Taking Notes: Computer vs. Notebook

When it comes to taking notes during class, many college students bring their computers. Computers save paper and make your notes legible if you struggle with handwriting like me. However, some students stick to the old notepad to take their notes. There are pros and cons to using each:

• The Computer:
• Pros:
• Easily shareable. You can email your notes to a friend and they can send theirs to you in the event that you miss/skip class.
• Easier to prepare for class. Some professors post their lecture notes before class. My professor for Intro to Criminal Justice used to post her notes before class. I would always copy the notes onto a Google Doc and I would add in my own notes under each heading she was discussing.
• Universally readable. If you're blessed with horrible handwriting like me. Computers make your notes readable to all.
• Cons:
• Distractions. Yes, computers have the power to open up games and social media. Both of these can prove to be very distracting.
• Technical problems. Your computer can randomly restart, run out of battery, or just crash that day. These problems can easily stop your note taking in its tracks.
• Pen and Paper:
• Pros:
• Better for retaining information. There have been studies showing that students who write out their notes tend to remember the information better.
• No technical problems. Unless you run out of paper or your pen dies out, writing out your notes will always work.
• Cons:
• Environment. Using a pen and paper kill trees.
• Harder to share with people. You can't just email them to others in the class. You're probably best off letting them take a picture of your notes.

I hope this miniature pros and cons list will help you pick the best note taking platform for you. Good luck and happy note taking!

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony