Note-Taking Tips for Online Classes: Handwritten vs. Digital

Despite the advent of online learning, note-taking is still an important part of student life. In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of different methods of note-taking so you can choose the method that fits you best between handwritten notes and digital notes.

Handwritten Notes vs. Digital Notes

Handwritten

Handwritten note-taking is a simple method that students have used for years, and its popularity is no surprise, as paper notebooks are affordable and easy to carry around. Research shows that students who take handwritten notes tend to retain information better than those taking digital notes – this could be because you have to focus on the information more when you're physically writing it down.

On the flip side, handwritten notes take longer than typing. Correcting mistakes can get messy, it's easy to lose or damage notebooks and organizing the notes can be difficult when they're spread across more than one notebook.

Typing

Typing notes on a laptop is quicker than writing them by hand, and the option to save backup documents on a USB memory stick or cloud server adds more security. Typed notes are more customizable – it's easy to type in different colors or highlight different parts of the text. Typed notes are also simpler to organize as you can save them in labeled folders that are divided by topic.

But laptops can be pricey, ranging from $150 to thousands of dollars, and you have to charge them regularly. What's more, typing on a laptop has been linked to a lower level of information retention.

Digital Handwriting

Tablets can be a happy medium between handwriting and typing because they enable digital handwriting, which is when you use a stylus or some other tool as a “pen” to “write” notes on a screen. You might need to download an app like GoodNotes or Notability to do this.

Tablets are more convenient than laptops because they're smaller. Note organization and customization are just as easy on a tablet as on a laptop, but tablets also share the same drawbacks as laptops, with less associated information retention than handwritten notes, regular charging needed and higher equipment costs.

Note-Taking Tips

Regardless of how you take your notes, here are some note-taking tips for online classes to help you learn better:

• Write or type in phrases instead of complete sentences.

• Paraphrase what's being said in your own words.

• Structure your notes using headings, subheadings and bullet points.

• Write or type your notes in different colors or highlight important parts.

• Download and save a copy of the PowerPoint or any other digitally available materials.

• Tailor your notes to your learning style:
  • If you're a visual learner, use charts and graphs in your notes to illustrate information.
  • If you're an auditory learner, consider recording your classes or reading your notes out loud.

All in all, studying is hard enough as it is, so it's important to opt for a note-taking practice that you enjoy and can keep up over time. MedCerts is here to make things easier for students with our online career certifications.