Workbook open. Pink eraser shavings scattered across the dining table. Pencil in hand. 

From the summer before second grade to now, my parents always stressed the importance of working with paper.

Having used traditional learning methods throughout all their school years, my parents told me writing and annotating passages by hand would help me memorize vocabulary and comprehend material more efficiently than any other method.

As a compliant 6-year-old, I simply nodded my head in agreement and did my work as I was told.

Yet at school, I was taught in a completely different manner.

From StudySync for English to Khan Academy for math, my school based most of its work on digital platforms. While I initially dismissed these differences, as I entered high school, I recognized a clear pattern. Whatever the subject, learning on paper seemed much more effective. From better efficiency to increased focus, this method made a clear, positive impact on my academic performance.

However, while both my personal experience and many research studies support the use of paper-based learning in school, education continues to become increasingly digitized.

While online learning methods have benefits such as flexibility and extensive material, some paper-based learning methods should continue to be relied upon.

According to a March 19, 2021, ScienceDaily study conducted at the University of Tokyo, students who take paper notes outperform those who take digital notes by nearly 25%. Additionally, students can better recollect information by actively writing and flipping through their physical notes based on what page it was written on, according to a Jan. 10 Studies Weekly article.

Students also find paper more accessible. While school districts provide students with devices, there is no guarantee all high schoolers have internet at home. Hence, if schools continue to become more digitized, some students will not be able to follow along with the curriculum.

So why don’t we stick with the traditional learning methods? They are a critical part of school education — one that is irreplaceable.

Change can be a good thing, but scholars utilized paper-based learning for thousands of years for good reasons, and I, for one, plan to continue that legacy.