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Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

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Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#151

Post by _wolfie_ »

vogt wrote: post #148

I'd be curious if anyone had good advice on how to improve your handwriting ability well into adulthood (I'm 35). My penmanship was so bad in grade school that I attended special education classes to improve it, but it still was and remains horrible. This is a source of insecurity for me and since I've always been glued to a keyboard it has been easy to handwave away as "screw this, the world is all typing-based anyh…

I guess that depends on what your goal with hand writing is. My handwriting is horrible too (no idea if to your degree), it's basically my personal cipher by now. My wife can read it, sometimes. But that's basically it. And my attitude is "so what, I write those notes for myself and I can read them just fine". No idea if this helps.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#152

Post by Zircom »

vogt wrote: post #148

I'd be curious if anyone had good advice on how to improve your handwriting ability well into adulthood (I'm 35). My penmanship was so bad in grade school that I attended special education classes to improve it, but it still was and remains horrible. This is a source of insecurity for me and since I've always been glued to a keyboard it has been easy to handwave away as "screw this, the world is all typing-based anyh…

Just buy some handwriting workbooks and complete them. And then keep practicing, a lot. It might be slow going for a bit, you're trying to change something you've been doing for over 20 years now the same way, it'll take time.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#153

Post by admend »

vogt wrote: post #148

I'd be curious if anyone had good advice on how to improve your handwriting ability well into adulthood (I'm 35). My penmanship was so bad in grade school that I attended special education classes to improve it, but it still was and remains horrible. This is a source of insecurity for me and since I've always been glued to a keyboard it has been easy to handwave away as "screw this, the world is all typing-based anyh…

Check out this concept called "Bullet Journaling" (lots of YouTube videos on it). That, with a dot grid notebook, could do wonders for keeping your notes organized.

But for the writing itself, look into "calligraphy basics" - doesn't mean you have to write every letter in a fancy way, but the mere exercise of practicing it will at least build better habits for letter height (which makes everything more legible).

Lastly, I recommend switching to a fountain pen (yes). I don't know what it is - but I just care a bit more when writing with one. There are cheap ones (Pilot Kakuno Fine), no need to get fancy.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#154

Post by bbx »

vogt wrote: post #148

I'd be curious if anyone had good advice on how to improve your handwriting ability well into adulthood (I'm 35). My penmanship was so bad in grade school that I attended special education classes to improve it, but it still was and remains horrible. This is a source of insecurity for me and since I've always been glued to a keyboard it has been easy to handwave away as "screw this, the world is all typing-based anyh…

Have you tried the D'Nealian Pencil Grasp? It might not improve your handwriting but it’s way more comfortable because you apply virtually no tension on your fingers: https://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/pencil-held-betwe...

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#155

Post by ekTHEN »

I made the observation that hand-writing extremely helps me to solve problems (especially programming and math related). In some way it removes mental barriers / distractions I have when using digital tools (how do i want to organise this? can i link something here?). I can just dump every thought on paper and work way more creatively. In most cases the notes are dumped in the bin afterwards (one couln't uderstand them when reading them without context).

In meetings I also really enjoy to outline some points / a little agenda for myself. This way i don't forget to address "my" topics or can wait for a better moment.

In a way pen and paper are a tool for me to organize my thoughts in a more structured way. And it seems to be more socially accepted to take hand-written notes while talking to someone rather than typing away on a notebook.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#156

Post by rmbyrro »

> on paper showed more brain activity than subjects who recorded the same information onto a smartphone

This just shows that smartphones require less effort, not that paper is better, necessarily.

Then they say people were 25% faster to recall information later when they used paper, instead of smartphone. But is it like a 4 to 5 seconds increase? I bet so and it's irrelevant.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#157

Post by criddell »

filchermcurr wrote: post #98
kcindric wrote: post #84

I'm looking into buying a iPad with a pencil for better organizing my work and personal notes with added searchability. The only thing I'm afraid off, as I have ADHD and as a result trouble learning/retaining information, is that the iPad + pencil won't have the same effect as pen and paper. Anyone made the switch from paper to iPad and can't share their experience?

I tried to switch but I never use it anymore. There's a weird... I don't know, almost burden to it. Pen and paper is always on, always available. The interface is completely blank and unassuming. You have a page, you have a writing utensil. Text is always visible, nothing needs charged, there's a pleasant tactile sensation, minimal noise. On the iPad, you have to turn it on. Launch the application. Navigate to the ri…

If you tap the Pencil to the screen of the iPad when it’s off, it turns on and launches the notes app.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#158

Post by captainkrtek »

vogt wrote: post #148

I'd be curious if anyone had good advice on how to improve your handwriting ability well into adulthood (I'm 35). My penmanship was so bad in grade school that I attended special education classes to improve it, but it still was and remains horrible. This is a source of insecurity for me and since I've always been glued to a keyboard it has been easy to handwave away as "screw this, the world is all typing-based anyh…

I struggled with this as well in school. In elementary we were taught cursive, then in middle school switched curriculum to print, so I ended up with a weird messy print/cursive hybrid.

I can thankfully write cursive, for my own notes, but it can be hard to read back for others.

I had to make a conscious effort to write my print neatly, only tips I can give is having good reason to write, and using that to take your time and write slowly. Most of my sloppiness in writing came from being too quick and not caring enough. I take weekly classes for a second language, and use my homework as opportunities to write slowly and legibly. Best of luck!

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#159

Post by ericmcer »

I heard someone describe the process of writing notes as conditioning his mind for the problem space. The first thing he does with any new subject is write down pages of messy notes with no intention of consulting them again. They are just an expendable resource to help get the info into his mind.

I found it really refreshing to approach notes as totally expendable one time things to help memory. In school we were taught to treat them as a well organized, legible reference log and I was terrible at taking them. I wish I had just slammed down everything of relevance with no concern for organizing the info.

Re: Writing by hand is still the best way to retain information

#160

Post by pbhjpbhj »

sethammons wrote: post #44
noNothing wrote: post #31

FOr me, if I write it down I will remember it and do not need to refer to my notes. But if I don't write it down I am likely to forget. So I did some testing and found that it isn't only the act of writing that helps me, it is quickly looking at what I have written. I think, for me, writing in my own words, and then reinforcing by going over what I have written, is the secret to remembering things. As far as handwrit…

I'm in the same boat. In university, folks would ask how much I study to get good grades (20 years ago). I would write my notes and review them once or twice. When looking at the written word, I recall where I was sitting, what was going on in the environment, and often a lot (a lot a lot) of context that I would have otherwise forgotten had I not reviewed the note once or twice. However, for myself, the keyboard cre…

I'd hypothesise that typing would be as useful for recall if it stayed out of the way as handwriting does (for most people)?
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