Dust off those Bic ballpoints and college-ruled notebooks — research shows that taking notes by hand is better than taking notes on a laptop for remembering conceptual information over the long term. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Walk into any university lecture hall and you’re likely to see row upon row of students sitting behind glowing laptop screens. Laptops in class have been controversial, due mostly to the many opportunities for distraction that they provide (online shopping, browsing Reddit, or playing solitaire, just to name a few). But few studies have examined how effective laptops are for the students who diligently take notes.
“Our new findings suggest that even when laptops are used as intended — and not for buying things on Amazon during class — they may still be harming academic performance,” says psychological scientist Pam Mueller of Princeton University, lead author of the study.
This is a photo of a student taking notes by hand.Mueller was prompted to investigate the question after her own experience of switching from laptop to pen and paper as a graduate teaching assistant:
“I felt like I’d gotten so much more out of the lecture that day,” says Mueller, who was working with psychology researcher Daniel Oppenheimer at the time. “Danny said that he’d had a related experience in a faculty meeting: He was taking notes on his computer, and looked up and realized that he had no idea what the person was actually talking about.”
Mueller and Oppenheimer, who is now at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, conducted a series of studies to investigate whether their intuitions about laptop and longhand note-taking were true.
In the first study, 65 college students watched one of five TED Talks covering topics that were interesting but not common knowledge. The students, who watched the talks in small groups, were either given laptops (disconnected from Internet) or notebooks, and were told to use whatever strategy they normally used to take notes.
The students then completed three distractor tasks, including a taxing working memory task. A full 30 minutes later, they had to answer factual-recall questions (e.g., “Approximately how many years ago did the Indus civilization exist?”) and conceptual-application questions (e.g., “How do Japan and Sweden differ in their approaches to equality within their societies?”) based on the lecture they had watched.
The results revealed that while the two types of note-takers performed equally well on questions that involved recalling facts, laptop note-takers performed significantly worse on the conceptual questions.
The notes from laptop users contained more words and more verbatim overlap with the lecture, compared to the notes that were written by hand. Overall, students who took more notes performed better, but so did those who had less verbatim overlap, suggesting that the benefit of having more content is canceled out by “mindless transcription.”
“It may be that longhand note takers engage in more processing than laptop note takers, thus selecting more important information to include in their notes, which enables them to study this content more efficiently,” the researchers write.
Surprisingly, the researchers saw similar results even when they explicitly instructed the students to avoid taking verbatim notes, suggesting that the urge to do so when typing is hard to overcome.
The researchers also found that longhand note takers still beat laptop note takers on recall one week later when participants were given a chance to review their notes before taking the recall test. Once again, the amount of verbatim overlap was associated with worse performance on conceptual items.
“I don’t anticipate that we’ll get a mass of people switching back to notebooks,” says Mueller, “but there are several new stylus technologies out there, and those may be the way to go to have an electronic record of one’s notes, while also having the benefit of being forced to process information as it comes in, rather than mindlessly transcribing it.”
“Ultimately, the take-home message is that people should be more aware of how they are choosing to take notes, both in terms of the medium and the strategy,” Mueller concludes.
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As a student I experience learning on a more modern way in today’s technology. Tablets and laptops are the more modern and efficient way of note taking, or is it? Researched has shown that the traditional way of note taking is still the best way. Handwritten is easier to learn, and a student can concentrate more during lectures. Tablets and laptops can be a distraction during lectures, because the student can play games do social networking while the student is suppose to concentrate on the lecture.
It is clear that most students commenting on this blog agree with it. I myself, agree with it as well. In today’s modern world it is easy to rely on technology for many things throughout our day. Our whole lives are based around technology and trying to make our lives as easy as possible so that more can be achieved in a day. This is an advantage to some extent but when it comes to taking notes in class, I agree that technology does not win.
Like the article says, there is the problem of getting distracted with things such as the internet or playing games in class. I’m sure if we haven’t done this, we have all seen other students doing this in class. and so there is the problem that it does not only distract the user of the laptop or tablet but also the students around them.
Even if this does not happen, physically writing the notes down onto a piece of paper helps you visualise what you are writing and concentrate on the words you are writing whereas on the computer one can just type the words one hears and not pay actual attention to what one are writing therefore it is just “mindless transcription”.
I find that when it comes to learning from your class notes, like the article says, it is easier for one to learn from ones own hand writing as it in ones own hand writing and not the generic print of a computer and so one can understand and interpret it better as it is more personal.
sometimes the old fashioned ways do work best and the modern technology is not the best for everything.
Notes taking at a tertiary intitution is very key, hence as students we have to adopt a convinient manner of taking notes in alecture.
As poeple we are all unique and different, obviously we do things differently and see things from different angles.
Notes taking is one thing that we do differently, and there is nothing wrong with that. But we have to go with the method that works good for us, different as we are. Despite what the research says
We have all seen how technology is becoming more integrated into our everyday lives and how reliant on technology we have become; however, using this technology is not always as beneficial as we might think.
As a student I have had to develop an effective method of note taking that enables me to excel in learning. Personally I have always hand written my notes as I find that I cannot type fast enough to be efficient in my note taking as well as concentrate on the lecture. I have also found that it is much easier to organise information on the sub-topics, add extra information to these sections and edit my notes if they are on paper.
Other than the disadvantages of using laptops to take notes we learnt from the article, using these devices puts strain on the users’ eyes and can cause their eyesight to deteriorate. It is inevitable in our society that technology will soon dominate our lives, therefore we should consider using other devices like PC tables which can offer us the benefits of both handwriting notes and using technology by making use of stylus-based applications.
I believe that generations of students to come, who grow up using laptops and tablets from a young age, will become as efficient in typing and using technology as we are in hand writing notes. With this possible increase in efficiency as well as the further development of technology, the problem we are discussing here may one day dissipate.
We are approaching what I would like to call a paper-less world were everything will be done using gadgets and not paper. Today’s generation uses tablets, laptops, smartphones etc. for taking notes.
This might seem as saving time, easy and convenient but what is it really doing to one’s brain. When one takes snap shots of the lecture’s slides the gadget is the one that is taking up the information and not the brain. People who use gadgets are most likely to forget all the work they did just minutes ago than people who take hand written notes as research has shown.
However taking notes using gadgets has worked for some students but for others turned out to be a total disaster. When taking notes one should consider a method that works effectively for them.
Students do not realise how essential hand written note taking is for their studies… Our brain is a powerful organ and works in coordination of the ear,eye and hand. It has been proven that when students listen to a lecture, write (take notes) and see the letters and words that they have written down,their ability to remember their work and perform well in tests or exams, improves tremendously… Whereas, taking notes on a laptop for example, does not make the brain work in all three the coordinations as in note taking.
The best advantage of taking written notes is that one can use different colours. Our brain has the ability to remember colours. Colour can connect neuropathways in our brain that allows that subject or movement to become so much easier and allows
learning to be faster and memory to go deeper . By taking written notes in colour, our brain is able to learn even faster and remembered more easily. As it is proven, the brain sees and remembers colour first! In contrast, when taking notes on a laptop, and trying to use colour, takes a lot of effort and is time consuming. Subsequently, students will miss half of the important information given when trying to use colour when taking notes on a laptop.
In conclusion, it is best and more beneficial to take hand written notes.
This article is relevant because as technology advances and becomes better, people neglect the effect it can have on one.
In this article one realises that technology has come at a disadvantage because it has an impact on how a person takes in information. Before laptops and tablets were introduced, people took hand written notes. Writing something in your own handwriting helps you remember it easily. This also allows you to synthesise your notes in a way you feel works for you, you are not limited to way of setting out your work. To add on to what Lee-Anne has said about coping down diagrams. I have seen students in lectures who struggle to take down a picture or diagram because their laptops are not doing it right. These diagrams and pictures are often essential because they either summarise the chapter or explain a concept in a simpler way.
Note taking is an important skill that we develop as we go through different academic institutions. At the end of the day we all have different learning styles. Therefore it is up to a person to find a way of taking notes that works for the.
