How effective are your study and exam preparation habits? Time and time again, a debate pops up about whether its better to type lecture notes or handwrite them. I’ve even heard of cases where the University Professor bans his class from taking notes. The reason for this is that he’d rather hand them out himself while the students devote their efforts listening and focusing on his lecture. Of course, students may have to decide for themselves what method works best for them. However, research is continually showing that handwritten lecture notes increases the chances of a student’s retention of the material. 

So Why Handwritten Notes?

Typing notes in a class using a computer can be a distraction if a student starts working on other content on his computer. It also doesn’t give the opportunity of learning the material like a handwritten word would. When handwriting, the actual process of using a pen and writing on paper allows the brain to process the material. If you insist on typing in class then handwrite the content after class as part of your revision routine. A student may also miss a class and decide to purchase the missed lecture from a classmate. In that case, he can always use the purchased material to make his own notes by writing them by hand himself.  

Needless to say, a handwritten lecture can only be effective if the student learns how to take good class notes in the first place! How to write good content is a topic on its own. We’ll look into it in more detail in a separate blog.

For additional reading on this topic, you can check this recent article about how handwriting is good for your brain!

So, next time you go to class, don’t forget to bring your favourite pen and notepad!

 

All the best!

Ztoon

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