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Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#121

Post by alok-g »

chenxi9649 wrote: post #72
alok-g wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I too wonder the same thing. In addition to holding the concept in working memory for longer, writing being slower also leads to better refinement of the ideas as you write as the brain has more time to process the thought being written down.

what do you think is the difference between "being in the memory for longer" and "more time to process the thought"?

I perhaps wrote it suboptimally; sorry about that.

I meant the brain having more time to process the thought and thereby also actually processing it to refine it by connecting the dots better with the existing knowledge & understanding by recalling the latter too into the working memory from the long-term memory, as well as perhaps the working memory creating a stronger stimulus for the long-term memory to record better.

As an abstraction (which would not match how this actually works in the brain), merely having/holding a thought constant in the (working) memory for longer before transfering it to the long-term memory should not by itself lead to a better long-term memorization and recall, nor to a better understanding of the concepts involved. It could at best strengthen the working memory itself.

Please let me know if I misunderstood your question, if I am failing to answer it, and/or, if you think my understanding posited is not correct, accurate or complete. Would be happy to learn back and/or discuss further.

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#122

Post by disqard »

JoeDaDude wrote: post #43
softfalcon wrote: post #31

I was late to this game of "going backwards" to improve my memory and understanding of what I read and wrote. Being raised by two technologically forward engineers, we jumped on the palm-pilot/laptops/tablets/phones/e-readers bandwagon very early. 5 years ago I started turning back to calligraphy, fountain pens, and hand writing. I buy books and fill up my bookshelf. It wasn't just for the memory recall, it was the p…

FWIW: I went to an unusual grade school which required us 3rd graders to use fountain pans. There were many stained fingers and homeworks, but yet, they insisted on using what seemed to us archaic devices. Fast forward to now, decades later, and I have recently rediscovered fountain pens and what a delight it is to use one compared to the cheap disposable ball point. I am using an inexpensive Pilot Metropolitan pen a…

My story is similar to yours -- forced to use fountain pens (in grade 4-5, IIRC). Perpetually ink-stained fingers, and absolutely hated these irrational rules back then. Decades later, I came back to fountain pens and now love the feel of writing with them. My handwriting also improved tremendously -- when you deeply enjoy writing, you put effort into it, and you see results :)

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#123

Post by chenxi9649 »

alok-g wrote: post #121
chenxi9649 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what do you think is the difference between "being in the memory for longer" and "more time to process the thought"?

I perhaps wrote it suboptimally; sorry about that. I meant the brain having more time to process the thought and thereby also actually processing it to refine it by connecting the dots better with the existing knowledge & understanding by recalling the latter too into the working memory from the long-term memory, as well as perhaps the working memory creating a stronger stimulus for the long-term memory to record bet…

Haha it's all good! No need to apologize.

I think what you said makes sense! Making connections with existing knowledge definitely strengthens the knowledge beyond simply holding it into your working memory and rote memorizing it.

The former feels like it leads to understanding, where as the latter leads to ...memorizing.

However, I feel like the difference between the two(understanding/memorizing) is actually closer than most of us imagine!

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#124

Post by Ferret7446 »

iamacyborg wrote: post #95
softfalcon wrote: post #31

I was late to this game of "going backwards" to improve my memory and understanding of what I read and wrote. Being raised by two technologically forward engineers, we jumped on the palm-pilot/laptops/tablets/phones/e-readers bandwagon very early. 5 years ago I started turning back to calligraphy, fountain pens, and hand writing. I buy books and fill up my bookshelf. It wasn't just for the memory recall, it was the p…

There’s nothing wrong with cheap pens, some of them are fantastic to write with. A lot of fountain pen enthusiasm just feels like tool fetishisation.

1. Tools are important. "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

2. There are cheap and good fountain pens. There are disposable fountain pens. Fountain pens are not some premium product, they're just a different type of pen (like wooden pencil vs mechanical pencil).

The main tradeoffs compared to ball point pens is that they write more smoothly and require less pressure (thus better for people with weak hands like children or elderly) but they can dry out if left uncapped or unused.

