in paperwork and research efforts, and provided equal opportunities for accessing educational resources, we should also be vigilant about the over-reliance on these tools.
Researchers have pointed out that people are gradually delegating cognitive tasks to electronic devices, such as using photography instead of memory to remember beautiful scenes, a phenomenon that merits our attention. If we do not actively practice these skills, such as memory and motor skills, they will degrade over time.
Academic research specifically suggests that it is crucial for young children, in early educational stages like preschool and kindergarten, to engage in drawing and calligraphy activities. These activities can help them learn letters and language, and participation in physical and creative activities positively affects the quality of learning.
