Technology and the Future of Language and Writing: Writing
The death of handwriting? Schools are ditching pens and papers for computers - but could it harm your child's development?
-
From 2016, Finnish schools won't
compulsorily
teach cursive handwriting
- Instead, schools will be given the choice to teach typing in its place
- It follows changes made to the Common Core Standards Initiative in the US
- Member states are not obliged to teach cursive handwriting or calligraphy
- Experts have found handwriting helps boost a child's cognitive ability
- But other believe teaching writing is a waste of time in the modern day
By Victoria Woollaston for MailOnline
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From next year, children in Finland will not be compulsorily taught cursive handwriting.
Instead of learning this skill, schools will be given the choice to teach keyboard typing in its place.
The country's education board said the change reflects how typing skills are now more relevant than handwriting, but experts claim the move could damage a child's brain development.
From next year, children in Finland will not be compulsorily taught cursive handwriting (stock image). Instead of learning this skill, schools will be given the choice to teach keyboard typing in its place. The country's education board said the change reflects how typing skills are now more relevant than handwriting
The changes don't officially come into force until the start of next year's autumn term.
Minna Harmanen from the National Board of Education told Savon Sanomat that 'fluent typing skills are an important national competence'.
It follows changes made to the Common Core Standards Initiative in the US, in September 2013, in which the US similarly removed cursive handwriting as a compulsory skill.
As of last year, 43 states had adopted the standard, Maryland had endorsed it, Indiana had withdrawn, Oklahoma and South Carolina had repealed it, and the rest of the states were non-members or had not adopted it.
North Carolina additionally passed the Back to Basics bill to reintroduce cursive into the classroom, which led to a number of complaints.
A predominant criticism is that, while handwriting is important, cursive handwriting is no longer deemed necessary.
'Most [people] would agree that everyone should at least be able to pick up a pen or pencil and craft a message that others can read,' said Misty Adoniou, senior lecturer in language, literacy and TESL at University of Canberra.
'But beyond legibility, does it matter how you form your letters when you hand write?'
She continued there is research linking fluent handwriting with better written compositions, 'but the key isn’t the quality, form or style of the handwriting, but rather the automaticity of the handwriting.'
Reports have found that by the age of eight, children can already type faster than they can handwrite. But, further research said that learning to write in cursive improves a person's motor and visual skills, eye-to-hand co-ordination, spatial awareness, hand and finger dexterity, cognitive function and brain development
Automaticity is the theory that the less a person has to concentrate on forming their letters correctly, the more brain space they can devote to getting their message right.
However, writing automaticity is just as easily achieved on a keyboard, and Ms Adoniou said it's more time efficient to teach a child to type than it is to teach them a particular handwriting style.
HANDWRITING AFFECTS THE BRAIN
In a recent study from Indiana University, researchers conducted brain scans on five-year-olds before and after receiving different letter-learning tasks.
In children who practiced writing letters by hand, the neural activity was more enhanced and 'adult-like' than in those who had simply looked at letters.
And, the brain’s so-called 'reading circuit' - a region of linked connections that become active when reading - was activated during handwriting, but not during typing.
Reports have also found that by the age of eight, children can already type faster than they can handwrite.
But, as Ms Adoniou acknowledged, handwriting can play a crucial part in brain development.
'Although the ease, speed and versatility of technology are widely acknowledged, handwriting proponents say that how we learn to write does indeed matter.
'Research indicates that learning to write in cursive further improves students' motor and visual skills, eye-to-hand co-ordination, spatial awareness, hand and finger dexterity, cognitive function and brain development.
'They say the physical act of handwriting also facilitates the retention of information and the flow of ideas.'
For example, in a recent study from Indiana University, researchers conducted brain scans on five-year-olds before and after receiving different letter-learning tasks.
In children who practiced writing letters by hand, the neural activity was more enhanced and 'adult-like' than in those who had simply looked at letters.
And, the brain’s so-called 'reading circuit' - a region of linked connections that become active when reading - was activated during handwriting, but not during typing.
WHAT DOES YOUR HANDWRITING SAY ABOUT YOU?
Graphology is the study of handwriting.
Graphologists analyse the physical characteristics and patterns of handwriting and make assumptions about their identify, including the person's mental state, as well as personality traits.
Writing consists of three things - movement, spacing and form - and a graphologist studies these variations and attaches interpretations to them.
Graphologist Adam Brand recently analysed the handwriting of the MailOnline Science team as part of the Signature campaign from Thomas Cook.
