Posted: 7/3/2006 11:07:22 AM EDT
| I'm starting an on-campus class tonight. Is it worth it for me to haul along my laptop for taking notes? I type a lot quicker than I write. I have another option of taking a voice recorder and recording the class, then transcribing later. I'll be taking my laptop backpack either way, regardless of whether I have a computer in it or not, since it's my only backpack. |
it's worth it IMO. In fact it is now ODD to be in a large lecture class and NOT see someone typing away on a laptop. If I had a laptop I would take it to class and take notes, simply because 1) I type faster than I write and 2) I can ALWAYS read/ decipher typed text 
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Using your laptop, how fast can you draw a diagram, flow-chart or set of equations that your instructor puts on the board or overhead projector? Can you circle related items and draw arrows showing relationships on your laptop. For me, there'd be a lot of info besides simple text that would be difficult to include using a laptop. Are you a "clacker"? It can be very distracting to have a clacker in the class. |
Nowadays you can download the powerpoint slides to be used in class a day or 2 before the lecture.  Ain't technology wonderful? |
I'll bring a notebook, too. No, I'm a pretty quiet typer. Gloftoe, on the other hand... sheesh. *WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM* |
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I'm 45 and graduated last year. A laptop is an indispensable tool for writing and research and presentation. It wasn't great for taking notes. For me, and your mileage may vary, I found it easier to concentrate on what was being taught and take notes (not transcripts) of the important concepts or those things I didn't understand. What was also of great value was a spouse who let me try to explain what I just had learned. She's ask questions and if I couldn't answer them, I knew where I needed to study. Mrs. Gloftoe, good luck! IM or email if you need any help or have questions. |
For nearly all uses I've ever seen in class, it's dumbing-down tool, IMO. When done well (which is very rare) it can be effective. But that's very rare. There's a huge "anti-PP" contingent in academia that abhors the use of PowerPoint. I'm one.
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Yes... Plus, when you get bored, you can usually get on the wireless network and screw around on the internet. |
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It will depend a lot on the class. I found that for most general's, it's worth having. For serious math or science classes, unless you have a tablet PC (touch screen), pen and paper is sometimes the way to go (not always, but frequently). Also, be careful about getting distracted. I'd be surprised if your school does NOT have a wireless internet connection. It's kind of hard to pay attention to the teacher when you're surfing ARFCOM, or playing World of Warcraft (or similiar). I just graduated, but I know a lot of people who brought a computer to class to "take notes", but spent the entire class doing something else. Also, some teachers may take offense if you use a laptop to take notes. While I didn't run into trouble with it, I had a few friends who got chewed out for actually taking notes (not screwing around) on a computer in class. |
He's an engineer. They don't know nothing about proper English. |
For classes in which powerpoint slides are digitally available I found it to be immensely beneficial to type my notes onto them using my laptop. I am a VERY slow, sloppy writer by hand. As a matter of fact, when I try to take notes by hand my comprehension and retention both go down significantly. I find that I am better off just paying attention than taking notes except upon a few key concepts or critical details. The type of course and the instructor's teaching style will dictate which technique will work best. Unless you have to hike a considerable distance and are out of shape, I recommend that you take your laptop with you to try it out. Good luck in your course.
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Apparently he knows about Latin-based conjugation though.
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Not mine. They get their slides after class. I provide large comb-bound notebooks however with every slide included...thus they can annotate each slide as they see fit. Seems to work for my students. And yes...I loath clackers...and cell phones. Not to 'jack the thread...but what the hell is it with girl [students] and those damn phones?  Anyway...I used legal pads...and they still work fine when I attend a lecture or meeting. Why not? Much lighter and I can use it for more than just text. |
VERY good, Young Lady!!! Keep up the good work! |
be honest. YOu don't want your laptop for notes; you really intend on surfing arfcom while at school! |
Damn good to see someone can still remember the plural of "formula". 
