The Median Sib

Laptops versus pen & paper

Laptops in class I was at Teachers College of Columbia University in NYC this past week for their February Institute for teachers. When I was packing for the trip, I had my laptop in its carrying bag and ready to go when I decided that I didn’t want to deal with a laptop in the airport or have to carry it with me everywhere - especially since the room where we would be staying didn’t have internet access. So I left my laptop at home. I would take notes the old fashioned way - with pen and paper.

I found it fascinating, though, to see the number of laptops in the sessions I attended. “School” has sure changed since the last time I took a university class four years ago. Laptops were everywhere, and I watched as other students took notes, created charts and otherwise used their laptops efficiently and effectively to organize and save the information from each class session. More than once I wished that I had brought my own laptop so I could make my notes more complete.

One laptop user sat beside me during one session and glanced over at my notebook in which I was writing my notes by hand. “Does that really work for you?” she asked me skeptically.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 24th, 2008 at 9:38 am and is filed under Carnival of Education, Teaching/Education, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Debi Lewis Says:
February 24th, 2008 (4 weeks ago) at 12:12 pm

I work on my computer to make a living. But I am VERY aware that what I read in hard copy, I retain very well. And what I read on my computer, I do not retain nearly as well. What I write by hand into my personal journal, I remember. What I type into my computer, I remember less.

Reading something off a computer screen uses a different part of your brain than reading from a book.

I’d like to see research into this, but if it is being done, I haven’t seen it.
Debi

Fausta Says:
February 24th, 2008 (4 weeks ago) at 12:56 pm

When I audit classes at Princeton U (not for credit) I do take notes in my laptop.
However, when I want to retain something important I have to hand-write it down.

Darren Says:
March 5th, 2008 (2 weeks ago) at 3:44 pm

I’m still capable of taking notes in shorthand.

TMS: SHORTHAND!!! I never learned shorthand, but I usually do okay with pen and paper. I noticed that the people with the laptops were not just writing the most important information - they were putting down almost everything that was said.

The Education Wonks - Thoughts And Ideas Freely Exchanged Says:
March 8th, 2008 (2 weeks ago) at 2:59 am

the increasing numbers of school age children who are being taught online and the growing debate over its efficacy. Carol of The Median Sib went to a workshop at Columbia University with pad and pencil in hand and shocked some of the other attendeeswho didn’t seem to knowwhat those two things were for. Here’s a roundup of computer software that is designed to help students with pronouncing English. Over in Israel, teacher Muse has had a little first-hand experience

Pat Says:
March 13th, 2008 (5 days ago) at 5:09 am

I like using the computer to take notes because I can insert things that are brought up later which keeps things more organized. I can also highlight things that later when I reread them to show important things to remember. My notes are neater on the computer and if I need to print them out for a hard copy I can. If I lose the hard copy, I can always print them out.

Kayla Says:
May 13th, 2008 at 10:40 am

I am in debate right now for the usage of computers in schools even though i am a 13 year old girl i find laptops in school to be a nuisance. Memory cards, and such. It’s just to much struggle.