And why? What do you think is more effective for you? Maybe a combination?

I've always drifted more toward hand-writing, as I've found it's really easy for me to just not take anything in when I'm typing (it's harder to mindlessly write for me than to mindlessly type). I must say, though, I tried typing notes relatively recently (last year), and it was certainly a lot quicker - and probably easier to organise overall.

What do you think? 🗒️

Do you hand-write or type your notes?

    Joseph41 Pretty heavy results so far toward the side of hand-writing. Does anybody here exclusively type?

    I pretty much only handwrite! I have tried writing notes in the past for extremely content heavy subjects but I find it very hard to connect with the information that I'm learning. I do do a mix of handwriting on my iPad and handwriting on paper depending on the subject.

    God Is this mostly to consolidate the content (by typing them up), or is it more for ease of access/filing?

    • God replied to this.

      I handwrite my notes for chem, bio, and further. For chem and bio, I either make summary notes on plain paper and stick them up on my walls or I create flashcards to consolidate definition heavy topics/textbook chapters. After the topic, I place the flashcard sets in a plastic tub and put my notes in a binder. I used to write my notes in a notebook, but I find this method unhelpful when it comes to active recall, which is why I use summary sheets and flashcards instead. For further, I make my bound reference notes by hand since I find, likewise with chem and bio, that the content just sits better in my brain and I can remember/understand it more effectively. However, for english, I type up notes, as I find this more effective when adding new information throughout the unit/topic. My english notes also tend to be more dense in general, so typing is way more time efficient for me.

      Joseph41
      Hi Joseph! It's a bit of both really....

      For chem, typing notes is useful for making tables etc... (like the catalysts for a reaction pathway);
      And for physics/spec - where you get to take notes into exams/SACs, it can help having nicely formatted copies...

      But I find it's better to handwrite first... because I remember the information better. (My strat is to read each textbook chapter twice. On the first read, highlight important bits and try and get my head around it. And on the second read, start handwriting notes; Then closer to the SAC type them up!)

      🙂
      -G

      I handwrite notes for methods, ancient history and English. Methods because typing math is difficult, and English and history I don't really take notes because its not a lot. Chem and Phys on the other hand, has a bit of stuff to get down, so I type it out. I have an A5 book with me however, if there are any equations and stuff to get down.

      -jinx_58

      Currently mostly handwrite, I usually don't really use notes to study but if I'm in the learning stage I'll write down some things if I'm reading something or watching a video.

      A few years ago I would also do a bit more typing as I would annotate lecture notes during a lecture or type things the lecturer was saying below or on a side of the lecture notes

      I mostly handwrite my notes, I have an exercise book or aquadrops binder for pre much most of my subjects. #ripmyback I sometimes type my notes, but my subjects are the ones that are content heavy. So typing them doesn't help.
      I hope I can get a touchscreen laptop for uni tho. So that way I don't have to carry so much at a time and its digitally stored.

      I type for everything but Gen Math. I find it quicker than handwriting (especially in content-heavy subjects like Bio and Psychology), and easier to do things like tables and images, however for maths handwriting is much easier for working out questions

      6 days later

      I don't do maths or anything with formulae, so typing is a no-brainer for me. There's no way I have time or hand-muscles to get through all my content with handwriting, and I can't search/edit/read handwriting easily.
      I occasionally handwrite small pieces or the most important, key pieces of information to help with retention (only when cramming for exams).

      4 days later

      I think it very much depends on the subject - this might change once I enter year 11 but I usually handwrite my notes. There's only one subject really that I would never type for - maths.

        sodacat_ You may want to add chem onto that list of handwritten notes only subjects, equations with states, calculations and diagrams are also massive pains to enter digitally

        9 days later

        I'm more of an annotator. I don't take too many notes since the textbook typically has more than enough already however any new information that I get including examples or any other ways to remember or better understand the concept would be the sort of stuff I would write down or annotate in my textbook. Of course, if you prefer to take notes, go ahead however some subjects won't always require notes (in my opinion).

        So results so far after about 50 voters:

        • Always hand-write: 22%
        • Mostly hand-write, sometimes type: 39%
        • Even split: 8%
        • Mostly type, sometimes hand-write: 25%
        • Always type: 6%

        Very interesting so far! Probably more of a skew to hand-writing than I would have expected, I think.

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