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Keypads Vs Pens: Why Handwriting Still Matters in the Digital Age

From grocery lists on your notes app to contracts with clients in your Google Drive, digital documentation is the go-to for practically everything we need to remember. Speed, accessibility, ease of storage, and retrieval all make it seem superior in every way to old-school pen and paper record-keeping.

But what if we told you that slow and cumbersome writing with your hand has advantages when it comes to learning and remembering compared to typing? This recent study explored how writing with an ink pen, writing with a digital pen, and typing on a keyboard impacted learning of foreign language words. The results were promising for the digital pen and tablet.

The Multifaceted Nature of Learning

This study builds on research that began almost 20 years ago comparing how well preschoolers learned letters through writing by hand versus typing on a keyboard. A lot of studies have since looked at how children and adults remember and understand things – ranging from letters to full lectures – based on whether they used handwriting or punching keys on a computer. More recently, researchers have also been looking at how digital pens and tablets affect learning.

In this study, 33 participants, some who were regular users of digital pens (familiar group) and some who were regular ink pen users (unfamiliar with digital pens group), were tasked to study foreign words. Each group spent ten minutes ‘writing’ the foreign word by typing on a keyboard, writing with a digital pen, and writing with an ink pen. 

They were then assessed based on: 1) how many times they were able to ‘write’ the foreign word within the ten-minute learning period, 2) their mood after the writing exercise, 3) accuracy in a post-test where they were asked to write the local language equivalent of all the foreign words learned, and 4) by a computerized ‘true/false’ test where they indicated if the foreign and local words being presented matched in meaning while their brain wave activity was tracked.

The researchers took a comprehensive approach to understanding learning by examining three key components: mood, behavioral or performance measures, and brain wave activity. This highlights that learning is far more than simply memorizing facts or passing tests. It’s a complex, multifaceted process that engages various aspects of our cognition, emotion, and even physical movements.

Action Item: When we assess our own learning or that of others, we shouldn’t rely solely on traditional metrics like test scores. For example, if you are studying a new tool, don’t just focus on memorizing steps or passing a certification test. Pay attention to how your attitude and mood change as you spend more time learning. Do you feel less dread and instead confidence whenever you log on to the software? Do you find yourself in a positive, energized mood? That can be an indicator of progress that puts you in a better position to master the new tool.

Or if you are ‘learning’ client outreach and networking, sometimes you just have to count how many reps you are able to put in, regardless of whether the potential clients convert.

Adopting a holistic view of the learning process gives us a fuller appreciation of the learning process that doesn’t happen instantaneously, but over a period of time (more on this later).

Click here for my study breakdown & how you can use this study in your business & life:

More Actionable Breakdowns Below! 👇

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More Actionable Breakdowns

Did you miss one of our previous breakdowns? Here are some you might find helpful.

Hate Rigid Schedules? Meet Your New Go-To Scheduling Method: Theme Blocking

Let me guess…you became an entrepreneur so you wouldn’t have to follow some rigid schedule or set of processes that seemed pointless. You want to do things YOUR way. You want freedom. I get it — me too.

If you hate the feeling of being forced into a rigid schedule, you’re not alone. Techniques like time blocking can feel like the freedom you value so highly is being snatched away from you. Not fun.

Often I see entrepreneurs swing from the extreme of planning only what has a true deadline (e.g., meetings and deliverables) on the one end to trying to plan every minute of every day on the other. It’s not all that surprising that neither of these are the right fit.

The Caffeine Sweet Spot: Finding the Balance for Better Brainpower According to Science

A new study challenges the common belief that caffeine enhances cognitive performance. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to ditch your caffeine altogether! Researchers tested regular coffee drinkers and found surprising results that might make you rethink your daily coffee habit. If you're one of the millions who rely on caffeine for a mental boost, this article offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between your favorite stimulant and your brain function and what goes into finding your sweet spot.

ChatGPT Decoded: A Deep Dive into the AI Phenomenon

This article was written by a guest expert for those who want an insider view of how these models work to better understand what they can, and more importantly, can’t do.

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Wishing you much productivity!

- Jenae :) 

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