The Notebook vs. the Tablet: A Student's Dilemma
In the age of digital innovation and technological prowess, our world has undergone a remarkable transformation in the way we gather, store, and access information. Among the many facets of this digital revolution, one area that has seen a profound shift is the way we write and take notes. Long gone are the days of scribbling with pen and paper as our primary means of capturing ideas. Instead, an increasing number of individuals have turned to electronic devices to document their thoughts and observations. This change has sparked an important question: Is it more advantageous to take notes on paper, where the tactile connection between hand and page feels timeless and organic, or to utilize the convenience and versatility of electronic note-taking? With school back in session, I wanted to take the time to weigh the benefits of both approaches and offer insights that may change the way you take notes–a critical component of learning throughout your educational years.
For as long as we can remember, people have relied on pen and paper as their primary method for recording information. Even today, it still remains the primary method for many, and for good reason. Taking notes by hand has proven to be very beneficial in an academic setting. Even though writing may not be as fast as typing on your laptop, the process helps you actually think about and process what you are recording instead of blindly typing or copying and pasting, making it easier to retain important information. Furthermore, traditional note-taking allows you to create a proper atmosphere suited for focus and intense study, which can be extremely hard to achieve using a digital device that provides unlimited sources of entertainment and distractions with just a few additional clicks. Research has shown that when one's focus is reduced due to a distraction from the device, such as a social media notification, it can take them as much as 23 minutes to return their full attention to their primary task. Clearly, electronics are not optimal for productivity.
Pen and paper may also be considered the more practical option. You wouldn't even need ten dollars to buy yourself a decent notebook that would last, at the very least, several months of note-taking. Even in terms of portability, paper has more of an advantage over devices. Carrying a notebook around with you from place to place is not at all difficult, but doing so with a laptop might be a different story.
On the other hand, there are numerous aspects of digital note-taking that are simply impossible to ignore. One of the most significant is efficiency. Despite the fact that writing on paper helps you better retain information, it is noticeably slower than typing. The average American can type 40 words per minute, but can handwrite only 13 words per minute. E-notes are definitely the better option when speed needs to be prioritized. Furthermore, correcting your mistakes on paper can be quite messy and inefficient at times with eraser marks and smudges, whereas that is almost never the case when using a digital note-taking platform.
Using electronic devices to take notes can help you stay much more organized as well. With digital platforms like Google Drive, it is incredibly easy to sort and access all your files in an orderly manner. This is a huge advantage that may not apply to traditional methods, as people tend to lose papers all the time.
Taking notes on a device also offers a level of customization that is not available in traditional paper notes. With digital note-taking tools, individuals can tailor their note-taking experience to suit their specific needs and preferences. They can switch between fonts, colors, and text sizes, making their notes more sophisticated and visually appealing. Moreover, the ability to insert multimedia elements from the Internet, such as images, videos, and links to other sources, can be tremendously helpful.
I myself am a devotee of traditional note-taking. I enjoy the tactile feeling of the pencil on the paper, and I find that this method is most helpful for productivity, memorization, and overall academic success. But there are also instances where using my laptop is an inevitable choice. Lately, I've even been considering getting an iPad that comes with an Apple Pencil, as its efficiency for recording information and completing assignments is simply unmatched and cannot be dismissed. In today's world, there are numerous different ways of note-taking, each possessing its own benefits. As students, it is our responsibility to utilize what works best for us.