Student Tip #1: Write Things by Hand

 Companies try to sell us on the power and improvements of technology all the time. And some things have made life easier, but not all technology improves learning. As it turns out, paper and pencil give students an edge technology hasn’t been able to replicate yet. 

It’s easy when doing distance learning to try and complete all work on the computer, but students who do this miss using vital parts of their brains for learning, Writing freestyle on paper has been associated with engaging both the motor skill and reading portions of the brain, when compared to typing or tracing. Encouraging students to work out problems or write their ideas first on paper can help engage all parts of the brain in learning, even when they are just watching a lecture or reading instructions from a computer.

Taking notes is the next level of engaging the brain in learning. Several studies have shown that handwritten notes offer several advantages that have not been replicated by computer note-taking. A key study from 2014 linked this advantage to how note-taking by hand forces students to adapt what is being said into its component ideas to record it instead of the verbatim transcription of statements that many do when taking computer notes. Older students may need to be encouraged not to just copy what they see on PowerPoint, but to identify the key phrases (which might come from PowerPoint) and then add an explanation of those key phrases in their own words.  

Students as young as second grade should be encouraged to begin learning note-taking skills if they are distance learning. Distance learning requires students to make more use of resources away from the teacher (which is a valuable skill for life and to encourage independence). While younger students shouldn’t have pages of notes, they should be encouraged to begin to write several sentences to remind themselves of steps or ideas in math and science. They can also write brief descriptions of new ideas from other projects just enough so they have reminders when asked to explain what they are doing. Asking a child to put their assignments and concepts into their descriptions helps to reinforce that they have correctly understood the ideas and allows them a chance to organize the idea in their brain before being asked to apply it. This will help your child to avoid learning simply by rote repetition.

Some children will initially resist writing by hand because many have been taught to be passive learners where the teacher takes the initiative to provide all written material. To them, writing is busywork that can be judged instead of a tool for learning. You can reshape their habit of avoiding writing by starting with having them write two key ideas they learned after every lesson the first week. The next week they can do three key ideas and keep growing from there. 

Note-taking is a skill that will develop over time. Focus on the fact that it isn’t about what is in the notes at first, but about teaching your child to learn in a new way and that will take time.