Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical book, much as handwriting needs more of your body than typing.
Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
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Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#12This reads like the usual beat about students taking notes in school. As usual the title and article conclusions are wide reaching, while the study itself is only done in a very limited context on a very specific scope.
Precedent variations:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714990
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27810632
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37909756
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8760392
PS: Is there so much research just to counter cursive getting removed from school requirements ? What is the reason for so much focus on such a seemingly limited subject when there's basically no research on professionals using keyboards instead of pens.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#13Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
This absolutely happens to me. Happy to know I'm not the only one.
> But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it.
Exactly! And for reasons I cannot explain this helps me with better recall too! Like when I remember something I read, I know roughly where in the book that stuff was physically printed and what other stuff were around it and how they relate to each other.
With ebook too I still know how things relate to each other but the clarity feels much less. I can see it much less in my mind's eye. I don't know why! And it drives me mad!
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#14Anyone had success with improving a kid's handwriting? My son's writing is 2/10. I myself am only 3/10. With reading and math I am able to help him. I have not found anything effective for penmanship.
I used to write horribly until I took an engineering drawing/drafting course.
Mostly it's just slowing down. Write a little slower and pay more attention to how your words line up and spacing of letters. Read over what you have written and see which letters are hard to read. For letters and numbers that are ambiguous try adding something like a slash through zeroes and a dash through sevens.
If you write a lot this way people will start thinking that you had a computer fill out forms. It also helps a lot if you buy a good pen like a G-2. I find bigger nibs like a 1.6 keep my lines more even.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#15Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
For sure, 100%.
When I'm reading a book, some quiet part of me is always aware where in the book I am - from the weight distribution of the book, from the pressure on each palm and finger, from the visual feedback. I know before I pick up the book roughly where I left off, and my fingers often find the page on their own somehow. Recollecting info later, I might not even know exactly what I'm looking for - but I know where it is.
Reading a digital book cuts a lot of that entirely out, and I can't help but feel that it diminishes the experience (before, during, and after) far more than people realize.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#16Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
If that lack of spaciality bothers you, you could try reading ebooks on a bigger format. Using a 13" ipad or Surface, or another tablet/reader for instance allows to have two pages side by side (or one A4 full page) which is pretty close to the physical book format.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#17Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
If that lack of spaciality bothers you, you could try reading ebooks on a bigger format. Using a 13" ipad or Surface, or another tablet/reader for instance allows to have two pages side by side (or one A4 full page) which is pretty close to the physical book format.
That's still only 2D, not 3D navigation
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#18Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
You can fix this by holding a notebook while you read the ebook, and turn the pages as you read.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#19Anyone else remember less from reading an ebook compared to a physical one? This happens to me, and I think it's a similar explanation. I recall less of where I read something in an ebook. But in a physical book, I often remember that a phrase was at the top or middle or left side of a page, or that I was sitting in a particular chair when I read it. There's simply more of the brain working when I read a physical boo…
Yes. I find the physical book provides context, as I can feel how far into the book I am. So if in need to find something later I know roughly where to turn and what the pages looked like as I fan through.
With audiobooks, I find I remember better if I’m walking somewhere new. It also provides context. I can recall details of the book by remembering where I was walking when I heard it.
Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning
#20I think it depends on the way your brain is remembering. Like there are types of memories specific to the sensory modality. For people who have visual memory more developed, I think, writing by hand is better way for remembering.
> Like there are types of memories specific to the sensory modality. My understanding was that this was a myth... what's important is to actively pay attention , which seems to be the point here: "It’s very tempting to type down everything that the lecturer is saying, [...] but you don’t process the incoming information. [...] But when taking notes by hand, it’s often impossible to write everything down; students hav…
Worrying about how to compress the data in real time doesn't seem like a good way to pay attention.
Maybe jotting down reactions helps maintain attention.
Actually paying attention, and writing down things you want to follow up on later so you don't have to hold them in memory seems better than both superficially stenographozing on a computer or trying to compress for handwritten notes. I suspect that writing helps by letting you forget, not helping you remember.