Why Handwriting Still Matters In A Digital World – Jennifer Oaten
As a mother, I remember the pride my children felt when they first wrote their names. That small yet significant moment marked more than a new skill. It was a step toward independence, confidence and learning. As an educator, I see the same spark in our students whenever they put pen to paper.
In today’s technology-rich classrooms, it may be tempting to assume handwriting has become obsolete. Students quickly master typing, swiping and tapping. However, recent research confirms that handwriting remains one of the most powerful tools for learning, creativity and deeper thinking.
More than marks on a page - a workout for the brain
A 2024 Edith Cowan University study of 544 Perth Year 2 students found that faster letter-forming predicted richer storytelling. When fluent handwriting and accurate spelling were combined, they explained 7% of the difference in writing quality and 4% in text length. These foundational skills continue to shape writing success well into the secondary years.
Complementary high-density EEG research published in January 2024 recorded brain activity in 36 university students and showed that handwriting activates far more elaborate connectivity patterns than typing – a difference linked to stronger memory formation.
Building confidence and creativity
As handwriting fluency grows, students focus less on forming letters and more on shaping ideas. This fluency builds confidence and allows clear self-expression, particularly in assessments that demand extended written responses. Students also report feeling more creative when they physically write, free from the distractions of formatting and notifications.
Technology and pen - stronger together
Santa Maria College embraces digital tools that allow students to collaborate and create. Yet we also recognise the unique value of handwriting, which provides a deliberate pause that embeds learning.
The same Edith Cowan University study surveyed Western Australian primary-school teachers and found they devote on average less than thirty minutes a week to explicit keyboard-skills instruction, with one-third not teaching keyboarding at all. By explicitly teaching both handwriting and keyboarding, we help students become confident hybrid writers.
Aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum
The Western Australian Curriculum: English expects students to develop fluent, legible handwriting through to Year 7 and to choose the most efficient note-taking method thereafter. Our literacy strategy meets and extends these standards by embedding purposeful handwriting tasks across all year levels, from quick science annotations to reflective journal entries in Religion.
How families can help at home
- Everyday writing – Invite your daughter to handwrite shopping lists, labels or greeting cards.
- Journals – Encourage a handwritten journal to build emotional confidence and writing fluency.
- Visible tools – Keep pens, notebooks and paper within easy reach.
- Balanced screens – Suggest handwritten summaries alongside digital research to cement understanding.
- Be the model – Write personal notes by hand. Children notice and often imitate.
Looking ahead
Handwriting is more than an academic task. It is a tool for thinking, a pathway to understanding and a form of personal expression. When students are skilled in both handwriting and digital tools, they are equipped to communicate with confidence and agility.
Let us hold on to the power of the handwritten word. Not for nostalgia, but because it builds a foundation for learning that lasts. That is because handwriting activates the brain in more integrated ways linking movement, visual processing and cognition all essential for deep learning.
Get your girls to pick up a pen; their brains will thank them.
- Classroom Technology, Cognitive Benefits of Writing, Education in a Digital Age, Featured, Girls' Education, handwriting and learning, Literacy Development, Santa Maria College Perth, Student Wellbeing, Typing vs Handwriting, Western Australian Curriculum
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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