There has been plenty of chatter about the slow death of handwriting. Some schools are spending less time on cursive instruction and focusing more time on early-stage digital literacy. However, when it comes to actually retaining information, writing notes by hand may still produce greater retention than pecking away on a keyboard. Results from several experiments could mean that your TXGU students will be better off with a good pen than a fancy new laptop.

Computers are obviously fantastic machines that are capable of amazing things. On the flip side, they can also be incredibly distracting and encourage multiple interruptions during times when focused attention is what’s needed. There’s also the temptation to transcribe a lecture as opposed to recording a deep understanding of the content. Technology has certainly led to new and exciting developments in the classroom. But when it comes to getting the most out of their notes, remind your TXGU'ers that there's nothing wrong with going old-school.