Graphologist Adam Brand recently analysed the handwriting of the MailOnline Science team. He said: 'Rachel is a friendly, sociable and balanced', seen by the right slant of the script (1), close word spacing (2) and rhythmic nature. 'She has mental drive' seen by the long ‘t’ bar (3) and stubborn determination to do an accurate job', denoted by the ‘d’ structure (4) and the straight zone (5 and 6)
'Although prepared to look at the unfamiliar, represented by the high ‘i’ dot (1), Vicky is practical and likes to focus on short range projects' - seen in the low ‘t’ bars (2). 'She is loyal (seen with close word spacing and structure (3 and 4) but wants to ensure she gets her point across' - seen with 'trumpet word endings' (5)
'We were all taught to write in a specific way when we were children at school, but it is evident that no one continues to write exactly the way they were taught and everyone’s handwriting looks different,' explained the British Institute of Graphologists.
'The reason is that our personalities affect the way our handwriting develops after we were taught to write.
'This is because handwriting is the pattern of our psychology expressed in symbols on the page and these symbols are as unique as our own DNA.'
However, despite the fact it has previously been used in court cases as a form of forensic evidence, the practice is deemed controversial and has been dubbed a 'pseudoscience.'
'Jonny is capable of determined concentration', seen by the down stroke cutting through the base line (2), 'and likes to take an intellectual approach to projects' (high upper zone at 3). 'He is unlikely to act impulsively' seen by the rising ‘m’ at (4) and is 'sensitive to criticism which motivates him to set high standards', represented by the open ‘t’ stem (6). His twisted slants (7) show he likes to verify ideas
Mr Brand's analysis said Sarah's style shows she's active, seen by a fast, right slant (1), who works well in fast-moving environments. This is represented by the right-placed 't' bar (2) and angles (3). He added that her writing falls below the line (4) suggesting she is weighed down by her responsibilities
Other points that Mr Brand noted during the analysis is that close and overlapping lines show a need to be involved in a mass of different projects.
Ascending base lines show energy, enthusiasm and initiative, while extremely long 't' bars show a need to move forward with new ideas that come along.
He added that small writing shows a good ability to concentrate but can also suggest an introverted person, and slant changes and a sudden upsurge in height shows impulsiveness.
Curved, looped rhythmic writing shows altruism, friendliness and a sense of balance.
And it pressure of the writing increases towards the end of words it symbolises increased commitment to a project as time goes on
A tall ‘k’ structure shows defiance, and if letters reach down into the lower zone that represents the area of materialism.
In a recent study from Indiana University, researchers conducted brain scans (pictured) on 5-year-olds before and after receiving different letter-learning tasks. In children who practiced writing letters by hand, the neural activity was more enhanced and 'adult-like' than in those who had simply looked at letters
Earlier this year, LeapFrog’s learning designer Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos told MailOnline that schools are already ditching pens and paper for tablets.
She said there is an emerging focus on skills that go beyond the core curriculum, including skills such as collaboration, grit and perseverance, music and creativity, and problem solving skills.
‘Technology can encourage and support numerous child development and educational objectives, such as physical activity and health,' explained Dr LeVos.
'And there is a body of research supporting the notion that children learn best when they’re having fun.'
But as Ms Adoniou concluded: 'With so many things to do in a school day, it is hard to see why dedicated handwriting lessons persist.
'No matter how standardised we attempt to make handwriting, we all end up with our own style.
'So perhaps there are better things to do in the school day than have children complete pages of handwriting exercises.
'Perhaps we’d do just as well to let children play with drawing and writing implements and find their own style.'
Are social media and technology improving writing?
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While I do understand what is meant by this statement, I feel that we as teachers are responsible for teaching students. To me, that includes the basics of handwriting and cursive. It is the child’s choice whether they use it or not, but at least this way they are equip with the knowledge of how to write in cursive.
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As a future English teacher, penmanship is very important to me. Creative writing and poetry are expressive pieces that come alive from seeing a student’s handwritten work. It is because penmanship is not stressed in lower grades (as I will be working with middle and/or high schoolers) that by secondary school teachers are just willing to accept typed work because they can not read the writing on the page in from of them. Crafts like calligraphy are becoming lost and unappreciated to younger generations due to lack of exposure. If this is taken out, what’s next?!?! We’re already breeding robots.
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I think that this statement has some very positive ideas, but ignores the contradicting side of it. Handwriting and cursive writing may have shown to improve hand to eye coordination and spatial awareness, as well as many other benefit, but a certain hand eye coordination level must be obtained to even achieve this. Using typing can be an option for students with an IEP could be beneficial. Student with low hand-eye coordination may need these typing options to allow them to be successful in this experience. Rather than forcing the students to hand write slowly and painfully for some, typing can be a substitute.
