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Activity:  9 comments  102 views  last activity : 01 25 2011 10:29:06 +0000
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Why the pen is mightier than the keyboard: Children who write by hand 'learn better than those who type'

 

Children and students who write by hand learn better than those who type, a study has revealed.

Something is apparently lost in the brain process when switching from pen and book to computer screen and keyboard.

This is because reading and writing involves a number of our senses, according to the scientists who conducted the study.

When writing by hand, the movements involved leave an imprint in the part of the brain called the sensorimotor. This process helps to help us recognise letters.

Simply touching and typing on a keyboard produces a different response in the brain, which means it does not strengthen the learning mechanism in the same way.

In tests, two groups of volunteers were asked to learn an unknown alphabet.

The first was taught to write the letters by hand, while the other used keyboards.

At weekly intervals their recollections of the alphabet were recorded. And those who learned the letters through reading and writing came out best.

Professor Anne Mangen, a reading expert from Stavanger University in Norway, and neurophysiologist Jean-Luc Velay, of Marseille University, published their findings in the Advances in Haptics journal.

Other experiments suggest the brain's Broca's area linked to speech is discernibly more activated when we read a verb linked to a physical activity, compared with being read an abstract verb or a verb not associated with any action.

Prof Mangen said: 'This also happens when you observe someone doing something. You don't have to do anything yourself.

'Hearing about or watching some activity is often enough. It may even suffice to observe a familiar tool associated with a particular physical activity.'

Since writing by hand takes longer than typing on a keyboard the temporal aspect of the brain which is involved in language may also influence the learning process, she adds.

 

 Top Comment : Neha Choudhry   | 01 22 2011 17:30:06 +0000
There is something personal about writing which isn't there when typing. Words seem to form up themselves when putting thoughts to paper. Its a cathartic experience for some to vent it all out on a paper while some enjoy making strokes and slashing out t's and f's. Its just a personal choice. I love writing.
 
9 comments on "Why the pen is mightier than the keyboard"
  Commented by  Rathin Deb, Resident Manager, Tower Infotech Ltd.    | 01 25 2011 10:29:06 +0000
Rating : +1 
Suresh Pen will always remain mightier than typing.
  Commented by  rakeshbhatnagar, GM Projects., wig brothers india pvt.ltd.    | 01 24 2011 09:05:17 +0000
yes , suresh ji pen is mighter than key board .its a more effective source in any case.
  Commented by  SHRIKANT MANOHAR DANKE, Consultant, Project Management Consultancy Firm    | 01 24 2011 08:40:39 +0000
You are more comfortable, when writing as compare to typing, as when you are putting thoughts on paper then it becomes a continuous process, but it is not while typing & you may loose your concentration while typing.
Thanks for the referral & information, Suresh. 
  Commented by  Neha Choudhry, Content Writer, Service Magic Info Jobs (for Atoot.com)    | 01 22 2011 17:30:06 +0000
Rating : +1 
There is something personal about writing which isn't there when typing. Words seem to form up themselves when putting thoughts to paper. Its a cathartic experience for some to vent it all out on a paper while some enjoy making strokes and slashing out t's and f's. Its just a personal choice. I love writing.
 Handwriting and handwritten aspects are the best tools from immemorial whether it is carving or all skills on a machine on a product are all done through one hand or through both hands.In this process the brain holistically ensures our brain to be synchronous to the thought and command.Hence the learning and the precision improves from the doctor to any other person on any profession.Even if a person uses a tool for a particular job the job is not that perfect compared to the soft touch of the hand and the hand that gives the finish on a product.So the experience curve improves much more and the learning and retention is better.
Keyboard is alike any other tool of aiding a particular job to be done.Hence keyboard invariably will not be much useful.
Even in computer those who plan and write on a paper and then transfer on a computer keyboard the retentivity is rom the written aspect and not on the direct typing on computers.
Normally one may recall and can even try it to type a letter or an article on akeyboard and then close your eyes or do not see the computer and try to recollect .one will find it difficult compared to what one can recollect that has been done through handwritten passage.

i do not know the actual impact of the brain on retention but the inference drawn leads to that confirmation.

Good article to make one think specially for students to improve retentivity ans creativity.
Kind Regards
Major(Retd) M Rajendran
  Commented by  Santosh Kumar Mohanty, Civil Engineer-Municipal, Sambalpur University    | 01 22 2011 15:18:08 +0000
All is said well. Writing in pen is related to creativity and imagination, which reduces while typing. 
  Commented by  S. Muralidharan, Head, Project Planning/Strategy, Knowledge Foundation    | 01 22 2011 12:22:34 +0000
When we hold pen / pencil on hand, we involuntarily activate pressure points (plexus) that have a direct linkage with the brain, triggering alertness.  Writing in colours (blue, black, green or red) on white surface also impacts right brain cells.  Therefore, the more we write, the greater the retention of our brain would be!  Suresh ji, you are absolutely right - PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN SWORD! Modern gadgets take away the beauty of writing and learning in children!
  Commented by  Onkar Datt Sharma, Manager (Technical), Retired    | 01 22 2011 12:13:24 +0000
if we write by hand our concentration is focus is on the words/sentences we are writing whereas when we are typing our focus is mainly on the keyboard letters searching, therefore we learn better while writing
  Commented by  nagesh rao, Freelancer, Freelancer    | 01 22 2011 12:09:07 +0000
Yes Suresh Ji, While writing by hand takes a little longer time than typing the subject/content will be stored/registered in our subconscious level. ex.spelling
to spell a big word orally it will take little longer time with accuracy. where as if
we write, we will spell it fast with proper accuracy since we learnt by writing, it has
registered in our subconscious level & recall faster.  
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