When was the last time you used a pencil?

This question is inspired by a Freakonomics episode on NPR, which I highly recommend and which you can catch here One intriguing thing that it suggests is that students who take handwritten notes when listening to a lecture retain more than those who use a laptop.

Handwriting, which used to be taught universally in elementary school, is being taught less frequently every year. Sales of pens is rising slowly, but pencil sales are declining. I still use pens, but I can’t remember the last time I used a pencil.