“I take notes like some people take drugs,” is what Tim Ferriss said in his blog on December 7, 2007. Notetaking in educational institutions has always been a staple of the student experience. These days, it is very hard to walk into a classroom anywhere without seeing students hunched over their notebooks or iPads, dutifully writing whatever their professor is talking or writing about. As the times evolve, however, so do the methods of note-taking, and as with many things, people seek to optimize their ability to do so. Whether you take notes with an iPad or the classic pen and paper, it’s always good to have an open mind.
While there are different methods of note-taking, they aim to achieve the same purpose: reinforce and organize spoken information into a visual form of one’s thoughts. Many argue that pen and paper is the way to go, like Professor Sonu Bedi at Dartmouth University, who implemented a “No electronic policy.” According to Bedi, “[Paper and pencil note-taking] requires you to actually internalize what is being said.” Bedi is not the only person who thinks this, either. Student Lucy Korte at Dartmouth University says, “If you’re trying to learn and memorize, pen and paper are definitely better.” Additionally, after doing a poll on my Instagram, out of my 664 followers on instagram, 52% of them said they prefer pen and paper more. To round it off, two studies done in 2021 show that students have a higher retention rate when they write on pen and paper rather than a tablet. While there is an overwhelming amount of data supporting that pen and paper is the optimal notetaking method, many still choose to support note-taking digitally.
Digital note-taking exploded in popularity after the pandemic, and since then, it has only gained traction. Many STEM students prefer taking notes on an iPad as it makes it easier to organize notes and draw better diagrams. Some even say that it allows them to take notes more efficiently, especially if the professor is known for going fast. Computer Science major Derek Chu from the University of Wisconsin Madison is an iPad notetaker. He says, “When I do take notes I take it on my iPad because it is a lot more organized and convenient. I don’t have any stray paper and I don’t need to carry around 10 notebooks everywhere. It’s basically a better notebook.” What Derek says is how a lot of other students reason with using an iPad. Caden Marcum of Dartmouth says, “I like the functionality and accessibility that comes with an iPad. You can upload visual aids and diagrams that you can’t do with pen and paper.” The main attraction of using digital technology is that it is, as Derek says, a better notebook in terms of organization, efficiency, and convenience. This being said the main problem with taking notes digitally is that it is a distraction.
“We only have one hour together in class, and only 50% of the time are you really focused on the content. So you’re really short-changing yourself,” is what Professor James Binkoski said about digital notes being a distraction. The internet is a wonderful and bountiful oasis for any scholar. However, it is also a hellscape of distractions for any person lacking the discipline to avoid these distractions. In personal experience, I have seen students distracted during class, either shopping online or even playing minesweeper on Google. I myself have fallen victim to the minesweeper blackhole during my hour and a half literature classes.
Digital note-taking is a double edged sword. It can be the reason you excel and the reason you fail. No matter which way you take notes, it is important to note that if it works for you, keep doing it. It is always a good thing, however, to know the pros and cons of your choices. In conclusion, to riff off of Tim Ferriss: don’t take drugs, but take notes instead.
