Taking Notes - By hand or by Laptop?

EDRN-2010 · Jan 11, 2010

My method is not the most efficient but I take my notes by hand in class and type them up at home. This works for me because rewriting them when I get home reinforces the info. I also think the keys clicking would be annoying in class, but that is just me!

Do you guys take notes during class by writing them down or by typing them on your laptop? I'm just wondering which way you think is more effective, or which way has worked for you.
I would imagine you could take down more information with a laptop but I'm just used to taking notes by hand.

RB2000 · Jan 11, 2010

My method is not the most efficient but I take my notes by hand in class and type them up at home. This works for me because rewriting them when I get home reinforces the info. I also think the keys clicking would be annoying in class, but that is just me!

I do the exact same thing. I will record the lecture and hand write the notes in class. I will some times go back and listen to the lecture to make sure that I didn't miss any thing. I will then read the sections in the book covered by the prof and take my own little set of notes. Finally, I compile my prof's notes with my notes in an organized fashion and type them up. A lot of work to do it this way, but it seemd to work for me. : )

NP Sam · Jan 11, 2010

I write notes in class and study them. If I were to type it I wouldn't remember it. Don't know why. I always wonder how people are able to take notes on their laptop during class. I wouldn't be fast enough.

FLDoula · Jan 11, 2010

We have power points I jot notes on. Our professor also posts handouts for concepts on her website, plus she posts lecture note outlines we can use if we'd like. I like this compared to A&P 1 where we basically memorized the book because that is what the prof tested on.

As far as laptop note taking. Students sitting around me who have done that are a distraction for me and I move to the other side of the room. It's great if it works for them...but it distracts me.

Anne36, LPN · Jan 11, 2010

2BRN, I have been doing the exact same thing. The reason I type my notes at home is because my handwriting is terrible and I am afaid I wont be able to decipher it if I wait too long. Also, other people ask to see my notes and I cant help them until they are typed .

lightsnoise · Jan 11, 2010

Hand--and like people said, rewrite the notes if needed.

tazmom · Jan 11, 2010

I take notes with a Livescribe pen, the best thing i brought. I got the 4gb one.

Kyla.ann · Jan 11, 2010

I tried both ways and handwritting my notes won hands down for me. I am a pretty fast typer but like a previous poster I found that I didn't remember as much when I typed as I did when I hand wrote them.

I SO want one of those Livescribe Pens. My last Prof (A&P I) wouldn't let us record his lectures though.

AZMOMO2 · Jan 11, 2010

I record the lecture, sometimes being visual learner you can get more out of the lecture by watching the instructor for ques. I then write hand notes from the lecture at home, giving one more listen to the lecture. Then when its time for the test I type out a study guide in bullet points. Based on my notes.

For typed notes from the reading, copy and past from the ebook works great!

itsmejuli · Jan 11, 2010

I hand write notes as well as refer to my text book during lecture. As I'm writing notes I'm jotting down page numbers and important cues in the text. If its a text I plan on keeping I highlight key words in the text. I also use a highlighter on my own notes to keep track of key words as well as things the instructor has stressed during the lecture.

At home I will rewrite my notes using the key words, cues and highlights from the text. I especially review the information the instructor emphasized in class.

To study for exams I review my notes then study Saunders NCLEX questions. I also use flash cards to memorize things like lab values or other data that is not easily memorized.

This is what worked for me in LPN school. I graduated with honors and passed the NCLEX PN the first time.

I'll use this technique in RN school too :)

guiltysins · Jan 12, 2010

I write my notes out. I'm very good at note taking so I get a lot of the information when I write, I'm orgranized so when we move onto a new topic it has a new heading and so forth I also use different colored pens to make some words stick out. My classmates usually joke on me about the way there's a little heading and bullet points for everything we do in class and tease me about losing my trusty red pen which I underline key definitions and things with. If the notes aren't neat enough, I write them over when I get home, I don't really mind writing them. I feel weird carrying a laptop into class, one of my classmates did it and it wasn't too much of a problem but sometimes it was annoying listening to her fingers click the keys and a lot of the time she was on facebook, not even taking notes so that was pretty distracting as well.

I just don't want to bother with a laptop. What if my computer freezes and I forget to save. Also I find it easier to study stuff in my book than on a screen, I can't seem to focus when it's on a screen and if I'm going to go home and print it out anyway, I might as well just write it.