We've gathered some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of the different types of note-taking for you. Read the list, and think about your current note-taking style. Would one of these suit you better? Or is there something you can change about your own notes? Maybe you can turn one of the disadvantages into an advantage.
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Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Longhand |
- Cheap
- Easy to sketch diagrams, charts, and make mind maps
- Can arrange your notes however you want
- Many different note-taking methods
- Easily customizable: color of paper, lined/unlined, width of lines, etc.
- Easy to highlight or emphasize new, interesting, controversial or confusing concepts
- Ability to use common shorthand or non-standard characters
- Writing forces immediate processing
- Physically engages you in the subject material
|
- Notes can be illegible; may need to be re-typed
- Often need to re-write in a more logical order
- Can lose notes
- Can't usually write fast enough to keep up with instructor
|
| Recording |
- Portable, easy to carry with you at all times
- Can replay lecture whenever you want
- Can transfer to other medium (CD, MP3 player) for convenience
- Useful for students with disabilities
- Can concentrate on understanding ideas/concepts rather than noting specific facts
- Voice recognition software can automatically transcribe it for you
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- Easy to forget to re-listen or transcribe for your own notes
- Written notes are easier to study
- Sound quality may be poor
- Must receive prior permission from instructor to record lecture
- You don't listen as attentively because you know it's all being recorded for you
- Battery may fail unexpectedly, leaving you stranded
- Can't incorporate visual displays/effects
- Voice recognition software can be expensive
- Voice recognition software is not always reliable and requires careful editing
|
| Typing (PDA/laptop) |
- Notes always available and legible
- Can create outline before class using pre-published notes/slides and bulk them out with your own notes
- Flexible - can change/reorder notes as you go
- Physically engages you in the subject material
- Have access to notes from all classes
- Have access to spell-checkers
- Useful for students with disabilities
- Easy to cross-reference, index or link notes from other classes and to find specific notes again
- WiFi (wireless internet) gives greater learning opportunities in the classroom - use of online encyclopedias or search engines to find solutions
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- Need to be able to type accurately at a decent speed
- Can get distracted by rearranging/formatting notes
- Harder to copy diagrams/charts
- Initial setup cost
- Weight of laptop - must carry it all the time
- Laptop may fail/battery may die unexpectedly leaving you stranded
- Noise/screen may distract you or other students
- WiFi may cause distractions (surfing the net, IM, email, etc.)
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As you can see, there are many points to consider.
If you can type quickly, and have the self-discipline to concentrate on the class rather than messaging friends, taking a laptop or PDA may be the way to go. If you learn better by listening and repetition, recording each class may work better. Other people find that writing things down is the only way they learn.
There's no "right" or "wrong" way - only what's right for you.