Emma Schaible/Fourth Estate

Why college students should practice the art of handwriting

BY KATIE PERSCHAU, STAFF WRITER

Last week, I walked into my last class of the day anticipating the typical lesson. I ducked through the sea of green swivel chairs to find a seat near the back, sat down and pulled out my obnoxiously yellow notebook. All around me, dozens of glowing screens dotted the room, and the clacking sound of hundreds of keys applauded the start of the lecture. 

However, just as my peers and I settled into our note taking routine, we were confronted with an unexpected request. The professor demanded we “take out a piece of paper.” 

After the initial shock faded, the helpless glances of my computer-wielding counterparts fell on their saving grace: my notebook. I fielded requests to borrow a piece of paper, and as my inventory dwindled the professor moved on with the activity. 

I was happy to save the day, but the event left me wondering when writing notes on paper became so rare, and whether the digital age has phased out the need for putting pen to paper entirely.

Handwriting is making a comeback in primary education, with many state laws requiring elementary schools to teach cursive in recent years. In college, however, the use of handwriting still seems rare. Many students choose to take notes on computers and tablets, and professors rarely assign work on paper. While using only digital devices may be more convenient, the practice of printing letters should not trail off after elementary school.

Handwriting—specifically cursive writing—has many cognitive benefits. The National Education Association (NEA) said that advocates of cursive writing refer to studies that reveal it “not only improves retention and comprehension, it engages the brain on a deep level as students learn to join letters in a continuous flow.” 

Additionally, The Guardian wrote that writing notes by hand teaches students to use proper grammar and spelling without the interference of spell-check, which can improve communication. College students are preparing to enter the workforce, and good communication skills are essential to acing interviews and making good impressions. 

Many opponents of the art of cursive and handwriting say it is an outdated practice that is not necessary in the digital age. While using technology has many benefits of its own, a study published by Frontiers in Psychology agreed that both digital and handwritten learning methods are needed for an optimal learning environment, and the strengths of both should be examined in classrooms. 

I believe college students should consider writing class notes in a notebook while continuing to complete homework assignments and papers on a computer. Since handwriting helps improve memory and typing is more efficient, the hybrid learning method includes the best parts of the lost art of penmanship and the practicality of modern technology. 

We live in a world flooded with distractions. Students notice that constant phone vibrations and computer alerts draw their attention from class activities. When taking notes on a computer, it is tempting to switch tabs or respond to emails instead of keeping up with the notes. By switching from a laptop to pen and paper, students lower the chance of distractions in class, which makes focusing easier. 

Handwriting in school might not be as popular as it was in the past, but it is clear that because it increases memory retention, improves grammar and spelling and reduces distractions, it should not be abandoned in college classrooms. 

I will continue graciously doling out my extra paper when the need arises, but in the future, I hope to see more of my classmates eager to write on by hand.