Since COVID-19, Round Rock ISD has issued every student their own personal chromebook for school use purposes. Having access to school computers, students have taken a preference to typing their notes rather than writing them by hand. This often happens because many students can type faster than they write and writing too many notes gives hand cramps. Although those hand cramps seem like they aren’t worth it, writing notes is worth significantly more than typing them. Writing notes helps students retain memory of what they’re writing down, and since chromebooks can strain the eyes they can focus more on the lesson.
Back in 2014, researchers Pam Mueller and Daniel Oppenheimer did three experiments where half of the students took notes by writing and the rest typed notes in the same classroom. The study concluded that the students who typed their notes wrote more information than the ones who wrote them, but they remembered less of the concept. The students who wrote their notes understood more of the concept, but didn’t write as many notes down. Although students won’t have as many notes to refer back to, it’s beneficial because they still understand the concept. Understanding the concept rather than having more notes helps better recall that information. If a student remembers what a term means rather than having the notes on it, they can refer back to it. Writing notes and dealing with the hand cramps will increase tests or quiz scores, or even intelligence.
Looking at an IFP (Interactive Flat Panel) and a chromebook back to back causes negative effects to students’ eyes. Constantly looking at a screen can cause digital eye symptoms which include headaches, dry eyes, and eye fatigue. Taking notes on a chromebook gives no breaks from screen time. A student spending their time constantly on their chromebook for two or more hours worsens those symptoms. Whilst being at school, students look at an IPF and get little to no breaks from not staring at a screen. Eye strain is a detriment to learning because it’s not great to feel it constantly while being at school and it can lead to migraines. Writing the notes gives a break from staring at a screen constantly while they’re switching from the IPF to the paper.
Writing notes helps students recall information better and focus more intently on the lesson rather than being on a chromebook. Students often won’t listen to lectures when on a chromebook because they have the opportunity to do other tasks. Doing this, students won’t be able to recall that information. Having only a paper and pencil in front of them gives them restrictions on what to do without having difficulties with them on other tabs. They won’t have such a problem with being distracted and will be able to remember what was taught.
Although there’s benefits to typing down notes in certain situations, schooling should move towards encouraging students to write their notes rather than typing them. If it’s a lesson where it doesn’t have a great importance, then it’s understandable to give students the opportunity to type the notes. Writing notes will help students significantly, especially in school and in the future to college.
