Type Fast, Fail Hard: Hand-Writing Notes Deemed More Effective Than Typing

The professors in my major classes did not allow laptops or tablets in class (and if they did, they were very strict about it). Crazy right? Turns out, they were actually onto something.

Although a common reason for my professors not allowing technology in class was the distraction factor for them, the user, and the class as a whole, a latent (and now proven factual) reason for not allowing technology is also this: you don’t retain as much by typing as you do when hand-writing.

NPR recently posted an article outlining the differences of learning in taking notes by typing and by hand. Whether you love it or hate it, note-taking is a necessity in most classrooms today. Basically, because it helps you remember those hours of lectures when it comes around for test time, but in technical and scientific terms… :

There are two hypotheses to why note-taking is beneficial in the first place. The first idea is called the encoding hypothesis, which says that when a person is taking notes, “the processing that occurs” will improve “learning and retention.” The second, called the external-storage hypothesis, is that you learn by being able to look back at your notes, or even the notes of other people.

-NPR

A study published in Psychological Science by Pam. A Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel M. Oppenheimer of the UCLA sought to test how the different types of note-taking affected learning and test results.

Mueller and Oppenheimer cited that note-taking can be categorized two ways: generative and nongenerative. Generative note-taking pertains to “summarizing, paraphrasing, concept mapping,” while nongenerative note-taking involves copying something verbatim.

When testing the hypothesis, researchers found that while both types of note takers did well on fact remembrances – such as dates, names, and places – on more “conceptual-application” questions, handwritten note-takers scored much better.

Pros of typing notes:
Faster
More notes in less time
Can get lecture notes verbatim

Pros of handwriting notes:
Selective 
Generative learning
Must focus on lecture
Encoding functions

Cons of typing notes:
Nongenerative learning
More information to study
Less likely to retain
Less conceptual learning

Cons of handwriting notes:
Takes more time
Must be selective in notes taken
Less information to study

Duly noted.

Don’t want to give up your laptop in class JUST yet, but want to stay focused on your lectures? This Google Chrome extension will block certain websites for you for a set period of time so you can get your ~focus~ on.