Mitja Kostomaj
Is handwriting still important?

In the age of computers, many ask why handwriting is still important. It is true that more students are completing assignments and tasks using keyboards and tablets, however the majority of classroom time is still spent on pencil and paper. Teachers are not keen of using iPads with younger children. One of the reasons is the lack of educational technologies that support the curriculum at that early stage. EdTech (Educational Technology) products should therefore not focus on the act of handwriting, on challenges children face when they start learning handwriting, such strength and control of small muscles movement, hand-eye coordination and the general ability to hold pencils.

Is handwriting still important?

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Testing PAKABO in a classroom

Testing PAKABO in a classroom

The post describes a testing session conducted in late April 2018 at an Elementary School in Štore, Slovenia. Participants were 14 children (9 boys and 5 girls) from a kindergarten group aged 4-5 years. Most of the children in the test had good graphomotor skills, good pencil grip, while some had a slight tendency to rotate paper when drawing lines. Children sat behind 4 tables. One table had 3 PAKABO sets with 3 iPads, while on other 3 tables children worked on tracing sheets with pencils, crayon, scissors and glue. During the session children played 3 digital games. The session lasted 115 minutes. The work went very smoothly, with the minimal intervention from the teachers and researchers. Children would turn rounds between playing apps on the PAKABO controller and trace sheet activities. Each child completed at least 3 tracing sheets. Working sheets with bands proved most popular. Teachers’ feedback was very positive. They liked the connection between characters in the digital games and trace sheets. They found very positive the way how screen time is managed by offering pen and paper activities.