Scientific Projects

The STEP study should help to obtain new insights into handwriting acquisition and the influence of the use of digital devices as well as the duality of both methods in teaching. The central questions are as follows: Which problems are pupils and teachers facing today? What are the reasons for handwriting problems? How can such problems be avoided in practice? And what are the specific challenges and possible courses of action that can be derived in the context of digitalisation?

Handwriting is a very topical issue that is not in competition with digital technology. The associated changes in communication habits with the digital transformation raise questions about the relationship between handwriting and digital technology in the classroom. The findings of neuroscientific research in recent years confirm the importance of handwriting for the learning process. At the same time, the use of digital technologies opens up new learning opportunities, e.g. regarding differentiation in teaching or inclusion.

Schools’ equipment will continue to improve with digital technology. What are the specific challenges and possible courses of action that can be derived for teaching the key skill of handwriting?

Against the backdrop of the 2015 “Problems in developing handwriting – extent, causes and possible courses of action” teacher survey, which brought forth qualified statements on the development of handwriting in schools for the first time, a further national survey will now be conducted among teachers from all types of school. The main focus of the 2019 STEP study is the topic of handwriting in the context of digitalisation.

• Detailed results of the STEP 2019 survey (in German) (PDF)
• Press release: More time for handwriting! (PDF)
• News: The VBE Verband Bildung und Erziehung and the Schreibmotorik Institut present the results of the STEP 2019 study
  

September 2018 – February 2019