While notetaking in a university setting can certainly happen on a laptop these days, other settings are not so conducive. For example, it’s not always convenient or “proper” to drag one’s laptop into church or other venues. Hand notetaking skills come in handy in these cases.

And perhaps some day the SAT essay will be computerized. For the time being, while it’s still a handwritten assignment, students will need to be able to both think and write on paper rather than keyboard.

I still hold to my belief that, at least for now, it’s good for students to write one of their three drafts by hand rather than on the computer. However, I’m delighted that there are options for students like your son who learn with difficulty. The computer is a wonderful thing.

Thanks for commenting!

Although the SAT currently requires a handwritten essay, his disability will allow him to use an alpha-smart or a computer. I believe the SAT will soon be computerized, just as many professional licensing tests currently are. So writing for many people like my son will be limited to signing their names and making short notes.

Also, in university settings, more and more students are using laptops to take notes, and professors are publishing their notes and Powerpoint presentations online through WebCT and other course management tools.

Writing by hand is more and more confined to short notes and personal correspondence–but even the latter is often done by word processing.

All of this is to the benefit of people with certain types of disabilities.