Why learn from paper? An answer from a Norwegian study

An ever-current question

Is learning on digital media more ‘effective’ than on printed paper?

School has just started, universities are about to do so in most faculties, and like every year questions arise about the best tools for teaching and learning. Research on the subject is multiplying, in an age when digital media is increasingly prevalent in lessons and home study.

This question was asked, once again, by Two Sides UK – partner of Burgo Group –, analysing the results of a study by two psychologists, Ruud Van der Weel and Audrey Van der Meer, researchers at the Trondheim Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

The study, with the explanatory title of ‘Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity’, definitely sides with the paper.

Why?

Handwriting on paper: a stimulating experience

The study involved 36 students writing, by hand on paper or by keyboard, a series of words – taken from the famous board game Pictionary –, with some complex measuring sensors on their heads.

Handwriting engages fine motor control over the fingers, requiring students to focus, while typing involves repetitive movements, prioritising speed over awareness.

Research shows that handwriting on paper stimulates more areas of the brain, leading to complex neural network development, which typing does not activate in the same way.

The combination of vision, motor commands and feedback from hand movements of handwriting is missing when typing, which only requires pressing keys. This difference may negatively impact learning as handwriting's intricate movements positively influence brain connectivity related to memory and learning, unlike typing.

“We urge that children from an early age must be exposed to handwriting activities in school to establish the neuronal connectivity patterns that provide the brain with optimal conditions for learning” the Norwegian paper concluded.

However, it is necessary to consider how, while it's essential to preserve handwriting practice in schools, students need to learn typing to navigate the digital world. It's crucial to know when to handwrite or type, depending on the task.

Recent findings in research

This Norwegian study is also the latest of a long series: scientific evidence supporting the educational benefits of paper-based learning adds to a growing body of research that links reading from print with better comprehension, reading skills and memory retention.

In addition to these cognitive advantages, students experience fewer distractions when reading or taking notes on paper, offering a valuable break from the digital world (we discussed this topic a few months ago, here), which also offers a valuable break from the digital world.

The benefits of using paper over screens extend beyond education. Many companies now recognize the benefits of paper-only meetings, which encourage greater engagement and focus by eliminating screen distractions.

However, the most significant impact is seen in education: providing students of all ages with paper for writing and learning can lead to significant improvements in their overall academic experience.

Sources

• Return to Education – Learning on Paper (Sam Upton, Two Sides UK)
• Full research article: Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom (Ruud Van der Weel, Audrey Van der Meer, Developmental Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway)