If you’re a reader of my blog, you know that I am a fan of the Freakonomics Podcast. While educators are hardly economists, they address so many topics that are necessary to success in business as well as life. Today’s podcast release is something that is currently a hot topic in education: “Should we still teach handwriting?”
This question evokes some of the most surprisingly volatile reactions in people. This weeks episode highlights some of the key things to consider as we explore the role that handwriting and hand-written note-taking play in education and child development:
- “What students always learned” really only goes back to about 1890…
- Why is penmanship and handwriting connected to intelligence and should it be?
- Slowing down via handwriting vs. typing has been associated with a deeper and more provocative thought process.
- Combing the mechanics of writing with thought stimulates areas of the brain associated with creativity.
If you would like to explore how economists look at this issue, check out: “Who Needs Handwriting?”
a free Podcast by Freakonomics Radio.