Did You Use a Laptop or Notebook to Take Notes?

[Neo_Version 7]

When you were in class, did you ever use a laptop to take down notes or did you do it by hand? Or did you not jot anything at all?

I've always been one to write down my notes in my notebook. I was more comfortable that way.

 

[Connemara]

Usually on paper, though occasionally I'd bring my laptop.

 

[Piobaire]

Both.

 

[imageWIS]

Laptop. I used to organize everything on the spot so I didn't have to go back and retype everything I wrote down by hand. My notes were so good and organized, my friends always used them to study for exams. Also, with MS Word's mathematical / equation notation, you can copy everything in a math course in its correct format.

 

[HelloIDistance]

Mostly on paper because when I have my laptop open I am not paying attention. Some professors don't allow you to be on a laptop in class. Which i think is quite ridiculous seeing as you are paying lots of money to take the class.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

I used to think using a laptop would be more efficient, but I've had a lot profs whose notes were quite erratic (I.E. making bubbles with various words branching out) which made it tricky for me. It was always a joy to have a prof make their Powerpoint presentations available online.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

Originally Posted by HelloIDistance

Some professors don't allow you to be on a laptop in class.

I've ran into a few of these. Heck, my university in Athens didn't allow laptops at all.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Neo_Version 7

I used to think using a laptop would be more efficient, but I've had a lot profs whose notes were quite erratic (I.E. making bubbles with various words branching out) which made it tricky for me. It was always a joy to have a prof make their Powerpoint presentations available online.

Normally the classes in which the prof. added bubbles would be classes in which they were adding comments to existing papers which were available online. What I would do is convert the files to PDFs and then easily add bubbles or other notations onto the PDFs.

Originally Posted by Neo_Version 7

I've ran into a few of these. Heck, my university in Athens didn't allow laptops at all.

****, if they wanted traditional, you should have sent a scribe to class to write everything for you a-la Ancient Greece.

 

[Neo_Version 7]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

****, if they wanted traditional, you should have sent a scribe to class to write everything for you a-la Ancient Greece.

They were quite strict with their absence policy. Plus, it would be hella noticeable since I was the only Asian in my classes.

 

[NAMOR]

Notebook. My typing speed back in college was not nearly as fast as it is now.

 

[oman]

notebook, but ive been thinking of switching... OneNote looks fantastic

 

[Flambeur]

I use OneNote at work, and it's fantastic once you have a good system going.. I know many law students swear by OneNote too

 

[Neo_Version 7]

^ Just skimmed over the OneNote wiki and it looks intriguing. Might have changed my mind about notetaking back in undergrad.

 

[Kyoung05]

Back in college, I took all notes using pen/paper, as did about 95% of the other students. At that time, laptop usage in the classroom was just beginning to happen, and it definitely wasn't thought of as necessary. A few years later, when I started law school, I had been out of school for a few years, and didn't realize how prevalent laptops had become in the classroom. First week of class, I was shocked that about 99% of the students were taking notes on a laptop. Suffice it to say, I started bringing in my computer. In retrospect, I think it would have been ridiculous trying to get through law school without a laptop. Given the ability to type notes directly into "outline" format, the ability to look at old outlines during lectures to copy/paste similar notes so I didn't have to re-type everything, or simply the ability to zone out and browse the web if the lecture was going of topic was invaluable.

 

[HgaleK]

I put notebook. I actually use loose leaf in a binder. I retain the information better, am able to take notes that mimic the format that the professor uses, and never have to worry about being unequipped to take notes.