What if the brave new world of AI and assistive technology means that we stop learning by hand? Would we lose any learning it the translating from handwriting screen tapping, or from note-taking by hand to receiving summaries from an AI chatbot?

On one hand, it seems absurd to argue for handwriting and note-taking. Surely they are deeply engrained traditional methods of learning we all value? But even if teachers value learning by hand, we may be pushed for time and training.

If exams go fully digital, handwriting instruction could quickly be marginalised, and note-taking by hand be swapped out for a digital device with AI aids by pragmatic teachers and tech-loving students.

Homework already jumps to online apps with assistive supports and AI guidance. There is little thought or complaint about how our brain may respond differently to screen scrolling and that of the physical act of writing on the page.

Handwriting and embodied cognition

I get asked the following question a lot:

'Why is handwriting important when technology is ultimately going to replace it?'

But I think that assumption of handwriting being an anachronism is the wrong way to look at it.

Handwriting is not merely a mechanical way of communicating on the page - it is an essential aid to thinking and remembering.

There are many instances of research indicating that young children in particular benefit from handwriting over typing.

The seemingly effortless act of holding a pen or pencil, pressing it on the page, and moving to create letters and words is a complex cognitive act that is good for remembering. It is why handwriting can benefit spelling development, as children better remember letters and words that are handwritten. It is why note-taking on the page improves reading comprehension.

If students are using AI and tech, they likely need to also embody their learning by making notes. Research indicates students may prefer using an AI chatbot than making notes, but the latter is more effective for remembering, as well as being necessary for making AI use more memorable too.

This is not just about students doing their usual writing in English. Across the curriculum, writing is thinking. Whether that is making effective notes for maths problems, or learning new words and spellings. The physical act may also add small but vital learning gains at all ages when it comes to learning by hand.

If we lose writing by hand, we may damage students' learning, their writing, their spelling, and more.

Embodied learning describes how we learn through the physical body. We all understand how this intuitively works, and every musician and athlete lives the experience daily. But even in the more subtle learning acts of noting a key word down on a page, learning letters, or drawing a quick diagram (the so-called 'drawing effect'), embodied cognition, and learning, kicks into gear.

Take a moment to think about how we may learn effectively by hand:

  • Handwriting
  • Annotation
  • Drawing
  • Extended writing
  • Structured note-taking
  • Gesture and movement

Each act demands some physical processing by the brain. This is embodied cognition.

If you go the shop and you want to remember your list, you write it down. Now, the difference between typing it into your phone and writing it down is probably not significant for an adult, but for novice students, grappling with more complex ideas and words, the deeper processing of embodied handwriting is like to offer small, but worthwhile gains.

What are the implications for schools:

Every teacher should consider when writing by hand may benefit students' learning and remembering.
Young children learning letters and words should focus on handwriting for learning.
Don't drop handwriting instruction for older students who may need it.
Ensure older students recognise the learning benefits of writing by hand e.g. when revising for exams.
Explicitly train older students on subject specific approaches to note-taking and annotation (these need to be deliberate, explicit and well structured).
Explicitly train students who are using tech - such as apps and AI - to also take physical notes to help them think.

Right, stop scrolling and make a note...

Related reading:

  • A readable short article on the case for handwriting in the 21st century: 'Strengthening the Mind’s Eye: The case for continued handwriting instruction in the 21st century', by Berninger 2012 - see HERE.
  • An excellent National Geographic article: 'Why handwriting still matters in a digital age' - see HERE.
  • An accessible Scientific American article: 'Why writing by hand is better for memory and learning' - see HERE.