28 Jan 2011

I KNEW IT.

An old fashioned gal at heart though I love it that I'm technologically advanced enough to blog, I still prefer snail mail to e-mail. OK so it may be considerably slower and, yes, things have been known to get lost BUT at least I've never had anyone hack into my letters and send all kinds of advertisements to everyone in my address book.

Anyway, at last I have proof that THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE KEYBOARD. Despite a worrying trend for school children to use computers and interactive boards instead of the traditional pen and paper (I'm not so old fashioned as to advocate the use of the slate board or quills) research shows that children and students who write by hand learn better than those who type as the process seems to imprint knowledge in the brain in a better way than using a keyboard and computer screen with the brain receiving more feedback from the muscles and fingertips strengthening the learning mechanism.

AND

Sticking with old fashioned methods .........

Research has also shown that OLD SCHOOL TEACHING METHODS like reciting times tables are better than new methods as the simple recall seems to cement the knowledge in the memory and is therefore more effective than techniques such as mind mapping in which the child is encouraged to draw images in their heads to represent the relationships between words, ideas and tasks.

So what are your thoughts on this? eE-MAIL >>>>>SNAIL MAIL >>>>>Old >>>>>NEW>>>>>A MIXTURE OF BOTH?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that there’s much to recommend old methods, but as one who suffered at the hands of some unbelievably sadistic schoolmasters I’m hesitant to say, “Old is best”.

Have a nice day, Boonie

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I've found that my handwriting has become rather sad since emails became the prime communication. I'm thinking of getting a school tablet and practicing on a daily basis :) My snail mail consists mostly of bills and ads - all my friends email. I'm torn. I'd love to receive a letter but I rarely write one - it's all the instant email way.

Su said...

I'm a "best of both worlds" kind of gal-- I like to take what works best for me from the old & the new & use both. For example, I take handwritten notes in class & don't want to take notes via laptop (even though many of my classmates do), but I would never handwrite a paper these days.

Also, do you know where I can get a quill?

budh.aaah said...

Though the new ones have loads of benefits but yes PW the old ways were good ways. Anyone heard about the 'good ole days'. Those old teaching and learning methods pushed the limits and preppedthe brain for an intelligent/self reliant future..now the computer gives everything to the kids..they have it on their tips.. What if the computers of the world go out for a day..how many people will be able to cope without I wonder - for even a single day..

Carol said...

There is something in the written word for me. I can write a shopping list and then forget to take it with me. I can recall what is on it.

I have not tested it but I am sure if I typed a list it wouldnt have the same effect as I can touch type. :)

carol

Gina said...

I'm for a mixture of both because there is something to be said in favor of each. Definitely can see how the research is correct though...that's how I learned my times tables in school...especially the 7's. I had a dastardly time with those. ^_^

dr.antony said...

My teacher used to tell me,"writing once equals reading thrice".In the process of copying,it is read once,and then written.It is retained better, with images of what you have written.
I used to tell my children.After twenty years,I could still remember the essays I had written on my note book.From which page it started,and at which page it ended.I can still write an essay on the classification of plant kingdom..30 years after I had studied it.
It is the way we learn.If you try to learn without understanding,it never stays in memory.

Misha said...

I am all for both! Sadly though, my writing has become slower since I type out most of my college assignments.

NRIGirl said...

All for the Snail! Love writing as well as receiving snail mails...

Dorte H said...

Arrrrgh!

I wrote a long comment about the blessings of computers for those of us who can´t produce anything people can read in hand, but Blogger ate it.

But I was here, BLOGGER!

Patti said...

That's interesting. My son's school is promoting one for one laptops, which takes away from all the writing and probably the ability to spell.

Suko said...

Petty, I am old fashioned or "old school" (pun intended) in some ways, too. Love to get letters and cards in the mailbox every once in a while. I've also heard that learning good penmanship is really important, and I don't think that modern technology should replace the important basics.

Golden Eagle said...

I'm for a mixture of both, since they both have their benefits based on the circumstance.

BookQuoter said...

Somehow I prefer mailed cards too... so there's still a lot of us out there!! I also still have an old-fashioned planner, can't use anything electronic for some reason.

Kelly said...

I'm one of those "best of both" folks in that I love modern technology (I much prefer texting to calling) but I do still keep a hand-written journal in addition to my blog.

I use to love letter writing, too, but have fallen down on that in recent years. BTW... is it my turn to write you or vice versa?

Unknown said...

I didn't realize that times table memorization wasn't required anymore. That's silly.
Writing long hand certainly switches on something in the brain. I do my best brainstorming that way!

Kristin said...

I agree, the pen is mightier than the keyboard, and doesn't cramp your wrist up quite as bad as a mouse. Thanks for stopping by the blog! Have a great weekend!
Kristin
MyBookishWays

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your comment. The slippers in the hotel were laundered. They looked used before and not pristine. That doesn't seem very environmentally friendly not to do that. Good for your hubby at least getting them reused.
I love your signature. Is it really free? If so, how do I find it among all those on that site?
When I was growing up my grandparents 'knew' that we were being ruined by TV. I think change is inevitable and it pays to focus on how we can get the best out technology and minimize the worst.
How to do that is the trick. For me I need a treadmill stand for my computer. If I exercised as much as I am on this I would be really fit.

Lily said...

I use and love the technologies, but require my students to write by hand before they type. And, I insist upon excellent penmanship, and teach them cursive writing. Typing must also be taught these days, but after there is a mastery with a pen!

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

I love both email and snail mail, but there's nothing more exciting than receiving a handwritten letter or a package through the post!

However, I do find that my hand cramps up after writing just a few lines these days, no doubt from spending too much time at a computer.

The Bookworm said...

I'm an old-school girl myself, but I do try to get a nice balance of old and new. My children are waaaaay more advanced with technology than I am :)

Unknown said...

I love writing "old fashioned" letters. When I lived in England that's how kept in touch with my family and friends, and now I write letters to my friends in England.