I chose to write a journal entry in response to Task 4, and reflected upon the value of writing by hand, and my own practice.
I do not normally write by hand – in fact, I actively avoid doing so in the classroom by using visual technology instead. Writing is challenging for me and has grown ever more so over the years as I have typed more and more. From the time I was a grade school student, writing by hand has been physically challenging and I choose to print rather than use cursive as neatness and style have always been an issue. This holds me back from writing at a pace that I am content with, and a degree of legibility that I might be proud of.
As I wrote this entry, I made a couple of mistakes. Without even thinking about it, I simply scribbled or crossed the mistakes out and continued on with what I intended to write. What I was not able to edit was the overarching message, the arc of the journal entry. If I was typing, I would have gone back and reworked it, ensuring that I was delivering a message that was on target, and that pieced together nicely Instead, I wrote a piece that did not necessarily stick to the point that I intended. Overall I actually think that is okay. The product ended up being a depiction of my thought process instead of a finished product. When I have my students handwrite, I like to see this process, and ultimately I’d rather have what they produce in handwritten form than the edited and refined version that is typically submitted as typed assignments.
In the end, I prefer the individualized, personality-filled written assignments to the more homogenous work created with digital tools. This is the greatest difference and the advantage of writing by hand.
References:
- Innis, H. (2007). Empire and communications. Dundurn Press.
- Storey, D. (2024, January 30). Handwriting Shows Unexpected Benefits Over Typing. Psychiatrist.com. Psychiatrist.com.https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/handwriting-shows-unexpected-benefits-over-typing/
