There are advantages and disadvantages to writing notes by hand versus typing them out, but regardless of such, students should be able to pick what is best for them in the classroom.
In half of the classes I’m taking this semester, digital notes are not allowed; even writing notes on a tablet is restricted. Based on the research, it makes sense because professors want their students to succeed, and handwritten notes have been proven to help with memory retention. My teachers have argued this very point. However, some students need more options to actually benefit from notetaking.
Multiple studies, including ones done by Cornell University and the National Library of Medicine, have shown that handwriting stimulates the brain, which leads to stronger connections. The act of writing physically makes the brain work more, thus making the information easier to remember. Erasing an extra “the” in handwritten notes will be more notable than mindlessly hitting backspace while typing because it takes more effort.
While writing requires mental stamina, one should be mindful of physical stamina, too. It can be exhausting to write for even just an hour straight.
E-Student, a resource for students learning skills, says that handwritten notes force students to summarize and write notes in their own words, which boosts cognitive thought. On the other hand, it’s easy to fall behind while writing notes for an entire lecture. It’s much harder to remember notes that were never taken.
Typing has the advantage of being faster and simpler; it’s easier to go back, read and organize typed notes. With how technology has grown, there are even ways to turn typed notes into study materials such as flash cards and quizzes.
There is also the issue of students attempting to multitask, something I tend to do. Semantic Scholar, a research tool, found from 56 references that laptop-use had a negative impact on student learning. Part of those negative effects may be caused by multitasking. If that’s the case, then it should be up to the student’s discretion to decide whether they can handle the risk.
The removal of all digital options hinders the middle ground of writing and typing as well. The NLM stated that technologies that simulate handwriting are an innovative solution for those who, for example, might struggle with mobility by offering sensory feedback and promoting similar neural benefits to traditional handwriting. This can include things like iPads or digital paper tablets.
Writing is everything that typing isn’t; typing is everything writing isn’t, and the middle ground gets caught in the crossfire. With there being downsides and upsides to everything, involved students should be able to choose their note-taking style for themselves.
Categories: Opinion
