Notes: Laptop, Tablet, or Paper?

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Hi all, I am starting an ADN program next month, and I was wondering what do you prefer for note taking? I have been using my tablet for my past college classes, but was considering going back to a notebook and pen lol What is your experience with them in nursing school, and what do you prefer?

Record lectures, and write out key points in a notebook during the lecture

After that I play back the lecture at home and type out real notes. Lecture just gives me a preview of the content (I'm mostly listening) so it's where the understanding of the material comes from. At home, the lecture is typed out so I can go back and memorize it later :)

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, lub dub:

That's why I use a stylus and the iPad -- to handwrite the notes. I also, with permission, record lectures, and then review my notes to fill in the missing pieces. One of the things I like about GoodNotes with a stylus is that I can easily rearrange the notes (during the lecture review time) so that it all looks like the notes where done all at once in an organized manner vs. having various devices to point to adjusted/revised note areas.

Thank you.

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I started with ballpoint pens, then went to Pilot G2, then Pilot Precise V5. Now I have the Jetstream RT, the fastest, smoothest pen I have ever used, and am anxious to try it out next month.

The laptop is ok for typing notes in powerpoint but not as effective for remembering the information. I find that I can remember 80% of what I write without having to review it; good for occasional pop quizzes.

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I wish I got a tablet. I would still bring paper and pens though. I'm scared my laptop will get damaged somehow (not to mention it being too heavy... I bring a lot of other stuff to school).

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Specializes in Tele, Interventional Pain Management, OR.

Another vote for old-fashioned pen(cil) and paper!

I've tried the laptop route, but I feel more like I'm taking dictation from the instructor rather than truly absorbing the material.

Our theory instructors generally provide PowerPoint slides, so I print them before class and write notes on them during lecture. Anything I don't understand or seems super-vague gets additional handwritten notes from what I read in the textbook. Then, when I'm studying for an exam, I have a pretty comprehensive "packet" of information to take with me and review whenever I have time!

You'll figure out what works best for you. Good luck!

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Specializes in hospice.

My dad told me a long, long time ago that you remember much more of what you write than what you only read. It always held true for me, so I'll probably be using pen and paper in class once I start. I'm sure I'll type and reorganize later, but physically writing it down always helped things stick in my memory. I haven't been a student in a long time. It'll be interesting.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I use my MacBook to type notes and record lectures. I don't write notes by hand unless there is no other option. I used to think writing things out helped me remember and/or learn them, but then it turned out typing apparently does the same thing. In fact, I can type much faster than I can write, therefore I don't miss as much as I used to when I was scribbling away for dear life. Plus, I have the recordings. Life got much easier once I let the pen/paper method go.

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Pen(cil) and paper has always worked best for me. I would be to tempted to do other things if I used a laptop/tablet. Plus I still find it a lot easier and quicker to type than write.

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I had a similar conversation with a friend recently and we both agreed that if you write things out on paper you remember then more accurately than typing.

I am starting uni in September, and looking at getting a new laptop or tablet so I've been doing a lot of thinking before I spend.

I remember my higher physics teacher made us write out his slides in class and then homework was at least to write them out again for tidying with. I really think this method helped, I passed and was very pleased, and had a lot of notes too!

I think if I went to a laptop/tablet in classes I would type them up and forget about them.

Andy

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Everline... (or anyone who has an idea), how do you use your MacBook to record lectures...

I have a MacAir that I'm trying to use for the same purpose, but haven't found an app yet.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.
Everline... (or anyone who has an idea), how do you use your MacBook to record lectures...

I have a MacAir that I'm trying to use for the same purpose, but haven't found an app yet.

I use an app called AudioNote. It records and gives you a space to type notes that are timestamped so when you review them, you know what part of the recording correlates to the notes you were taking.

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I always took notes on my tablet because it was too much work to carry around all of the power points. I also recorded the lectures with permission.

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