Science News

Article originally written by Aarush Dey ’27.

Today’s world is dominated by technology, and education is no exception. Throughout history, however, learning through paper and pencil has been a standard and easy way to process information. In contrast, in the new age, note-taking by typing on computers has become the norm because of their efficiency and convenience. While typing is far easier and less time-consuming than handwriting, multiple studies have shown that taking notes by hand can help us understand and retain information much better.

Many studies have indicated that writing with a pencil involves multiple senses like sight, touch, and fine motor skills, sedating information deep within our minds and memory. This allows us to better retain information and recall information on things we have taken notes on. Furthermore, hand-writing encourages summarization or content, to shorten the amount of physical writing required. Moreover, while taking written notes, many people take notes in the form of diagrams and drawings which often help more than bullet points.

In addition, the rhythm developed while writing activates regions of the brain associated with problem-solving and creative cognition, and the tangible nature of paper notes encourages a personal connection and ownership regarding the information being learned. On the other hand, typing is fast-paced and held within an environment with lots and lots of distractions. With links to entertainment being only a click away, maintaining constant focus is almost impossible, especially for school-age kids. Note-taking on paper makes it far more difficult to lose focus and therefore, strengthens one’s attention span.

Overall, typing on a computer grants efficiency, while taking notes on paper doesn’t, but instead offers multiple cognitive benefits. From understanding information on a deeper level to retaining information for a longer period of time, taking notes by hand is far superior to typing on a keyboard. So next time you are given the choice between traditional handwritten notes and typing on a laptop, correctly weigh your options and choose wisely, taking more into consideration than just efficiency!

Sources:

Cover Image
https://pixnio.com/objects/computer/laptop-computer-coffee-pencil-workplace-table

In regards to note-taking by hand or on a computer: Lund University
https://www.campusonline.lu.se/en/studying-digitally/regards-note-taking-hand-or-computer#:~:text=Faster%20is%20not%20always%20better&text=Later%2C%20when%20both%20groups%20were,applying%20concepts%20and%20remembering%20correlations