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#125

Post by iamacyborg »

saywhanow wrote: post #119
iamacyborg wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> With sound, there is literally only one thing that matters: how accurately and precisely you can vibrate the air. I’d argue that that’s not what matters. What matters is does the song you’re listening to sound good. The measurement that you’re talking about is precisely the bit that obsessive audiophiles get wrong, and it’s the parallel that I’m drawing with folks who obsess over stationary too. I’m not saying that…

Sometimes the journey is more important than the objective. I have a 3d printer because I wanted to play with a 3d printer. Same with a drone, zero-turn lawn mower, welding machine, oscilloscope, and a host of other things my wife would be more than happy to tell you about. Most of us here are engineers of one sort or another. We tend to have disposable income and a predisposition for gadgets. I doubt many of us are…

> Sometimes the journey is more important than the objective.

I wouldn’t say it’s more important, I’d just say it’s a different interest.

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#127

Post by alok-g »

chenxi9649 wrote: post #123
alok-g wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I perhaps wrote it suboptimally; sorry about that. I meant the brain having more time to process the thought and thereby also actually processing it to refine it by connecting the dots better with the existing knowledge & understanding by recalling the latter too into the working memory from the long-term memory, as well as perhaps the working memory creating a stronger stimulus for the long-term memory to record bet…

Haha it's all good! No need to apologize. I think what you said makes sense! Making connections with existing knowledge definitely strengthens the knowledge beyond simply holding it into your working memory and rote memorizing it. The former feels like it leads to understanding, where as the latter leads to ...memorizing. However, I feel like the difference between the two(understanding/memorizing) is actually closer…

Understanding, for the brain, is ultimately memorization too. Memorization need not be understanding. More below:

Going by a reasonable approximation/assumption that the the information in the brain is stored as synaptic weights, both understanding and rote memorization would end up as those weights.

The difference is how much semantic structuring happens in those neurons/weights. Rote memorization would be closer to relatively unlinked pieces of information whereas understanding would have more cross-linking.

The same thing arises for machine learning too. Certain models basically just store all data. When a good model generalizes, it is able to interpolate/extrapolate better to unseen situations, which is going beyong rote memorization.

The double-descent phenomenon in large neural networks however is surprising and is something I do not currently understand enough.

Upon observing myself, something similar or related seems to happen for the brain too. I've noticed that when memorizing by rote (e.g., practicing a specific song on a piano), I tend to make mistakes when starting out, become better, but then again start making mistakes, and finally improve and settle.

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#128

Post by tonetegeatinst »

I handwrite almost all my college notes except for a few select classes. While it defiantly helps with learning....I have diagraphia and it makes learning so difficult....and iv recently been informed via my doctor I might have diacalculia as well and I might want to get tested.

I really only have 1 downside when it comes to hand written notes....it is not easily searchable compared to text files, and it can be much harder to take notes when their is diagrams or a math problem where the teacher is skipping steps....

This means I really need to go find a second hand review via a video to ensure I know what's going on

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#129

Post by ics »

bgoated01 wrote: post #71
ics wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People wishing to try experiencing the pleasure of fountain pens but avoid it because they are afraid of going down a rabbit hole can use the following: get one Platinum Preppy pen with black ink and either Medium (if you like thick, felt pen like lines), Fine (comparable to a regular ballpoint), or Extra Fine (if you keep your pencils extra sharp or normally use .38 or smaller pens) for $10 or less, and any notepad…

I picked up a preppy a couple of weeks ago. I got a fine nib, and after seeing how it writes I should have gotten extra fine, but the biggest issue I'm having is that it seems to want the pen held at a shallower angle than what works for me. If I fold my pinky and ring finger under in an uncomfortable position then I can get my grip close enough to the page that it consistently inks, but otherwise it isn't consistent…

In case you haven't already, try several different kinds of paper and see if there is any difference. Not necessarily "better" paper; the smoothest writing I felt recently was on the back of a receipt of all things.

The steeper your angle the more the nib rotation matters so you can try adjusting that while holding the position which is still comfortable. Someone recently tried mine and had a similar issue because they held it almost vertical; pressure on the page helps spread the tines and allow ink to flow but not if it's stabbing. Holding the pen at a different rotation to suit their writing motion worked and made it more comfortable to use less pressure but it did take some trial and error.

Re: Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning

#130

Post by palata »

lupire wrote: post #20
palata wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 b…

> Worrying about how to compress the data in real time doesn't seem like a good way to pay attention.

Well the whole point is that you should only do it if it actually helps you pay attention. If it is a distraction, then of course you should not do it.

I guess typewriting tends to generally be more of a distraction. But again, if it turns out that typewriting is the best way for you to learn, feel free to do it!

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