The Importance of Handwriting is Becoming Better Understood

As primary-school pupils and PhD hopefuls return for a new school year, many will study with reliance on computers to take notes and write papers. 【小题1】University professors complain of rampant distractions in classrooms, with students reading and messaging instead of listening to lectures.

【小题2】 Studies have found that writing on paper can improve everything from recalling a random series of words to imparting a better conceptual grasp of complicated ideas.

The benefits of using a pen or pencil lie in how the motor and sensory memory of putting words on paper reinforces that material. The arrangement of squiggles (涂鸦) on a page feeds into visual memory. 【小题3】

One of the best-demonstrated advantages of writing by hand seems to be in superior note-taking.When primary-school pupils and PhD hopefuls take notes, handwriting forces students to synthesise (合成) ideas into their own words. This aids conceptual understanding at the moment of writing. 【小题4】

Many studies have confirmed handwriting’s benefits, and policymakers have taken note. Though America’s “Common Core” curriculum from 2010 does not require handwriting instruction past first grade (roughly age six), about half the states since then have required more teaching of it, thanks to campaigning by researchers and handwriting supporters. 【小题5】 England’s national curriculum already prescribes teaching the rudiments of cursive by age seven.

School diversity inclusion and representation is significant in education. 【小题1】Ethnicity, cultural differences, racial differences, and more are all important to talk about as part of a student’s education.

There are many specific reasons why diversity is key in the classroom and schools, including: Diversity brings new perspectives into a classroom. Students of different genders, races, backgrounds, etc. bring various thoughts into a classroom. 【小题2】It can add well-rounded views and enables students to learn more from each other. It will allow students to see things in a new light. From elementary to high school, new perspectives are important to learn at any age.

【小题3】Schools that are more diverse see no difference in test scores from schools that are less diverse. However, there is also research that shows diverse groups are better able to solve problems and work more effectively. Diverse schools also see students who are more empathetic, allowing everyone to feel more safe and confident in their learning environment. No matter what age, elementary or high school, introduction to culture and racial differences can have great positive impacts on students.

More classroom diversity prepares students for their future. The world around us is increasingly culturally diverse. It’s extremely likely that students will be working in a field that is incredibly diverse, and classroom diversity can help prepare students for that future. It increases their cultural awareness in a classroom setting, helping set them up for success in their future. 【小题4】

Many studies have shown the learning-by-teaching effect. Students who spend time teaching what they’ve learned show better understanding and ability to remember knowledge than students who simply spend the same time re-studying. But why does teaching help?

Researchers did a study to test their idea that teaching improves the teacher’s learning because it forces the teacher to find back what they’ve learned. They asked 124 students to spend ten minutes studying a text with numbers on a topic which is completely new to them. They told the students they could take notes while studying, but would teach the material afterwards without notes. After studying the text, the students were divided into four groups. In one group the students spent five minutes giving a lesson on the study material without notes. The other groups either spent the same time completing arithmetic (算术) problems, teaching with a script (讲稿) or writing down all they could remember from the text—a form of recalling practice. A week later, all the students took a surprise test of their knowledge and understanding of the text.

The important finding is that the teaching-without-notes group and the recalling-practice group performed better than the group that completed arithmetic problems and the group that taught with a script.

The researchers said the result shows that the benefits of the learning-by-teaching method are caused by recalling practice; that is, the learning-by-teaching method works only when the teaching includes recalling the taught materials.

The new findings have a practical suggestion for how the learning-by-teaching method is used in education. In order to make sure that students learn and remember an educational material, they should internalize (内化) the material before presenting it to others, rather than depend on notes during the presentation process.