Another argument for focusing on learning to write. I frequently hear arguments for not worrying about handwriting, the main one is that with technology, handwriting will no longer be necessary. However, handwriting is a kinesthetic approach to learning the alphabet, spelling, and subsequently how to compose sentences and paragraphs.
I agree that for some children, producing an extensive amount of writing may be laborius, painful, and counterproductive to producing academic essays or projects, and in in these cases, learning how to type is extremely valuable. However, when it comes to learning , you can’t beat learning through the movement of your fingers. Therefore, the difference between when to write and when to keyboard can be based on whether the task requires learning versus producing.
This is an excellent article that explains the impact of taking notes with a laptop:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/
This article explains the benefits of writing when it comes to learning: