What We've Learned

Throughout out this blog we have discussed the benefits and disadvantages of handwriting class notes or typing them up. And while each method has viable pros and cons, what really matters is personal preference. Even it makes more sense from an efficiency standpoint to hand write math notes, if the individual prefers to type math notes then he (or she) should type them. Just like methods of studying differ from person to person, methods of note taking differ as well. That being said, it is very important to figure out which method works best for you, because good notes is the foundation for successful studying and we all know that successful studying leads to successful test averages!

As a quick recap I will give some examples of the benefits and disadvantages of the different methods of note taking. Handwritten notes are great because they are easy to format, and it is easy to write little reminder notes on the side. However, sometimes handwritten notes can get sloppy, making them difficult to read. A way to avoid this problem is to hand write notes in class and then type them up when you get back to your dorm room. Hand writing notes is also simpler because you don't have to worry about carrying around a laptop. That being said, typing notes definitely has its advantages. By typing notes, they are organized and can be stored on your hard drive. Often times handwritten notes get lost on loose leaf paper, but this would not be an issue for typed notes. Also it is easy to color coat and highlight notes that are typed. A disadvantage of typed notes is that you have to carry a laptop around and it might not be the most efficient way to take math or economic notes. 

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Personally....

I have found a combination of typed and handwritten notes that works best for me. Typically, I hand write notes during class. I find it helpful to write little notes in the margins and draw pictures that relate to the lecture. However, before a test I like to go back through my hand written notes and type up the most important items. I focus on the parts that I underlined or starred, or that the teacher spent a lot of time reviewing. It is helpful for me to type the notes up as a means of reviewing my old notes and making them look "cleaner." There is another benefit to this method when it becomes finals time. My typed notes are easier to read and only have the most important information in them, so it is a good review during finals. Also, because I back up my files I know that I will not lose the notes, as opposed to loose leaf paper which is easy to misplace.

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Pros and Cons of Typed Notes

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In the previous post we discussed both the good and bad aspects of handwriting notes. Now let us look at the benefits and disadvantages of typing out notes. First of all they allow you to keep organized notes. Typing notes provides many options, users can type in outline format, bullet points, simple paragraphs or however else they want to organize their notes. However, it is more difficult to draw a graph on a computer than to draw one on paper. Another bonus of typed notes is that it is easy to go back through a lecture. The highlighting tools that word provides also adds organizational benefits.

I asked another group of friends how they felt about typed notes. Again the answers were fairly similar. One person responded that he prefers typing his notes with an exception of  his economics class. He explained that while it is possible to create graphs on the computer, it was more efficient to draw them by hand. A different person remarked that while she prefers typed notes, she does not like carrying her laptop all around campus. Another student responded that her professor speaks so quickly that when she tries to hand write notes, her handwriting is illegible, so, as a result, she always types her notes.

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Pros and Cons of Handwritten Notes

There are benefits and disadvantages to both handwritten and typed notes. This post we will cover everything about handwritten notes. First of all, there are studies which have concluded that people can read their own handwriting better than typeface or another's written work. So one point for handwritten notes. However, on the other end of the spectrum, handwriting, especially during a lecture can get messy and difficult to read. But it is simpler to carry around a spiral notebook and pen than dealing with a laptop. The score is two points for writing out notes, one point against, and we still need to take personal preference into consideration.

I asked a group of people why they prefer handwritten notes and the answers were all fairly similar. Basically writing notes on paper allow students to hold something tangible compared to a computer screen. Also, by writing out notes, a student is able to draw graphs or pictures to help clarify points. We are up to four points pro writing notes, however these points are all assuming that the handwriting is actually legible. If the handwriting is poor it will end up taking more time and effort deciphering what was written than actually learning the material.

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