Notes are essential to a college student’s career; everyday students frantically jot down whatever they can before the professor moves on to the next topic. If given the opportunity, some choose to take down notes on their laptop, while others go for the classic pen and paper approach. While note taking is a completely personal preference, I decided to look into if there was any scientific data about which type of note taking is better for memory.
In my research the answer was unanimous. Writing is more effective. However, I enjoy typing my notes, and feel like I can read through my notes easier when I’m studying for a test if they are typed. I also feel like I get more notes down when I am typing them opposed to when I have to physically write them with a pen. So, what exactly are the reasons why writing is better?
First off, writing is much better for long term-memory. If you physically write something down then you are more likely to remember the information over a longer period of time. This could be related to an idea that “words can rush out in their raw, feral state when the pen is your tool” (via Lifehacker) This is saying that writing with a pen basically allows you to express more fluently your true thoughts and ideas on paper, while with technology there are more distractions on your page, and it is easier to lose concentration of the ideas you’re trying to express.
Second, not only can writing notes be more effective, but also taking notes on a laptop could actually hinders one performance. According to an article, (via boston.com ) even when all distractions are eliminated from writing, it is still drastically more effective to write notes by hand. What is interesting about this particular study is that while it found that typing is less effective, many students, who were asked which note taking style they felt was better for learning, chose computers, like myself.
The study also showed that students who type are more likely to write down not only more words when they take notes, but also write down the notes more word-for-word than students who write their notes would. I found this particular statistic interesting because it would make sense that information would be easier to remember if it was in your own words and not the words of someone else.
In regard to taking notes verbatim from a lecture, there was a study done where two groups were given either a laptop or notebook to write notes down as they watched a “TED Talk.” 30 minutes after they were giving questions regarding the talk. While the two groups tested equally on recalling facts, those who wrote their notes did noticeably better on conceptual problems. This is related to the fact that the notes were longer and more overlapping with the lecture itself, and not in their own words/thoughts.
Ultimately all the studies that I read argued that writing notes is better for memory and note taking period. While I probably will continue to take my notes in classes with my computer, it was very interesting to look into what would be the better route to go.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/writing-notes-by-hand-better-than-typing/2459536.html
http://lifehacker.com/5738093/why-you-learn-more-effectively-by-writing-than-typing
Marni, I think there definitely could be a relation to the two. As i talked about in my post, studies show more information is retained when written, and that absolutely could be related to the lack of attention people have when they are reading things on the computer screen. In addition to a trial having students take a test after they take notes on either computer or paper, it would be an interesting trial to see how students did on a test of they were given the same pre written notes on, with one group studying written notes and the other studying computer notes.
Jiayi Wang, That is an interesting point you brought forth in regard to sounds, I didn’t even think of that aspect of distraction. When I wrote this post, and did research, I thought more about how different things lighting up on the screen are distracting, but you make a very good point of how the sounds that come with typing and clicking with the mouse are possibly even more distracting than whats on your screen! There could probably be a whole different study alone of the sense of hearing in relation to distractions with studying. Thanks for the input!
The New York Times has even made reports of statistics showing that people have less of an attention span when reading things on a computer screen. I wonder if this applies to the effectiveness of note-taking as well. Do you think there’s a possible connection between being able to retain the content within one’s notes (so still the overall effectiveness of the note taking) and whether or not they appear on a computer screen?
I personally enjoy writing over typing and I know its cliche to say that note-taking can help you remember the text but it does help sometime. But also, your blog proved this point again!haha. I just feel like typing on computer can be very distracting. The sound when you tap the key board? the sound when you click your mouse? Here is a video explains why writing down notes is better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDBHAE60k4A