Is the pen still mighty in the computer age?

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pen/paper and keyboard both have their place

f'instance, for a quick jot of what to get at the shop, a pen and piece of paper is great. i don't have to wake up the computer, fire up some sort of word processor, then waste a whole sheet of paper for a list of 1-5 items. But for a real shopping list that will restock the pantry, the computer is better. The list will be neater and easier to read -- and easy to re-arrange after it's done so that the items are listed in the order they're encountered in the store.

i would not do well in that teacher's class that requires handwritten notes, if it were not a maths class. i've found typing notes into my laptop to be much faster and less distracting, thus enabling me to pay attention to the lecture rather than how to distil a point into a few words. Then again, i type at 60+wpm, so i may be an oddity. (ha!) But not too much of one, because many students with ADD have trouble paying attention *and* writing notes at the same time.

But in math, it's too much thought to figure out how to type equations, etc. In this class, it's easier to scrawl diagrammes and equations by hand, and much of what is taught i end up visualising in images rather than words, anyway.

Such a policy as the teacher's in the article should show flexibility for individual learning needs.

i remember being forced to do writing exercises in school. i can't say now what 'style' they were. But nothing improved my handwriting until i decided to learn calligraphy. Then the rhythm and motions needed to create the letter-shapes started to inform my usual writing, so that short notes and letters are actually a bit readable.

But whilst i always start out readable, after about a page it's scrawl again. i just find it better to type -- my fingers can better keep up with my thoughts, then. 8)

Posted by: aellath   Posted on: 04/19/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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