How handwriting helps us learn more effectively

Scientific litsketch on boosting motivation

Research shows that writing with our hand helps us learn literacy or a new language more effectively compared to learning by typing or visual learning (Wiley and Rapp, 2021).

In an experiment, 36 people were divided into three groups. Group One used handwriting to learn Arabic letters and words; Group Two used typing a keyboard to learn; Group Three used visual learning by matching letters and words on a screen. Finally, all three groups were given an identical test to evaluate how much they memorised letters and words.

The results showed that Group One that used their hand to write and produce letters and words themselves enabled them to learn more effectively than simply pressing a key on the keyboard or simply learning by looking at them.

We can be more effective at learning by actively using handwriting. Use a pen on a paper or a tablet when studying literacy. This will help you learn faster and more effectively.

Wiley, Robert W., and Brenda Rapp. "The Effects of Handwriting Experience on Literacy Learning." Psychological Science 32, no. 7 (2021): 1086-1103.