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Several studies have shown that laptop note-takers perform worse on conceptual exam questions compared to longhand note-takers (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014). Open-ended comments also revealed that students believe that “laptops do help with taking notes a lot.” However, there are also students who think that while typing on a laptop allows for quicker note-taking, it can also be a source of distraction when someone uses their device for unrelated activities (Zhu et.al., 2011).
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In a 2011 study of University of Michigan students, 53% of the respondents stated that their laptops helped them learn more, with 25% strongly agreeing that their attentiveness increased. Meanwhile, a study of community college students conducted by ECAR in 2019 revealed that 91% of the respondents have access to a laptop, and 97% of them personally own the device (Gierdowski, 2019). households have members who own a computing device, including desktops, laptops, and smartphones (NCES, 2017). Note-Taking Best Practices for StudentsĪccording to the latest data collated by the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2017, 90.8% of U.S.
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Note-Taking in the Modern Classroom Table of Contents This article takes a closer look at the pros and cons of both longhand and electronic note-taking to hopefully help students realize the benefits they can potentially reap should they decide to choose writing over typing. This is why experts and educators leave us with a learning secret: don’t take notes on a laptop. However, findings suggest that although devices such as laptops may improve student’s note-taking ability, it may also hinder learning efficacy (Stacy & Cain, 2015). Research is mixed on which is the best method of note-taking. The incorporation and utilization of electronic devices have been altering classroom dynamics in several ways, including how students take notes. It is also one of the best practices for exam preparation. Whether online or in-classroom, note-taking is a critical component of learning. As research suggests that online learning promises increased information retention, the changes that the pandemic caused could be here to stay (Li & Lalani, 2020). In 2020, a worldwide shift away from the classroom happened, rendering the use of electronic devices more important for facilitating online education. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, the modern learning environment has already largely incorporated connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops (EdTech, 2018).
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