The shift from handwritten tests and quizzes to online assessments is changing the way students learn and perform. It is teaching students to learn their different strengths and weaknesses when given paper vs a computer. Understanding the background of what leads to these strengths and weaknesses reveals why the debate of this question matters more than ever.
One of the biggest differences between the two is time management. While typing, your hands automatically move faster and for a longer duration. When you write with a pencil your hand tends to cramp up much faster and it forces you to take more breaks between sentences.
Junior Avery Novitsky says, “I find handwriting more physically tiring during a long test because when I’m typing I find it easier to write and delete stuff. I definitely get tired when I’m writing by hand because my hand itself gets tired and It’s harder for me to get my thoughts out on paper.”
The brain and body make handwriting slower because it takes a heavy amount of complex motor movements. Your brain must process the wrist and finger movements and the correct stroke for each letter. However, typing uses the same small tapping movement but is less physically demanding on your hands.
Novitsky adds, “Even though I prefer typing, that can also be draining during a test. During long essays, I definitely start to feel overwhelmed by the words on the paper, and staring at a screen for a long time hurts my head.”
Computers may cause distractions because of tabs, notifications, and tech glitches. This can cause an upset in the testing environment which would be easily solved if the test were to be on paper.
A lot of students experience technical difficulties frequently such as software problems, hardware malfunctions, and account-access issues. Additionally, computers have a higher chance of dying mid-writing and sometimes there’s a chance that your progress won’t be saved. This is a problem because restarting a test for example is not convenient for a teacher or student.
Senior Evie Dunn comments, “I think I work faster when typing because I feel like when I make a mistake while typing it’s easier to correct it and time goes by much faster.”
Connectivity and Network failures are always relevant in the world of using technology and it’s important that students realize this when making the decision of choosing typing over the handwritten method. When a network crashes it interrupts every digital process that depends on a stable and continuous flow of data. So students need to make sure to choose wisely when deciphering which method would be better for them.