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I agree! I understand the argument for hand-eye coordination and dexterity; however, can the same not be argued in favor of typing. I think handwriting is a really personal thing. I’m not saying we should give up writing, but I’m confident dexterity can be build in the school environment without cursive
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This reminds me of how students who struggle to pronounce words and struggle with fluency and rate – and have to dedicate more brain power to that – have an incredibly hard time with reading comprehension.
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I think if students learned to write in another 5 or 10 different calligraphic styles it would even FURTHER improve their motor and visual skills, eye-to-hand co-ordination, spatial awareness, hand and finger dexterity, cognitive function and brain development, but the question remains… Do we need these styles past print? I can no longer write in legible cursive, I can however type like a boss. I took one typing class in middle school and I haven’t looked back. Keyboards are for the present and the foreseeable the way the vast majority of people communicate. This article does not present convincing arguments for the teaching of cursive, in my opinion. The only concrete stat it makes a reference to is that typing does not active that brains so-called ‘reading circuit.’ I bet writing in print does though, so what of it?
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Perhaps a more important skill would be learning how to write legibly with a stylus._That_takes skill.
Also, I wonder if the benefits students get from learning cursive might also come from learning to sketch or cartoon?
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We probably need more research before we know for sure what effect learning or not learning cursive has on a child’s development. How long have students been learning cursive? Have we compared populations who never learned cursive to populations who learned it earlier or later in life? What about cultures that don’t have a calligraphic style? Are their brains somehow impaired?
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It’s true, teaching cursive is probably something that needs to be investigated further. However, I don’t think it should be a lost skill in day to day life. Cursive signatures are difficult to duplicate and have always been highly valued in society. So I think it’s important that students learn cursive, because despite popular belief, it’s used later in life!
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It’s going to be funny in 10 or 15 years, when all these historical scholars have to take rudimentary cursive classes to decipher 160-year-old letters from the Civil War!
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I have read several articles about this topic over the years, and it does create some food for thought. I remember my own experience growing up being taught cursive in third grade, and after that, being allowed to write in either cursive or print. My current students are having the same experience. It would be interesting if someone measured the effects of practicing with print as opposed to writing with cursive, maybe that would make this dilemma a little more clear cut. It’s definitely important for students to learn how to print letters, but maybe cursive has diminishing returns and can substituted for typing.
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I would like to see the educational system stop cutting and adding different standards every 3 days(probably an over-exaggeration; however, it’s very frequent). I think both sides presented good research on the topics so I would like a way to incorporate both. If teaching cursive is a waste of time in the core subjects then I would suggest incorporating it into the art curriculum. Writing in cursive and typing are both skills and skills are important. Nothing is wrong with putting a bigger emphasis on typing but don’t annihilate or despise cursive. I am for both skills.
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It is true that there are very frequent changes to the standards and that in in itself may be what can cause so many challenges for young students. I really like your thoughts about maintaining cursive as an art form. I struggle with the idea that it may no longer be taught. I write predominantly in cursive and it is sad to think that at some point in history there may be people who cannot quite read it because they were never taught how to write it.
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I think you are correct and asserting that all skills are important. Cursive does promote a faster style of handwriting so I think that is important. It is essential to type, but I am not sure if students are even learning that correctly. I see a lot of peck typists out there. I do agree that the constant pendulum shifts in curriculum are counter conductive to any transferring any skill set.
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Laurel, I agree with your statements! Both of the skills are very important and in my opinion, should be taught in schools. I think that handwriting (including cursive) is a necessary skills that helps with motor skills. I had not considered teaching cursive writing in art, but I think that is a great suggestion!
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You are absolutely correct, Laurel! If handwriting is not seen as essential in common core, it SHOULD be included in the art curriculum because penmanship, more specifically cursive is becoming a lost art form. There is actual beauty to cursive (though I may have a mild bias because I’ve been writing in cursive since first grade).
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In terms of development, some research shows that handwriting helps students’ motor skills in elementary school. I therefore believe that handwriting and cursive should be taught, but ultimately the students should be given a choice for continuously using it. Cursive should be reviewed each year but not assessed. Additionally, I see the importance of teaching typing skills to keep up with the technology that is prevalent in our society.This article overall was extremely eye opening to the ideas and opinions on handwriting in schools.
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You make great points here and while I agree with giving students options, how could we regulate that? And would you ever prefer one to be required over the other during certain assignments so that students just simply have different opportunities?
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