09/02/2026
Virginia schools have a successful track record of prioritizing tech literacy, but as parents across the state call for less screen time in schools, we're ready to share some promising research on getting back to basics. ✍️
In a recent study, subjects were given a digital pen and a keyboard for communication while wearing a 256-channel sensor array EEG cap to observe neural activity. Handwriting produced significantly more elaborate neural connectivity patterns when compared to typing. This was especially noticeable in the areas associated with memory formation and encoding new information, aka LEARNING!
Science often challenges the norm, and when new research comes out, it's the first tool to help fine-tune how we implement advancements at different stages of human development. While the results of the handwriting study don't suggest we abandon the ever-evolving technological landscape, this research does begin to highlight that there is a time and place for both technology and handwriting in schools.
