Paper Notebooks vs Tablets (or Laptops)

[evergreen2]

Pen + Paper + Laptop

[MissMalfoy]

I usually write my notes by hand in class, and then type up them when I get home. I don't really look at the computer notes though, but I find typing them out again is a good, quick way of studying, and then I have backup notes in case I misplace my notebook.

[windforcexx28]

It depends on the course for me. I use both laptop and paper.

[DJ_Peanuts22]

Tablet.

I spend $700 so I don't have to waste $0.50 on paper and another $1 on a pen.

[Mulder and Scully]

I've brought all three to class.

Pen and paper:
- Easy to draw graphs and charts
- Good for use as scrap paper when calculating formulas
- Conclusion: I keep a small notepad with me specifically for use as scrap paper (for my finance and statistics classes). Any notes I make I'll take a photo with my phone, email it to myself and then paste it into my (digital) notes.

Laptop:
- Very quick to type up notes on
- Slow and difficult to quickly draw graphs and charts before the professor erases the board
- Conclusion: In class I'm usually surfing the net on my laptop. It's a distraction having it in class.

Tablet:
- Good for viewing pre-authored material like notes, slides and pdfs
- Slow to type up notes on
- Conclusion: You can't really use a tablet in class. I used my iPad during lectures just to view slides, but in group work when everyone was writing up Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, having a tablet was useless.

[Dwight10]

I take my notes on my laptop. Sometimes i take my notes on papers. I think for taking notes laptop is better than tablet.

[amw3000]

I have a convertible tablet (Lenovo X230t) and its great for taking notes in class. It's quick, no lag at all. Best investment.

[forumviewer]

I used to take notes on my laptop for my first two years of university, but I found that most of the time I was occupied with the physical act of typing down every word the professor spoke or written on the board. The end result was that I learned nothing in classes and when I later read the notes I had typed, everything was out of context and it was difficult to understand anything despite writing down every spoken and written word. Being easily distracted with games and internet access during class didn't help at all, and it definitely showed on my second year grades with many C and some D grades.

In my final years at university, I had the good fortune of my laptop's battery life ending, as I had to resort to taking pen and paper notes. It was very difficult to adjust to since I was accustomed to copying everything the professor said or wrote, but it also taught me to actively think about the material being taught, and mentally analyze each piece of incoming information as critically important, somewhat important, or unnecessary filler. As a result, my handwritten notes were more concise with only the most crucial information from lectures, and a great deal more easy to study from. Instead of blindly copying down notes, I took note of critical pieces of information that were sure to end up on midterms and exams, things that were suspiciously organized into categorical format, or unusually stressed and emphasized in lectures. As an added bonus, my handwriting had also vastly improved.

The results of my transition from laptop to pen-and-paper were pretty much crystal clear, and my grades in the final years never dipped below a B- for even my most difficult courses.

[Ascott]

That has nothing to do with the note-taking medium, though. It has to do with your methodology. You could have done that easily enough (Assuming you can type properly without viewing your keys) on your laptop too.

[zijin_cheng]

Pen and Paper, cuz we engineers!!!

Try writing on a tablet a set of equations, its more tiring and difficult than you think

[BoogieWilliams]

Math, Physics courses paper and pencil always. For courses that involve a lot of writing and words, use a laptop. Also, some teachers do not allow laptops in their class so you have no options there.

[Sabrina25]

It really depends on the individual. I write much faster with a pen than type on my laptop. I do however carry my laptop with me to keep me occupied when I have long breaks in between classes. You might have to carry both just because there will be some profs that do not allow students to use their laptops in class. I suggest for you try all the options and which ever one you feel most comfortable with then go with that one.

[loserga]

Pencil + paper (rarely if ever pen)

I tend to remember things better if I write them down by hand, and my laptop does serve as a distraction. More importantly, the laptop still isn't very intuitive to use. I always had to consider whether there were going to be diagrams, and in the end I just gave up and stuck with paper.

[stillnquiet]

I use laptop, paper, and tablet!
paper+pencil for math courses
laptop for other courses like psych or something
and tablet for courses that don't take notes in (ex. french)