Writing to heal (oneself)

The case study of the Soft Skills course in Medical Humanities at the University of Siena

Abstract

The deep and rapid socio-cultural transformations of the 21^st century, fueled by the ubiquity of digital technologies, have led to a critical rethinking of the role and function of handwriting in educational processes. While typing has become the dominant practice in everyday and professional communication, the act of writing by hand, far from being a mere anachronistic remnant, has rekindled scientific interest in a pedagogical device of fundamental importance. This research is part of this renewed epistemological landscape, placing at the centre of its investigation, through the case study methodology, the analysis of handwriting as a reflective and transformative tool. The goal is to chart new educational paths in the academic context, using as an operational example the in-depth analysis of the experiment held at the University of Siena in the Medical Humanities - Soft Skills course.