What the Latest Research Says

combining 49 studies found a small but reliable 鈥渟creen inferiority effect.鈥� Students scored modestly higher on reading comprehension when they read the same content on paper rather than on handheld screens. Even when screens were limited to tablets and e鈥憆eaders, print still held an edge for understanding. The takeaway for long鈥慺orm and detail鈥慼eavy content is clear: print supports deeper processing, careful attention and better recall.

Print Reduces Distraction and Supports Deep Work

Digital distraction is now one of the most studied barriers to learning. concluded that off鈥憈ask multitasking with devices is common in college settings and is consistently linked to lower learning performance. The review also highlighted strategies to curb distraction, like scheduling screen鈥慺ree intervals for reading and note capture. Print materials make these intervals easier to enforce and adopt.

that students who take longhand notes often perform better on conceptual questions than students who type, likely because handwriting encourages selection and processing rather than transcription. Newer syntheses show the advantage can be small or context dependent, which reinforces a practical point for instructors. When conceptual learning is the goal, asking students to annotate and summarize in print workbooks or course packets can nudge the right study behaviors.

that high overall screen time may disrupt focus, sleep and stress regulation, affecting college study routines. Giving students printed options for reading and test prep helps them carve out lower鈥慸istraction time without notifications.

Where Print Delivers on Campus

Textbooks and History Books
When the goal is comprehension of dense narratives, timelines or primary sources, print鈥檚 spatial and tactile cues help students build a mental map of the text. That matters in courses that ask for close reading, synthesis and argumentation. The print advantage in comprehension is small but consistent across varied populations and content types, which makes it meaningful over a semester or an entire college education.

Workbooks, Lab Manuals and Course Packets
Printed practice materials encourage margin notes, diagrams and problem鈥憇olving steps. Those analog moves are linked to deeper processing. Even as the research evolves on note鈥憈aking media, the safest way to promote conceptual learning is to design materials that encourage selection and summarization, then encourage students to write in them.

Catalogs and Academic Guides
Print catalogs and program guides are useful reference tools for orientation and advising sessions. They are easy to navigate in groups, visible on desks and tables, and carry institutional voice and visuals consistently. For long鈥憀ived information like program overviews and degree maps, print reduces the cognitive load of screen navigation at the very moment students are making decisions.

Design And Production Tips for Higher Education Teams

1. Match Content to Method
   Choose print for materials where comprehension and recall matter most, like long鈥慺orm reading and complex problem sets, so students can take advantage of prints benefits to learning and memory.
   
2. Engineer for Annotation
   Build white space into workbooks and readers. Include prompts that ask students to circle key terms, sketch diagrams and paraphrase paragraphs. This supports the kind of active processing that improves conceptual learning.
   
3. Use Print to Create Screen鈥慒ree Study Blocks
   Coordinate with faculty to designate specific readings as 鈥減aper鈥慺irst.鈥� Students will appreciate predictable, lower鈥慸istraction intervals that support cognitive load and sleep hygiene.
   
4. Leverage Digital Printing for Agility
   Not every project needs a long press run. Digital printing gives you short鈥憆un workbooks, course packets and updates without overstock. Use it to pilot materials in one section, learn, then scale.
   
5. Select Stocks and Formats for Accessibility
   Consider matte, glare鈥憆educing paper, high鈥慶ontrast color palettes and type sizes that serve more students with diverse learning and visual needs. Spiral or lay鈥慺lat bindings make it easier to write and reference in labs.
   
6. Integrate Print and Digital
   Add clear calls to action, QR codes and short URLs in catalogs, campus magazines and admitted鈥憇tudent mailers. integrated print and digital can raise attention and recall, which helps your emails and ads work harder.
   

Choosing a University Print Partner

Successful campus print programs depend on reliable production, accurate color and smart distribution. 杏吧原创 provides heatset web offset for high鈥憊olume magazines and catalogs, plus sheetfed and digital printing for short鈥憆un and on鈥慸emand needs. Teams can consolidate printing, binding, mailing and fulfillment, which simplifies day鈥憃ne delivery of course materials and improves inventory control.

Printing for Colleges and Universities With 杏吧原创

Students learn in a hybrid world, yet the evidence keeps pointing to a simple planning rule: use print where depth, recall and focus matter most, then connect it to the digital ecosystem students already use. This combination respects budgets, improves day鈥憃ne readiness and gives learners a better chance to do their best work.

