St Leonard's College | Independent School Melbourne

As technology continues to evolve, so does the debate on the roles of handwriting and typing in education. Recent research highlights the importance of handwriting for learning, with a study from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore showing that handwriting, more than typing, leads to more effective motor learning and enhances the understanding of letter shapes. Neuroimaging studies further support these findings, suggesting that handwriting activates multiple brain pathways, which aids in reading fluency, phonological awareness, and overall comprehension.

However, schools are increasingly incorporating digital tools, recognising their value in preparing students for a tech-driven world. At St Leonard’s, for instance, we have made the decision to transition to laptops in 2025 for all students in Years 5 to 12. This decision aligns with the broader trend in education, where digital literacy is crucial for future careers. Laptops and other devices open up an inspiring world of information and learning opportunities that are difficult to achieve through traditional methods alone.

The shift toward digital assessment formats is also on the rise. The International Baccalaureate (IB) has announced plans to transition all IBDP exams online by 2030, meaning that our current Year 6 students will take all their IBDP exams on laptops by the time they reach Year 12. Similarly, NAPLAN has already moved most year levels online, including its written components (excluding the Year 3 level where the NAPLAN writing test is still handwritten), and it’s only a matter of time before the VCE follows suit.

Balancing the development of both handwriting and typing skills is therefore essential. At St Leonard’s, we are committed to preserving handwriting practise, especially in the Junior School and through resources available in Years 5 and 6. We also encourage students in Years 3 and 4 to familiarise themselves with keyboarding. For families with younger students, we recommend purchasing a Bluetooth keyboard compatible with iPads to support early keyboarding skills.

To build proficiency, students can benefit from touch-typing practise. A number of free online programs are available, and our students have had success with Typing Club in the past. We recommend that students from Years 5 to 7 dedicate about 30 minutes per week to typing practise, ideally in three ten-minute sessions, to build speed and accuracy.

As a College, we aim to foster a balanced approach that equips students with essential skills in both handwriting and digital literacy, preparing them for both academic success and their future careers.

By Charles Neave, Director of Pedagogy