Device Note taking at uni
What do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Reply 1
Engineering btw
Paper, or if you wish a tablet and pen, would probably be ideal.
The reasons are twofold: firstly, studies have shown that handwriting (granted these studies were pre-tablets) notes rather than typing improved recall, secondly for engineering you're going to be writing a lot of mathematical notation and this is hard to typeset at speed.
I would probably suggest paper though simply for the fact that it's harder to get distracted by e.g. errant notifications, getting bored and swapping to browse the internet or similar. Also less risk of batteries running out, problems with connecting or aligning electronic pen devices, and also it's cheaper and not likely to be stolen.
The reasons are twofold: firstly, studies have shown that handwriting (granted these studies were pre-tablets) notes rather than typing improved recall, secondly for engineering you're going to be writing a lot of mathematical notation and this is hard to typeset at speed.
I would probably suggest paper though simply for the fact that it's harder to get distracted by e.g. errant notifications, getting bored and swapping to browse the internet or similar. Also less risk of batteries running out, problems with connecting or aligning electronic pen devices, and also it's cheaper and not likely to be stolen.
Reply 3
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hey hey @Anonymous #1. I hope you are doing well. Honestly, I would say the best note-taking method depends on how you learn and not necessarily what everyone else is doing. I thought it would be best if I break it down using pros and cons and that should help you!
1.
Paper Notes
Pros:
•
Helps with memory and understanding
•
No distractions
•
Easy to draw diagrams or mind maps
•
Can feel satisfying
Cons
•
Can end up being heavy to carry around
•
Harder to edit/reorganise
•
If lost, it is gone forever
•
Not great for fast paced lectures (unless you can keep up)
1.
Laptop
Pros:
•
Fast typing = more lecture content captured
•
Easy to organise into folders
•
Notes are searchable
•
Great for essay based courses
Cons:
•
Harder to draw diagrams
•
Can be distracting
•
Only ideal for digital organisation
1.
iPad + Apple Pencil (or any tablet with pen)
Pros
•
Handwritten notes and digital storage
•
Not heavy - replaces multiple notebooks
•
Easy to erase, highlight and rearrange
•
Perfect for diagrams, mind maps and detailed notes
Cons
•
Can be pricey
•
Battery-dependent
•
You might get carried away decorating notes instead of studying (I am guilty of this 😭)
So to summarise, and my genuine recommendation:
iPad + pen = the perfect middle ground
Handwriting + organization + portability = unmatched.
If you want something simple:
Laptop for lectures + paper for revision is the most common combo.
If you’re a handwritten learner:
Stick to paper, it works, don’t let TikTok trick you into buying an iPad you don’t need.
I really hope this was helpful, and feel free to ask any more questions you may have 🙂
Ru
BCU student rep.
Reply 4
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hey!
It depends on the format of the class and how you best process information. I use a combination of pen and paper and a laptop, but I have to agree with the above comment in the sense that I do often get side-tracked when using the latter. If the lecturer takes a break for five minutes or discusses a topic that I don't find myself particularly interested in, I tend to check my emails or work on an upcoming assignment instead of fully paying attention. I might occasionally doodle or drift off here and there when taking notes with pen and paper but overall I do find my notes are much more consistent.
Whilst I do use my laptop in lectures, I always choose pen and paper for more involved classes such as seminars or workshops. Laptops aren't convenient if you have to move about the room or do any group activities, and it's easier to engage with a seminar when you don't have a screen in front of you.
Hope this helps,
Eve (Kingston Rep).
Reply 5
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hey there, students here use all sorts of methods, so it really comes down to what fits your learning style. Each option has its own pros and cons, so here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide.
A lot of students still enjoy using paper (myself included). It’s great if you like writing things out by hand, sketching diagrams, or staying away from digital distractions. It can make information feel easier to remember too. The downside is that it’s easy to lose notes, and carrying multiple notebooks around can be a bit heavy.
An iPad with a pen is a nice in between. You still get the handwritten feel, but everything stays in one place and is easy to search or tidy up. It’s good for lectures with lots of diagrams, and you can annotate lecture slides directly. The only cons are the cost and the need to keep it charged. Some students also find writing on a screen takes a little time to get used to.
A laptop is great for fast typing and keeping everything organised into folders. It’s helpful when lectures involve a lot of information quickly. It also makes assignments easier since everything is already digital. The downside is that laptops can be distracting if you drift into other tabs, and they’re not always ideal for visual notes or drawings.
