Technology is an integral part of your child's education, but the big debate remains: Which medium of learning and reading is more beneficial to your child, paper or digital?
The use of technology in the classroom has changed the way children learn and perceive the world. Unlimited access to the Internet, virtual-reality tours to destinations they would never have been able to visit and the introduction of robotics at a very young age are all examples of how technology enhances children’s education.
With technology in the classroom and an increase in online learning due to the COVID-pandemic, children have been increasingly encouraged to use digital forms of communication, reading and studying. In fact, most schools now offer textbooks only in digital format and in some schools assignments are all submitted online. Many children also study using their computers or smart devices.
The big debate remains, which medium of learning and reading is more beneficial to your child, paper or digital?
A recent research paper compared learning outcomes in children when reading a digital book versus a paper book. The study compared story comprehension and vocabulary learning. Digital books scored lower for story comprehension, but if the book offered an embedded dictionary, the readers’ vocabulary was enhanced. Interestingly, adult involvement in reading a paper book enhanced children’s comprehension of the story.
Some digital books offer interactive enhancements like motion and sound and some even offer embedded questions. These activities will certainly help to deepen engagement and enhance comprehension.
Although there are clear benefits to reading from a digital device, a meta-analysis of children’s reading on paper versus screen, found that the social interaction between a parent or another adult and a child reading a story together can never be replaced by a device. A parent reading to a child from a paper book, commenting on the pictures and adding life stories or memories from their own childhood, will foster a love for reading that no digital device can mimic.
When it comes to studying for a test or exam, paper comes out tops. While typing out notes is faster with fewer spelling mistakes and more organised and ‘clean’ notes, there are also many temptations, e.g. searching on the Internet, social media, texting when making notes on a digital device. Multi-tasking when studying is definitely not beneficial.
Handwritten notes on the other hand is more time consuming. As you cannot write as quick as you type, you are forced to only write down key points when taking notes during a lecture. Writing also involves a deeper focus, not just on the words you write, but also to truly understand and engage with the subject matter.
Writing activates the working memory, which means that more information is stored, which results in better retention of information.
Yes, written notes will be less organised, may have spelling mistakes and look messy, but it is unique to each individual. The notes reflect how your brain works. That little squiggle you’ve made will help you remember a list of facts, but will have absolutely no relevance to the friend you shared the notes with.
With technology in the classroom and an increase in online learning due to the COVID-pandemic, children have been increasingly encouraged to use digital forms of communication, reading and studying. In fact, most schools now offer textbooks only in digital format and in some schools assignments are all submitted online. Many children also study using their computers or smart devices.
The big debate remains, which medium of learning and reading is more beneficial to your child, paper or digital?
A recent research paper compared learning outcomes in children when reading a digital book versus a paper book. The study compared story comprehension and vocabulary learning. Digital books scored lower for story comprehension, but if the book offered an embedded dictionary, the readers’ vocabulary was enhanced. Interestingly, adult involvement in reading a paper book enhanced children’s comprehension of the story.
Some digital books offer interactive enhancements like motion and sound and some even offer embedded questions. These activities will certainly help to deepen engagement and enhance comprehension.
Although there are clear benefits to reading from a digital device, a meta-analysis of children’s reading on paper versus screen, found that the social interaction between a parent or another adult and a child reading a story together can never be replaced by a device. A parent reading to a child from a paper book, commenting on the pictures and adding life stories or memories from their own childhood, will foster a love for reading that no digital device can mimic.
When it comes to studying for a test or exam, paper comes out tops. While typing out notes is faster with fewer spelling mistakes and more organised and ‘clean’ notes, there are also many temptations, e.g. searching on the Internet, social media, texting when making notes on a digital device. Multi-tasking when studying is definitely not beneficial.
Handwritten notes on the other hand is more time consuming. As you cannot write as quick as you type, you are forced to only write down key points when taking notes during a lecture. Writing also involves a deeper focus, not just on the words you write, but also to truly understand and engage with the subject matter.
Writing activates the working memory, which means that more information is stored, which results in better retention of information.
Yes, written notes will be less organised, may have spelling mistakes and look messy, but it is unique to each individual. The notes reflect how your brain works. That little squiggle you’ve made will help you remember a list of facts, but will have absolutely no relevance to the friend you shared the notes with.
The experience of learning and reading on digital devices will most definitely improve over the next few years, but until it can replace the emotional connection and uniqueness of each individual, paper wins!The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
Sources: https://theglobalscholars.com/handwriting-vs-typing-which-is-the-better-note-taking-method/ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9817.12269 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0034654321998074
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