If you would like help mapping your next catalog, textbook or workbook to the right print method, connect with the 杏吧原创 team today.

* This article was developed with assistance from OpenAI鈥檚 GPT 5 Pro Deep Research large language AI model.

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Keep reading to learn about seven powerful ways to implement printed materials into your college recruitment strategy, inspiring the next generation of students to choose your university to call home.

1. Viewbooks

Viewbooks are comprehensive publications that provide an in-depth look at a college’s programs, campus and community. They are often larger and more detailed than other recruitment materials, aiming to give prospective students a thorough understanding of what your college has to offer.

A viewbook can be a great way to paint a picture of what life is like as a student at your college. To make that picture as enticing as possible, we recommend printing viewbooks on high-quality paper with colorful, vibrant imagery. It鈥檚 a sure way to stand out and above the slew of digital viewbooks your prospective students may be receiving.

2. Alumni Magazines

Colleges often produce magazines for alumni that highlight campus news, events and alumni achievements. These magazines can also double as a recruitment tool by showcasing the college’s successes and sense of community, helping prospective students see the value of attending and what life could be like post-graduation.

The other clear benefit of printed alumni magazines in college recruitment is their ability to create a dedicated, engaged alumni community. Alumni who feel valued will be more likely to help with recruitment efforts by encouraging the students they know to apply to their alma mater.

3. Course Catalogs

Course catalogs detail the college’s academic offerings, including course descriptions, faculty profiles and program requirements. These catalogs are essential for current students to plan their academic paths and for prospective students to explore the college’s academic options.

Offering printed course catalogs to prospective students will ensure they can easily browse your school鈥檚 course offerings to see if it鈥檚 a good fit for their desired major. Plus, according to , studies indicate that around 62% of college students favor physical books over digital textbooks. This preference has decreased slightly in recent years but still shows a significant preference for print over digital formats.

4. Campus Guides

Campus Guides are publications that provide detailed information about the college campus, including maps, building layouts and other campus amenities. Campus guides often cover the history of the campus, highlighting key landmarks and providing historical background on the college’s founding and development. They also use photography to showcase the campus, including photos of buildings, landmarks and other features that make the campus unique.

Campus guides are designed to help new and prospective students navigate the campus and learn about its history and culture. They can also be valuable resources for alumni and visitors looking to learn more about the college’s campus. A well-crafted campus guide that features high-quality photography can be a valuable tool in promoting your college to prospective students.

5. Event Programs

Consider turning to a professional printer for programs for recruitment events, such as open houses, campus tours and information sessions. These programs provide a schedule of events and other important information for attendees, helping to make the event more organized and informative. High-quality printed programs will give any recruitment event a more elevated and professional feel.

6. Direct Mail Campaigns

One major role of college recruiters is to design and print direct mail campaigns targeted at prospective students, encouraging them to apply or visit the campus. Direct mail campaigns can be personalized and targeted to specific groups of prospective students, making them a highly effective recruitment tool. High-quality mailpieces are sure to be more enticing to prospective students. Plus, a full-service printing partner can help take the headache out of your mailing strategy, and may even be able to save you money on mailing costs.

7. Digital Editions

Digital editions are electronic versions of print materials, such as viewbooks, alumni magazines and course catalogs, that can be accessed online. While these are not a 鈥榩rint鈥� product in the traditional sense, partnering with a printing company that can create easily accessible digital editions to accompany printed materials can be an effective way to improve the reach of your recruiting efforts.

These digital editions can reach a wide audience and provide interactive features that enhance the reader’s experience. The nature of digital editions also removes the issue of limited space that comes with print materials, allowing your recruiting team to deliver more content without increasing costs. Consider combining digital editions with your print strategy to maximize results.

Print Powerful Recruiting Tools With 杏吧原创

As a college recruiter, you know how important it is to stand out. These seven methods can help you get the word out to prospective students and show them why your school is the best choice, as long as you work with a printer that鈥檚 up to the task.

With 87 years of experience, 杏吧原创 is an established and knowledgeable printing company that has experience in all sorts of industries, including universities and alumni associations. Not only do we produce high-quality print materials that fit your budget; we can create digital editions to maximize their reach. If you鈥檙e ready to elevate your recruiting strategy with high-quality print, contact us today to get in touch with one of our experts.

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