Choose a method that you are comfortable with! What matters is finding the setup that makes your learning easier and more enjoyable.
LSBU Admissions Ambassador
Reply 6
Hi there,
The BCU rep did an amazing job at summarising the pros and cons of each!
For a course as maths and stats heavy as engineering, I think something that you can physically write on would be much easier than typing up notes on a laptop, as it would be harder to type equations and formulae, especially if the lecture is going at a fast pace.
Pen and paper is great for hand writing notes - if it isn't broke then don't fix it! However, it depends how you would organise them or if the amount of notes you'd be bringing to class would get too much. If you decide on pen and paper, I'd recommend getting a notebook for each module and keeping them organised in that way.
However, if you're going to be going back through your lecture notes and adding more bits of info, it can get quite messy on paper if there's no space for you to add extra bits - that's where a tablet would come in handy. I personally use a tablet as it's easier to carry all of my notes around than with loads of heavy notebooks and bits of paper. I also download digital versions of textbooks onto it too so I don't have to carry those with me. You can organise your notes into separate files as if you're using a laptop, but you can handwrite all your work and add/remove sections if needed afterwards. For me, it's the best of both worlds!
I also think that if you don't already have a tablet/iPad to use, then don't go and buy one for uni unless you know that you'll definitely be using it all the time. It's a huge expense, especially if you're not sure if it will work for you. If you already own a laptop, I'd stick with laptop notes and maybe bring a notepad with you for anything that is easier to handwrite?
Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)
The BCU rep did an amazing job at summarising the pros and cons of each!
For a course as maths and stats heavy as engineering, I think something that you can physically write on would be much easier than typing up notes on a laptop, as it would be harder to type equations and formulae, especially if the lecture is going at a fast pace.
Pen and paper is great for hand writing notes - if it isn't broke then don't fix it! However, it depends how you would organise them or if the amount of notes you'd be bringing to class would get too much. If you decide on pen and paper, I'd recommend getting a notebook for each module and keeping them organised in that way.
However, if you're going to be going back through your lecture notes and adding more bits of info, it can get quite messy on paper if there's no space for you to add extra bits - that's where a tablet would come in handy. I personally use a tablet as it's easier to carry all of my notes around than with loads of heavy notebooks and bits of paper. I also download digital versions of textbooks onto it too so I don't have to carry those with me. You can organise your notes into separate files as if you're using a laptop, but you can handwrite all your work and add/remove sections if needed afterwards. For me, it's the best of both worlds!
I also think that if you don't already have a tablet/iPad to use, then don't go and buy one for uni unless you know that you'll definitely be using it all the time. It's a huge expense, especially if you're not sure if it will work for you. If you already own a laptop, I'd stick with laptop notes and maybe bring a notepad with you for anything that is easier to handwrite?
Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)
Reply 7
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hi @Anonymous 👋
Hope you are well. For taking notes, i recommend a laptop in general but it depends on your preference as everyone works in different ways! Handwriting the notes on pen and paper can help some students to absorb the knowledge better actually and so does using an ipad and pen but typing on a laptop can be quicker and more efficient during classes. I personally use a laptop now as it is quicker to organise and multitask as well. I used to use a tablet and pen which i found useful for diagrams and more interactive note taking but found a laptop is more convenient and efficient for me to use instead especially when the lectures are long and lecturers talk quickly!
Essex Student Rep- Lavanya 💜
Reply 8
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hey,
I sometimes use pen and paper for note-taking in lectures, but recently, I have started to use my laptop. Honestly, it depends on what technique is easier for you and how that technique is effective in note-taking and for you to process the information from lectures/seminars.
Hope this helps!😊
Rachel
(Third Year)
Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 9
Original post
by AnonymousWhat do you recommend to use at uni for notes? Paper? iPad and pen?
Laptop?
Laptop?
Hi there,
I think this depends on a few things, but in general I would say laptop/iPad with a keyboard for lectures and then maybe a pen and paper for revision or writing things up that you need to remember well.
I find it hard to write quickly with a pen and paper so I prefer to use my laptop in lectures so I can write everything I need down as quickly as I can. It is also good as often you get the slides online so you can just annotate them or write in the notes section of each slide so that the notes are connected with the slide.
Lots of people I know have iPads which they like, but they have keyboards with them too s that you can either use that or type with just the iPad keyboard. Or, they have apple pens too so you can annotate slides as you go which is a good idea.
I do like having a pen and paper to hand though and I think it goes in better when you hand write it so maybe for writing up important things.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂
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