Add This Low-Tech Item To Your School Supply List

Why not add this low-tech item to your school supply list this year? It’s inexpensive and has been around for a long time, and it has been proven to help students learn and retain information. What is it? Paper- specifically in the form of notebooks and planners. Since the rapid expansion of technology in education in the last three years, students find themselves taking notes on their computers or Chromebooks. If they keep a planner at all, students keep it online. Most students, however, just rely on the assignment dates posted by their teacher on Google Classroom.


Of course, using reminders and note-taking apps is convenient; however, it’s almost too convenient. Typing on a laptop or into an app does not require the thinking and planning skills that writing notes or planning on paper require. For example, there is no way students write by hand as fast as they can type. Students simply can’t record a speaker’s every word during a lecture if they are writing by hand, and they know this. When listening to a speaker, students have to listen, take in the information and separate what they already know from what they don’t know. Note taking with a pencil and paper is an active process for students; students engage in an interaction with their prior knowledge as well as keeping up with the speaker. Research tells us that writing by hand helps students with the transfer of information to their long term memories. Studies show that people remember more of what they write than type.

Paper -based planners are especially important for high school students and students beginning college. Students should develop the habit of writing their goals for the week in their paper planner. Studies show that people who write their goals down are 42 percent more likely to achieve them. Starting the habit of keeping a paper planner in addition to any reminders they may want to set on an app will help older students being to set goals for life.
Want more info? Check out this study: Also, keep checking back at the site for more study skills and learning tips.

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&context=lexia

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