Pen and paper trump iPad and stylus

If your students rely solely on digital tools for note-taking and learning, it might be time to rethink your strategy.

The very act of handwriting, a practice often sidelined in today’s tech-driven classrooms, offers unique cognitive advantages that typing on a keyboard simply can’t match. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2023 underscores that handwriting engages the brain in ways that typing doesn’t. When we write by hand, the act of forming each letter requires fine motor skills and sensory feedback, which activate neural circuits linked to memory and comprehension. This deeper engagement allows information to be processed and retained more effectively. This is why handwritten notes are so effective.

Students who take notes by hand retain a better understanding of the concepts they’re learning about than students who type their notes. While undoubtedly faster, typing typically leads students to note concepts down word-for-word. This process cuts out what is known as active processing, which allows students to make sense of the information before noting it down. In short, active processing leads to better notes, greater recall and improved learning outcomes.

However, the benefits of handwriting go beyond improved retention of information. Handwriting promotes better learning because it engages more parts of the brain than typing does. Owing to the fine motor control required for handwriting, students are forced to pay attention to what they’re doing. By contrast, typing requires mechanical and repetitive actions which demand less awareness and more speed.

“As increased connectivity in the brain was observed only when writing by hand and not when simply pressing keys on the keyboard, our findings can be taken as evidence that handwriting promotes learning,”

write F. R. (Ruud) Van der Weel and Audrey L. H. Van der Meer in Frontiers in Psychology

Brain Food

When students write with pen and paper, they engage neural circuits linked to memory and comprehension.

Handwriting also supports focus in ways that typing doesn’t. Writing with pen and paper creates a focused, distraction-free environment conducive to deep learning whereas digital devices almost invite students to multitask. The mere temptation to open another app or perform another task serves to disengage students from the matter at hand, greatly compromising opportunities for deep learning.

The implications for educational settings are clear. At a time when digital tools are ubiquitous in educational settings across Australia, it’s tempting to think of handwriting as an outdated practice. But the evidence shows that handwriting is vital to optimise learning outcomes. Schools that integrate handwriting into daily practices—whether through note-taking, journaling or creative exercises—can foster better comprehension, critical thinking and long-term memory retention in their students.

That said, this isn’t a call to abandon technology. Digital tools certainly have their place in education. But an overreliance on typing at the expense of handwriting can undermine the very skills students need to succeed academically and beyond.

The case for handwriting is clear. It engages the brain deeply, improves memory retention and promotes focus in ways typing can’t. By recognising the unique cognitive power of handwriting, we can strike the right balance between paper-based learning materials and digital tools, creating a future where education is both impactful and innovative.

Streamlining classroom workflows, staying on top of budgets and reducing paper waste starts with choosing the right print partner. From simplifying everyday printing to igniting a passion for learning across a range of subjects, scores of schools have trusted Canon to deliver the solutions they need.

Learn more about our Education Solutions or book a free assessment of your print and scan environment with one of our experts.