How do typing and writing by hand affect schoolwork?

Design by Michella Siveroni and Ines Costa

Many junior high teachers require students to handwrite their assignments and assessments instead of typing them. According to a poll of 15 junior high teachers, 26.7% always require handwritten work, and 33.3% use it for most of their assignments. Of those who require handwritten work, 66.7% say they prefer it because it helps students retain information. However, there is some debate about whether typing or handwriting schoolwork is more effective for students.

Upper School English teacher Mrs. Scott, who assigns work to be handwritten, believes that “writing by hand reinforces memory.” 

Some students agree. 

“I feel like when I handwrite schoolwork, it kind of sticks to my brain better than when I type it,” said Natalia Taraboulos ‘30. Research has shown that “when you materialize something from your imagination (by writing it, drawing it or building it), this reinforces the imagined concept and helps it stick in your memory.”

Apart from the issue of information retention, typing or writing by hand can also impact how quickly students complete their work. 

While handwriting may encourage focus and memory, typing offers its own advantages.

Research shows typing is “faster and more consistent, allowing students to keep up with their thoughts and express themselves more fully”. 

Some junior high students prefer to type because they complete assignments much more efficiently. “You can go way quicker instead of handwriting,” said Taraboulos. 

Carolina Miyares ‘31 agrees. “When I handwrite things, I like to make it look neat, so it takes me longer, [but] when I type, I can just keep on writing,” she said. 

However, taking longer can actually have its benefits. “I think sometimes taking the extra time to write by hand really allows students to think more about what they’re writing,” said Mrs. Scott. 

In fact, studies support the idea that students spend more time thinking when they write by hand. According to Scientific American, it is easy for students to “type without thinking.” 

However, sometimes handwriting can be an issue. Teachers need to be able to read what students write. “I feel like when students are typing, it’s a little bit neater, because if they’re writing with a pen, they’ll just scratch it out, but when they’re typing, they can just backspace,” said Upper School dance teacher Ms. Sasloglou.

Some students have trouble producing clear and legible handwriting. “Digital writing looks better than my handwriting since my handwriting’s not very good,” said Miyares. 

Another factor to consider is whether students can stay focused when they are using computers. “I do find that when the computers are open, schoolwork that should be done isn’t being done,” said Mrs. Scott. 

Ms. Sasloglou agrees. “I think there are too many distractions on a laptop or iPad.”

As teachers review the positive and negative factors of typing or handwriting, some lean towards a hybrid version of learning. “I think a balance is always good,” said Ms. Sasloglou. For example, “writing down the notes first and then transferring all that information to the computer after. I think doubl[ing] the work would help the students learn better.”