As university students we are taught about note taking all the time and we are aware of its importance, but having to read this article about how handwritten notes are better than notes taken with a laptop is what has made the huge difference
What i have realized about taking notes with a laptop is that it requires good typing speed and good memory. when i use my laptop for notes I always miss out on the most important notes because of the urge to type everything that the lecturer is saying and that has however been the result of me studying unnecessary work from the big textbooks that we have which is indeed another good example of not using time wisely.
I can relate to the information in this article.
Two of my lowest marks are of the modules that I never take handwritten notes in (during lectures).
I never really knew why those two modules had low (far from average, related to the other modules), but now it makes sense.
Many students don’t realise the importance of note taking during lectures. Note taking is an essential part in the learning process; notes should be taken down by hand and not by taking notes on the laptop. These notes will provide a better long-term comprehension.
Note taking assist in the process of reading, writing and understanding. I have learnt that taking down notes by hand has a better effect then taking notes on laptops, tablets or IPADs. There are too many distractions on laptops, tablets and IPADs. Many students use the laptops during lecture time to play games.
Students tend to absorb more information when writing notes down, as first they hear the information then write the information given and finally there brain seems to process the information even further.
I, myself as a student prefer writing down notes by hand, by using different colours and symbols. Different colours can help in understanding work better as I classify each subheading with a different colour and write connecting subtopics in the same colour, thus informing the brain which of information links to each other.
A quick tip, next time when you need to remember something important write it down in pencil; it is a proven fact that in you write important information in pencil you will remember it for longer and will have a better understanding. In conclusion writing in your notes by hand will only be beneficial in your favour.
Many students don’t realise the importance of note taking during lectures. Note taking is an essential part in the learning process; notes should be taken down by hand and not by taking notes on the laptop. These notes will provide a better long-term comprehension.
Note taking assist in the process of reading, writing and understanding. I have learnt that taking down notes by hand has a better effect then taking notes on laptops, tablets or IPADs. There are too many distractions on laptops, tablets and IPADs. Many students use the laptops during lecture time to play games.
Students tend to absorb more information when writing notes down, as first they hear the information then write the information given and finally there brain seems to process the information even further.
I, myself as a student prefer writing down notes by hand, by using different colours and symbols. Different colours can help in understanding work better as I classify each subheading with a different colour and write connecting subtopics in the same colour, thus informing the brain which of information links to each other.
A quick tip, next time when you need to remember something important write it down in pencil; it is a proven fact that in you write important information in pencil you will remember it for longer and will have a better understanding. In conclusion writing in your notes by hand will only be beneficial in your favour.
Reading this has definitely provided me with valuable information about note taking which is valuable in my life considering I am a student at university. I was actually going to start taking my laptop to class because the majority of the students take down notes electronically. I will keep taking down notes the old way because at the end of the day it benefits you greatly.
Wow, I was not aware of the benefits of taking down notes (handwritten) versus taking down notes using a laptop for example, even when studying for that matter. I for one prefer listening during lectures; that way I understand what is being taught. Understanding will, supposedly, lead to recall (remembering what was taught). However, I must confess that taking down notes (handwritten) has been more beneficial compared to just listening.
As for making handwritten notes versus note taking on laptops: I think that I will stick to the former. Besides, having notes saved electronically is not always a safe bet for it could be lost in one way or another. For example one could possibly forget to save notes taken (it has happened to me before) or the electronic device used to take down notes could simply stop working for some reason. With all that said, I now know that compiling handwritten notes is much more beneficial than just listening or ‘typing out’ notes. (14018510)
As a varsity student myself I was able to relate to what was being said in this article. When going into varsity I believed that the laptop was the better note taking strategy for lectures. I used to take notes by hand in class and during that time my marks were good, however when I switched to my laptop, I found I was clueless with those lectures.
The brain is able to absorb more information when more senses are used. This stimulates the brain as more than one part of the brain is in use. The confusion though comes in because one knows that the same number of senses are being used when using a laptop. So why is it that less information is absorbed?
When writing we don’t have to think about where each letter is, or if the spelling is correct because we were taught from a young age how to write, writing by hand is second nature and doesn’t require the brain to focus on a completely different task. Typing however diverts the brains attention from core facts to typing, spelling and grammar.
Ultimately note taking will help absorb information because the brains focal point is on the lecture itself.
I agree with this blog with it saying the use of hand written notes are far more effective in helping one to comprehend what is being said by the speaker. We perceive the world through our senses. We hear what the speaker is telling us, our brain processes that information thus instructing the hand to write down symbols (alphabets) which again stimulates the brain to think what has to be written and thus recalling the information at a later stage to be much easier. With written note taking we create an interactive environment which forces us to take part in it actively. With personal experience being a student in university I found that when I take notes by hand there is a higher chance of me being engrossed in the lecture and being able to understand the work much better then using a laptop to take notes. I found with me that with laptops there are distractions which shifts my attention to other things which in the end disrupts the focus of listening to what the lecturer says. Basically hand written note taking is much more beneficial to an individual to further their comprehensive skills as well as other areas of brain development.
I totally agree with this blog 100 percent.As a first year student i have realised how many students loose focus when using laptops ,yes they are playing online games ,shopping and chatting on social networks but it is certain as the blog metioned that not all do that some actually take notes.In high school we all used the hand note taking technique and it worked, it was effective for all the years in school before University and even now.So for those who change to laptops to take notes are adapting to a new technique meaning they will struggle a bit to get used to it.In a University the time taken to get used to something is valuable meaning that students using laptops for note taking cannot recall most of the informatiom being taught in class.For better results lectures should encourage students to use the hand note taking technique which is far more effective as described in the blog.
I absolutely agree with the blog itself and the comments of my fellow students. With mere experience in taking notes, we are able to identify how effective note taking truly is. I find that when I take notes, I tend to process what the lecturer is saying and then express my understanding of the work in my notes, be it by underlining a certain word or simply structuring a certain phrase in a way that highlights its importance. When I look back at this note, my mind takes me back to the thought that I had had when physically making the note. According to Dr Veronica Berniger, an expert in reading and writing systems, when you put pen to paper, you are actually forming and connecting the letters, thus actively engaging the brain in this process; while when typing, you are merely tapping on identical keys. Where then does the futility of being technologically advanced end and its benefit begin?
I strongly believe that note-taking will be able to enhance long term comprehension. As students, we have developed our own unique way of learning and studying. Note-taking is one of the most effective learning tools, and it is used by many students and learners. Rewriting notes by hand allows the new information to retain in our brains. Taking down notes in lectures will also help you to stay concentrated throughout the lecture without being distracted by non-work related things. During the lecture, lecturers often give out important information that can be taken down by note-taking. This can benefit the individual when it comes to studying for exams and tests because one can always refer back to one’s notes to find out which part of the work that needs more focus on. Reviewing the notes after class can help you to remember the work as well as understanding what you couldn’t understand during the lecture or class.
As a first year University student, my methods of note taking are similar in nature to the methods I used in high school. I have always made used of handwritten notes in classes as i find it to be quicker and more efficient. When making handwritten notes of what the lecturer is saying, you are required to listen comprehensively to what he/ she is saying to rewrite the information quickly and in your own words. A habit of using a computer is trying to type out exactly what the lecturer says, consequently not really listening to and understanding what he/ she says as you try to keep up with his/ her pace. A major inconvenience which I have observed for students using computers or tablets during lectures is the drawing or copying of diagrams or charts from the board or the lecturer’s presentation. Many of these diagrams are key components of the study material and as a result of not being able to draw them, these students will be affected negatively. Recent technological developments, however, have incorporated both aspects of computer and handwritten notes in the form of computer/ tablet note taking applications which enable students to make digital notes in their own handwriting. These applications are beneficial as they enable the student to understand and comprehend the study material as well as have neat, organised and safely saved notes.
I am a student in university, and I have realized the importance of hand written note taking versus typing out notes on a notebook. I am able to remember key points more vividly from a lecture, being able to recall such information when I am studying through my written notes. I reckon that this has to do with the fact that when you write out notes, you cannot produce as many words per minute, unlike if you had to type it out on a laptop. As such, you are forced to process what the Lecturer says, and record key points without the “mindless transcription”.