Handwriting 2020 Campaign: Too many children have problems with handwriting - Allicance supports the promotion of handwriting
Recent surveys by the Schreibmotorik Institut have shown that most parents and teachers consider handwriting to be important, even in this digital age. However, an alarming number of children have problems with handwriting. The “Handwriting 2020” campaign aims to improve this situation. There is to be an extensive programme to this end.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY HANDWRITING
Project for secondary schools
The Schreibmotorik Institut is providing free teaching material to secondary school teachers. Pupils and parents should be made aware of the importance of handwriting, even in the digital age.
Secondary school classes across the country who wish to read about and discuss the importance of handwriting in the classroom in an age of digitalisation can take part in the project day. Participation is free of charge.
During the project day pupils can actively engage in handwriting. Learners will be encouraged to discuss and think critically with regard to their own actions, which is particularly important in an era of social media and fake news. Digital learning and promotion of writing motor skills are not mutually exclusive.
Good handwriting has a positive effect on learning as a whole. Those who do not have to constantly concentrate on the writing process itself have a clear mind for the content of what they are writing. Scientific studies prove that handwritten notes play a crucial role in memorising factual knowledge and in understanding textual meaning – not only in children but also in young adults.
Study: STEP 2019
About development, problems and interventions on the topic of handwriting
Along with the VBE Verband Bildung und Erziehung and its 16 national associations, the Schreibmotorik Institut is conducting a national online survey among teachers of all types of schools. The aim is to gain new insights into handwriting acquisition and the influence of the use of digital devices as well as the duality of both methods in teaching.
Handwriting in the digital age is currently a frequent topic of discussion. The STEP study is a unique national survey that scientifically deals with this. It ties in with the 2015 teacher survey, which found that the majority of pupils have handwriting difficulties. It concerns equal educational opportunities for all children, especially for children from low-educational backgrounds.
The extent and cause of the problems with handwriting, as well as possibilities for action in dealing with them have not yet been reliably investigated: Which problems are pupils and teachers facing today? What are the reasons for handwriting problems? In practice, what are the solutions?
For the first time, the results of the STEP study will allow qualified statements to be made on the development of handwriting in German schools. The study has been in progress since September 2018. The plan is for the study to be regularly carried out after the first results are gathered in 2019.
Results
Press release: More time for handwriting! (PDF)
ONLIY IN GERMAN: Detailed results of the STEP 2019 survey (PDF)
More Information
ONLY IN GERMAN: Interview with Dr. Marianela Diaz Meyer and Udo Beckmann on the study
Erasmus+: HS Tutorials – Promoting writing skills
European research project with practical modules
Six partners from Germany, Austria and Italy will mutually conduct a research project from September 2018 to promote writing skills in European schools. The aim of the two-year project is to promote legible, efficient, fluid and fatigue-free penmanship for primary school children and to create the requirements for writing motor skills in child daycare centres.
Partners include the following educational institutions: the Schreibmotorik Institut, the Government of Central Franconia [Regierung von Mittelfranken], Ideum (Austria), the German Education Directorate of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano [Deutsche Bildungsdirektion der Autonomen Provinz Bozen] (Italy), the Styrian Educational Board [Landesschulrat Steiermark] (Austria) and the Government of Lower Bavaria [Regierung von Niedrbayern]. The project will be coordinated by the Schreibmotorik Institut. The project is financially supported by the European Commission.*
The HS-Tutorials EU project will contribute to achieving the core objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy by developing concrete didactic approaches and teaching aids for the promotion of children's writing skills in schools as well as in the transition from nursery to primary school. This will be achieved with the help of innovative, field-tested online tutorials and handouts for teachers. The multipliers trained as part of the project will offer further project training for colleagues after the project has come to an end. Findings from research on handwriting – and writing motor skills in particular – will thus be integrated into teacher training and applied in practice. Decision-makers in the education sector will also be made aware of the importance of good handwriting in terms of educational opportunities.
News: ERASMUS+: Launch event for the “HS Tutorials” EU project
Handwritingtutorials: Practical modules for promoting writing skills in schools
*This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Promoting writing ergonomics with ELMO document cameras
ELMO shows how it works: better results with the correct sitting posture and pen hold
In the context of education and learning, handwriting remains just as important as ever. Increasing digitalisation provides opportunities for combining motor learning with modern technology sensibly and at the right time. ELMO document cameras record sitting posture, pen hold and arm movements while writing. They thereby support the development of handwriting in primary school with practical exercises for the classroom. These are incorporated in four repeating phases: observe – recognise – change – remember.
Observe – children observe their classmates’ sitting posture and pen hold.
Recognise – children consciously recognise their own sitting posture and pen hold.
Change – children discover potential areas of improvement and modify them using relaxation exercises.
Remember – children integrate the memory of the correct sitting posture and pen hold into their everyday activities.
An ergonomically advantageous sitting posture and pen hold provide the foundation for longer, complaint-free handwriting. Both are important for quick, fluid movements that do not tire out the hand. Therefore, the correct posture not only leads to a comfortable writing experience, but also to legible handwriting.
ELMO Germany: “Handwriting 2020” campaign
Too many children have problems with handwriting: alliance supports the promotion of handwriting
Recent surveys by the Schreibmotorik Institut have shown that most parents and teachers consider handwriting to be important, even in this digital age. However, an alarming number of children have problems with handwriting. The “Handwriting 2020” campaign aims to improve this situation. There is to be an extensive programme to this end.
More information on the Handwriting 2020 campaign
State Secretary Stefan Müller pledges political support
The “Handwriting 2020” campaign for the promotion of writing motor skills gets political backing: “We want to do everything we can to support this important initiative”, said Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research Stefan Müller during his visit to the Schreibmotorik Institut, Heroldsberg, one of the founders of the Handwriting campaign.
Read more: State Secretary Stefan Müller pledges political support
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ELMO: promoting writing
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Scribble Mentor – a “Handwriting 2020” campaign project
Become a scribble mentor and support kindergarten children in taking their first steps into the world of handwriting, either individually or in a team. The aim is to generate enjoyment and fun with pen and paper. The Scribble Mentor project provides playful and motivating exercise materials for your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
Read more: Scribble Mentor – a “Handwriting 2020” campaign project