Teenagers Favor Typing for Schoolwork, Citing Speed as Handwriting Still Sparks Emotion
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Teenagers Favor Typing for Schoolwork, Citing Speed as Handwriting Still Sparks Emotion
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Teenagers responding to a New York Times student prompt said typing usually wins for schoolwork because it is faster, easier to store and built into how classes and homework now operate.
Students still described handwriting as more focused and emotional, saying it slows them down, sharpens attention and can feel more personal than writing on a computer.
Several also tied the shift to digital writing to classroom routines—slides, online assignments and device-based submission—while noting downsides such as eye strain, finger fatigue and messy handwriting.
The discussion was prompted by a recent article arguing handwritten letters build connection and activate brain areas linked to creativity, memory and the senses; students also reflected on how AI is changing writing in school.
How can schools reconcile state mandates for handwriting with the inevitable integration of AI in education?
Will AI make human critical thinking a more valuable—and rarer—skill in the future workforce?