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My advice is to pay close attention rather than scribbling everything the prof said. Take a pen and paper to make BRIEF notations or diagrams (which can be near impossible to do on a compuer, much less quickly). Many people find they recall the material far better if they pay close attention rather than focusing on writing or typing. Free Internet Advice, FWIW. |
Heheheh, thanks. Actually I'm just the opposite. Things don't sink in for me unless I write them down or repeat them somehow. I'm also terrible at visualization. Usually what I do is tend to take notes on everything, then make another set of notes in my own words about what I learned. |
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I'd use a laptop for something along the lines of history or English, and a letter-size legal pad with a .5 or .3 mechanical pencil with a good eraser for something like math or a science. For a language, it would depend. If it only uses the latin alphabet, use a laptop for notes. If there are frequent accents or unusual characters, or a whole different writing system, use pencil or pen and paper. Not in college until late this august, but I just finished 4 years of note-heavy HS. |
why is this? around here, some students take their laptops to class. If you think it'll help, why not? |
I did this in high school (pre-laptop) and I think you are right. I did it to distill my notes to the smallest degree so I wouldn't have 2" of crap to wade through. There was usually a week or so lag between taking/typing the notes and it was a mini review. |
That's interesting to know. I'm curious as to why, also. To keep people from providing notes to others? |
Very impressive Mrs. G, keep up the good work. Pretty soon you'll have all the young'uns pissed at you for spoiling the 'curve'.... 
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The classes I am taking don't allow them either, due to confidentiality (nursing) and people playing with the laptops instead of taking notes. |
I allow my lectures to be recorded, some professors do NOT allow it. I do not know why some are opposed to it. Personally, I never make any comments in class that I would be embarassed to have repeated...? Check your school's policy about using your personal PC on their network. In my college, they are not permitted to use our network with thier personal equipment. You can actually be removed from your classes if you violate this policy. In my personal opinion, a laptop for taking notes is probably NOT a good idea. The extra noise can be distracting for the people around you, and your professor as well. |
I don't allow recorders in class, because I'd be giving bi-weekly lectures to a room full of recorders instead of students. Also, I'm not always very kind to the "senior university administration" so I don't want any evidence against me! I'm not against people sharing notes. In fact, I openly encourage it. Furhter, I openly encourage students to collaborate on homework assignments, with the caveat that the individual contributors all get the same score, and are responsible for getting their own copies of the finished and graded work. I thought that offer would go over like gangbusters, but I've had a remarkably underwhelming response. Seems like most students really just want to d otheir own work. Go figger. |
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I consider myself a professional student, having been through school, college, medical school, and residency. Most of the topics I studied were highly technical and did not lend themselves to laptop. As has been pointed out by others, writing allows you to draw dynamic relationships between items. Also, no computer screen that I am aware of offers as good a contrast as pen on paper. Plus, a notepad and pen are lighter and less cumbersome than a laptop. Even if PowerPoint slides were offered, I would print them, punch 3 holes in them and take them to lecture to write all over. I would use whatever method you used successfully in high school. In my opinion, junior high and high school teach you how to study properly. If the method you used previously isn't broke, don't fix it. |
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I vote no laptop. Pencil and Paper work just fine. I agree with what was said earlier, concentration is more important. I do not even take notes in most of my classes and I manage a middle of the road 3.5GPA. AHHH, the advantages of being an audio learnerhe through the schools web classroom/ web ct/ online blackbaord/ what have you. If provided, print these out and take notes on them, most likely the prof will not deviate to far from the power point.even if the prof does deviate, you still have most of the work done for you |
ahhh good old blackboard.com I am in college right now and even though I take absolutely terrible notes and almost always do all of my studying from a textbook, I would not recommend using a laptop in class. Like others have said unless your using a tablet, its hard to arrange notes and especially diagrams in a way that will make sense later on when your reviewing. The other big problem I had is if you classroom is set up for wireless you will definitely be surfing arfcom or checking email or doing some other distracting activity instead of paying attention and taking notes like you should be. Just my .02 cents. |
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I just graduated from law school and I used my laptop to take notes in every class. It has been 3 years since I have written a note by hand. Everyone else in my lawschool used laptops. My sister who is in undergrad says that laptops are more and more common in her class. One thing to consider is that depending on the school and the facilities is that they may not have enough power outlets or convienant power outlets for laptop use. So depending on how long the class is and how long your battery lasts it might be wise to use a pen and paper. I honestly think that I type as fast as I write and my typing is much neater. |
Because when I'm teaching...I expect the students to be watching ME and the screen, easel, or chalkboard. |