Writing or Typing Notes?

[Emie]

Do you think it is best to write or type notes? I prefer writing because of the reinforcement with the content you get as writing, however it takes so much more time that typing! I am doing 4 "content heavy" subjects for which I will need to write a large amount of notes. What do you think is the best thing to do? 

Writing Notes
Pros: Better for learning, doesn't really require any special resources
Cons: Very time consuming (when in Year 12 I am time poor), have to rewrite at exam time, cannot edit notes as things change, no back up copy

Typing Notes
Pros: Time effective, already completed at exam time
Cons: Not best for learning, could become lazy and print off textbook/teachers notes, don't always have access to a computer at school, potential computer distractions

[paulsterio]

Pretty much the ONLY benefit of writing is the fact that you can draw. Any "disadvantages" of typing can be negated.

E.g. - could become lazy and print off teacher's notes - well don't. Could become a potential distraction - then don't connect to the internet!

[availn]

Which subjects are you doing? I prefer to write my notes, for the reasons you stated, but also just because it's a pain to type some equations in maths/science subjects with powers, fractions, roots, etc. I know there are ways to do it neatly, but I just can't be bothered using them.

[Lolly]

Handwrite. I think reinforcement is infinitely more beneficial than speed.  It's more beneficial to do things properly; if it's better retained in your memory, then revision is easier.

[WhoTookMyUsername]

During VCE i only handwrote notes (although i only really wrote notes for bio in year 11 when i had lots of time).
I feel handwriting to be a more 'active' and 'engaging' process than typing, and it's also slower, gives you more time to digest what you're writing.
In uni for convenience i'll probably just type though

[EvangelionZeta]

Pretty much the ONLY benefit of writing is the fact that you can draw. Any "disadvantages" of typing can be negated.

E.g. - could become lazy and print off teacher's notes - well don't. Could become a potential distraction - then don't connect to the internet!

Not entirely true - handwriting does tend to improve retention, absorbing of information, etc.

For that reason I'd recommend handwriting for most subjects and then typing them up once again if possible (to make it neater) - your note-making process isn't just about using the notes afterwards, it's about using that time to learn content (and reflect upon it) too.

Also, I would make an exception for essay-based subjects - ABSOLUTELY type up essays and make typed notes for such subjects, since copypasting stuff to rearrange information is extremely useful in such subjects.

[paulsterio]

Which subjects are you doing? I prefer to write my notes, for the reasons you stated, but also just because it's a pain to type some equations in maths/science subjects with powers, fractions, roots, etc. I know there are ways to do it neatly, but I just can't be bothered using them.

You need to get onto LyX - it's my go-to document processor these days!

Not entirely true - handwriting does tend to improve retention, absorbing of information, etc.

For that reason I'd recommend handwriting for most subjects and then typing them up once again if possible (to make it neater) - your note-making process isn't just about using the notes afterwards, it's about using that time to learn content (and reflect upon it) too.

Also, I would make an exception for essay-based subjects - ABSOLUTELY type up essays and make typed notes for such subjects, since copypasting stuff to rearrange information is extremely useful in such subjects.

Maybe it's just me, but I find that I retain more when I type, when I write, I just get frustrated thinking about how writing is a redundant process which one day will be replaced with typing

In all seriousness though, it's just cause my hand hurts after a while.

[pi]

You need to get onto LyX - it's my go-to document processor these days!

I hate LyX -_-

Word or OneNote is fine. Maths notes by hand.

[paulsterio]

I hate LyX -_-

Word or OneNote is fine. Maths notes by hand.

Why?

Spoiler

I think it's much more powerful than Word, like I like it's philosophy, with Word et al. what you're doing is "Writing" - that's not what typing is about. Typing is about worrying about the content only and letting the computer work out the formatting.

I just think that computers these days are still hooked up with antiquated ways of working which are throwbacks to the last century. Like "files" and "folders" - they shouldn't exist, the only reason they do is because people were once used to storing their hard copy "files" in "folders". The same goes for typing. The A4 sheet of paper is a "print" creation. It's created for the purposes of print. For typing, LyX is better because you can output it to any sort of format you want, even HTML.

That's all

[Bad Student]

One problem I found with using LaTeX was that no one else had a LaTeX editor installed on their computer, so with a non-cloud based editor, I had no choice but to use my own computer. Now I use sharelatex.com to type up my notes.

[paulsterio]

One problem I found with using LaTeX was that no one else had a LaTeX editor installed on their computer, so with a non-cloud based editor, I had no choice but to use my own computer. Now I use sharelatex.com to type up my notes.

Good man!

Btw, in case you didn't know, you can edit *.tex documents with just any text editor like "Notepad" if you know LaTeX code

So it's actually pretty convenient!

[pi]

Why?

Spoiler

I think it's much more powerful than Word, like I like it's philosophy, with Word et al. what you're doing is "Writing" - that's not what typing is about. Typing is about worrying about the content only and letting the computer work out the formatting.

I just think that computers these days are still hooked up with antiquated ways of working which are throwbacks to the last century. Like "files" and "folders" - they shouldn't exist, the only reason they do is because people were once used to storing their hard copy "files" in "folders". The same goes for typing. The A4 sheet of paper is a "print" creation. It's created for the purposes of print. For typing, LyX is better because you can output it to any sort of format you want, even HTML.

That's all

I find it much easier to format my notes (page margins, custom margins, tables, fonts, etc.) with Word. I like to make aesthetically pleasing notes

[Bad Student]

Good man!

Btw, in case you didn't know, you can edit *.tex documents with just any text editor like "Notepad" if you know LaTeX code

So it's actually pretty convenient!

I guess its a good option to use in emergencies. I prefer being able to see the output as I type though.

[Bad Student]

I find it much easier to format my notes (page margins, custom margins, tables, fonts, etc.) with Word. I like to make aesthetically pleasing notes

Nothing surpasses LaTeX if you want to make aesthetically pleasing notes.

[b^3]

Why?

Spoiler

I think it's much more powerful than Word, like I like it's philosophy, with Word et al. what you're doing is "Writing" - that's not what typing is about. Typing is about worrying about the content only and letting the computer work out the formatting.

I just think that computers these days are still hooked up with antiquated ways of working which are throwbacks to the last century. Like "files" and "folders" - they shouldn't exist, the only reason they do is because people were once used to storing their hard copy "files" in "folders". The same goes for typing. The A4 sheet of paper is a "print" creation. It's created for the purposes of print. For typing, LyX is better because you can output it to any sort of format you want, even HTML.

That's all

It's alright after you get superquick at typing math up, but for just words and stuff, I wouldn't bother using it. You can output word docs and stuff to nearly anything too. Only problem with word is that the equation editor looks shitty and drives me nuts. For lectures though, for me anyways, its still better to do it by hand, for maths and eng, since diagrams and such are easier and quicker by hand, and well you have to go and write out all the new/different symbols properly for the exam.

Good man!

Btw, in case you didn't know, you can edit *.tex documents with just any text editor like "Notepad" if you know LaTeX code

So it's actually pretty convenient!

Its sooo annoying to read like that, I remember trying to sift through a 25 page math doc I had typed up, looking for a certain part of a question, and the ctrl f wasn't much help because a lot of it was similar to the other parts.