The Advantages of Writing by Hand Instead of Typing
- Learning to write the alphabet by hand may be more important than we think.BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
Even though our world is dominated by technological advancements, a clear benefit exists in students learning the old-fashioned way. A 2010 study at Indiana University reports that children who learned letters by hand had an increase in neural activity, which was "far more enhanced and 'adult-like' than in those who had simply looked at letters" on a keyboard. If students who learn to write by hand have increased brain activity, it may be a good idea to put away the keyboard and practice the basics of handwriting. - Writing by hand helps us learn and remember images better.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
For disciplines that rely heavily on images, such as music and some languages, writing the information by hand can increase learning. French neuroscientist Jean-Luc Velay studied adults who were asked to learn 10 new letters, either by writing them by hand or typing them, that when adults who learned the letters through handwriting remembered them better; the same was not true for those who learned the letters through a computer. Velay explains that the "motor-function" part of the brain is engaged when learning is achieved through writing by hand. Increasing what we learn and how quickly we learn is something everyone can benefit from. - Hand-writing essays can produce more successful writers.Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
Hand-writing promotes better thinking in young learners. According to Virginia Berninger, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, in "grades two, four and six, children wrote more words, faster, and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand versus with a keyboard." Writing is a difficult task, so the more brain power we can get behind the complex process, the better, especially for young learners. - Writing by hand can keep your mind active and healthy.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
Writing by hand not only benefits young learners, but it can keep adults' minds active. Bounds reports in her article that "some physicians say handwriting could be a good cognitive exercise for baby boomers working to keep their minds sharp as they age." As Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia threaten the aging population, keeping the mind healthy is important. So grab a pen and write a letter to an old friend or journal about a day spent with the grandchildren to keep older minds active.
