This study [Mangen, Walgermo and Brønnick (2012)] should be replicated with adult subjects and N=500 instead of just N=72 kids from a single class.
In Sweden, based on similar results sub-notebooks and tables that were only recently introduced were removed again. I respect the Swedish for reacting on the new evidence instead of being in denial that the purchase of so much hardware was a mistake.
I write, read, and review scientific papers throughout the year, and most of the time, I will print them out (sometimes over one hundred pages for a single conference - e.g. 10 papers a 10 pages). The clearest benefit is reading mathematical formulae on paper vs screen, from my subjective experience, but also the ability to scribble notes, turn back the page to re-read something to double-check without much effort.
As much as I like computers, paper is the most ingenious medium ever invented by humankind, and the second most
durable w.r.t. long-term preservation of the written word (after parchment).
> the ability to scribble notes, turn back the page to re-read something to double-check without much effort.
I agree 100%. The simple act of turning back the page/pages is so fast and efficient. My brain seems to even remember where on the page the info I want is. So much more is visible in a single 'eye-shot'. I don't get that same mental experience with e-docs - not sure why. I did grow up with paper so there is a bias.
I had not thought about the paging-back issue until you mentioned it, but I recognize in myself what you have said about it. Our brains and sensorimotor systems are developed for direct interaction with the physical world, not through proxies (though we can get pretty good with decent proxies through practice.)
On the other hand, being able to search is invaluable, as is the ability to have the footnote pages open in a separate window, if the software does not provide a better option. Finally, I can't imagine a good interface that is not pencil-like for sketching diagrams.
I agree. For novels, digital works well—I have hundreds of books on my Kindle. But recently, while studying a math book, I bought the paperback for exactly the reason you mentioned.
I agree that for the act of learning, the tactility of paper is a huge benefit. But for preserving and recalling notes and highlights, electronic wins. I can have hundreds of books or papers on whichever device I'm on and look up notes and annotations I've made over several years.
I've tried figuring out how to get the best of both worlds, but maybe you really just need to decide which trade-off to go with.
To me paper has a huge advantage for skipping around, but in every other context I prefer the screen assuming it's big enough. Things like Kindles and phones are only good for text that works fine reflowed and where you don't need to keep looking back as you read.
The screen would also benefit from something I have never seen used: Have a second window that shows whatever images, graphs etc (pretty much anything that's not just words in a row) are relevant to whatever is currently displayed in the main window.
> paper is the most ingenious medium ever invented by humankind, and the second most durable w.r.t. long-term preservation of the written word (after parchment).
In Sweden, based on similar results sub-notebooks and tables that were only recently introduced were removed again. I respect the Swedish for reacting on the new evidence instead of being in denial that the purchase of so much hardware was a mistake.
I write, read, and review scientific papers throughout the year, and most of the time, I will print them out (sometimes over one hundred pages for a single conference - e.g. 10 papers a 10 pages). The clearest benefit is reading mathematical formulae on paper vs screen, from my subjective experience, but also the ability to scribble notes, turn back the page to re-read something to double-check without much effort.
As much as I like computers, paper is the most ingenious medium ever invented by humankind, and the second most durable w.r.t. long-term preservation of the written word (after parchment).