Typing vs. Writing Notes: a Guide to Note-Taking

All students realize that they must take notes at some point, and one of the biggest questions is whether they should do it on their computers, smartphones, and tablets or just write them done with a pencil and a sheet of paper. How to take notes effectively? Writers from Writers-House know the answer.

The Research

Professors from UCLA and Princeton run three different experiments and conducted a study devoted to students who take notes in a classroom. The participants should take notes on different topics, including economics, bread, algorithms, bats, religion, etc.  after that, the participants should complete a test on:

• the overall understanding of the material;
• factual details;
• their ability to generalize and synthesize information.

According to the study, students who took notes on paper memorized more information and understood the subject better than those who typed their notes. Obviously, students were unable to catch every word when writing their notes by hand but they were fully aware of it. Therefore, these students focused on listening and summarizing information, writing all the important details in their own words. As a result, their brain worked in a more efficient way. The students were able to retain and comprehend the material more effectively.

In contrast, students who took notes on their computer managed to take more notes. However, they retained less information. They were less focused on the material and didn’t use their brain to summarize and process the information. Therefore, note-taking became a simple technical process and almost lost its meaning.

Modern Yet Effective Solutions

If you want to take notes effectively, there are two approaches that will help you.

1. Write your notes by hand

It makes sense to take notes by hand whenever you can. It’s important to focus on the information that you hear. Writing notes by hand increases the retention of information, while also helping students avoid distractions associated with the laptop.

According to research, students who take notes on a computer spend 40% of class time on the internet or using unnecessary programs. Besides, social media is a constant source of distractions. Technology helps students in many ways and we don’t mean that students shouldn’t use electronic devices at school at all. However, it makes sense to eliminate some common distractions so that you can focus on the most important task.

The only drawback of writing notes is that you can type them much faster. The chances are that you won’t be able to keep up with some teachers when handwriting notes. In this case, typing is the only solution.

2. Type and then write

Writing notes by hand is a slower approach, while typing them on a computer doesn’t allow students to retain information effectively. Fortunately, you can do both. We recommend that you follow these simple guidelines:

• Avoid distractions at any cost. For example, you can turn off the Wi-Fi. There are also many programs that block the unnecessary apps and websites so that you can focus on studying.
• Rewrite your notes. Type them on a computer while in class and then transfer them to paper at home. The whole process won’t take much time. You will retain more information, while also being able to get rid of the unnecessary details. This approach also allows you to prepare for the “take ten” method.
• The “take ten” method implies spending two minutes a day organizing your notes and cleaning out your bag, and eight minutes reading your notes from classes. If you review your notes, your brain will be able to better process the information so that you can have more time for the homework.
• You can also make test questions out of your notes. This is a great approach which is more effective and engaging than simply memorizing facts. Just turn your notes into to test questions and answer them.