Freakonomics Radio 235. Who Needs Handwriting?
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Feb 11, 2016 Exploring the relevance of handwriting in the digital age, the decline of cursive writing, the debate on teaching handwriting in schools, the effectiveness of handwritten notes versus laptops, the efficiency of shorthand writing, the changing value of handwriting, and the world of pencil enthusiasts.
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Handwriting Enhances Learning
- Longhand note takers tend to understand and remember concepts better than laptop note takers.
- Typing notes verbatim hinders deeper cognitive processing of information.
Struggles Sparked Handwriting Critique
- Anne Trubach wrote an article to stop emphasizing handwriting after her son struggled with writing in second grade.
- Her son's difficulties affected his school confidence and cognitive development.
Handwriting's Cultural Meaning Is Recent
- Handwriting connects with individuality and character in American culture, but this belief emerged only since the late 19th century.
- Historically, writing was primarily utilitarian, not self-expression.