Anyone planning on taking notes on their laptops during lecture?

[blahwhatever]

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I was thinking it would be faster for me to do this.

For people who have already tried this in the past, do you recommend it?

 

[RySerr21]

I was thinking it would be faster for me to do this.

For people who have already tried this in the past, do you recommend it?

I'm not sure if you are looking for answeres for people from med school (you probably were) but I figured i'd put in my input since Ive used my laptop for notes in almost all of my classes (exceptions being math/chem/physics where a computer really isnt useful). I am a way faster typer than I am a writer and I am able to get a lot more useful information down. I imagine this will be helpful during med school.

Also, when I visted Western last summer I was able to attend 3 hours of lecture....it seemed like almost everybody had a laptop. The professor had given them all the powerpoint and they were all taking notes directly on the powerpoint, which seems like a very useful and efficent way to take notes. They were adding extra info from lecture on material the professor had already deemd important enough to put on a powerpoint.

I plan to use my laptop to take notes as much as possible. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a respectable typer. Obviously, if you are poking at the keyboard with one finger, it might be easier to hand write during lecture.

 

[Dissected]

I think some schools have those smart boards that automatically upload the notes as the professor wrote them to your laptop...that sounds rad 😀

 

[tianac2]

I think some schools have those smart boards that automatically upload the notes as the professor wrote them to your laptop...that sounds rad 😀

We had smart boards in a lot of my UG classes, and they're cool, but not that cool. The professor can write directly on the powerpoint and then has the option to save it as part of the file and can then make it available on a class website, but it doesn't just automatically show up on your laptop. Its still awesome though!

As for whether to take notes on a laptop, I agree with ryserr, it depends on your typing abilities. If you can type quickly and understand what's going on while typing simultaneously, then absolutely do it! My notes were so much better and more comprehensive once I started typing them as opposed to writing. However, I would recommend that if you have access to wireless, turn it off during class unless you have something relevant to class that you need to find online. Otherwise, it gets majorly distracting. You'll be typing away and all of sudden get a new message alert, or you'll have that ebay auction in the back of your mind, or you'll be determined that you can find better airfare for your sister's visit next month, or you'll want to check that hot thread on SDN....You get my point.

 

[Dissected]

Ah, I knew it sounded too good to be true. 🙄

 

[engineeredout]

Personally I couldn't see using a computer to take notes for the majority of my classes. Maybe its just because of the kinds of classes I take (engineering and math) but it would take me 10X the amount of time to write down formulas and derivations and problem solutions on my computer than it would by hand.

Even in other types of classes, I find that I'll actually pay more attention when I have to write it down verses typing. Typing the notes is very mechanical and you won't really be absorbing the info. At least thats my opinion...

 

[Dissected]

Even in other types of classes, I find that I'll actually pay more attention when I have to write it down verses typing. Typing the notes is very mechanical and you won't really be absorbing the info. At least thats my opinion...

different strokes for different folks 😀

 

[Eudjinn]

I will be at NYCOM and I plan to type my notes using One Note. I worked in medical transcription for 6 years so I type stupid fast. For me, it seems more organized and neater than handwriting. I suppose there may be situations where I can't type notes, but I'll have to wait and see I guess.

If you plan to type notes, I highly highly recommend looking into Microsoft One Note.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

different strokes for different folks 😀

Sick pun!

 

[RySerr21]

different strokes for different folks 😀

thats what she said?

 

[scpod]

Talk to the upper classmen at your school to find out what they do now. All of our lectures were on powerpoint and usually showed up before the lecture (theey were supposed to anyway). Most people use the "notes" feature of powerpoint so that your notes go along with the slides. People with tablets would often just write on the slides themselves.

But, it may not be the best way for you. Some schools have note-taking services and you may share turns with that, or just subscribe to it. Some places have lectures streamed so that you can just stay home and listen or watch at double speed. Honestly, there are usually about 150 slides in a lecture that lasts for 50 minutes and it's all just a blur. You learn most of it on your own time anyway. You'll have to determine the best method for you once you get going.

A lot of people will tell you that lectures are just a big waste of time. Just be flexible and find your own little niche.

 

[blahwhatever]

I will be at NYCOM and I plan to type my notes using One Note. I worked in medical transcription for 6 years so I type stupid fast. For me, it seems more organized and neater than handwriting. I suppose there may be situations where I can't type notes, but I'll have to wait and see I guess.

If you plan to type notes, I highly highly recommend looking into Microsoft One Note.

Yep! Totally agree. I was considering using that program myself. I really like its intuitive feel.

 

[Gpan]

I will be at NYCOM and I plan to type my notes using One Note. I worked in medical transcription for 6 years so I type stupid fast. For me, it seems more organized and neater than handwriting. I suppose there may be situations where I can't type notes, but I'll have to wait and see I guess.

If you plan to type notes, I highly highly recommend looking into Microsoft One Note.

Why One Note? What's the difference between One Note and MS Word or just writing directly on teh slide??

 

[nascardoc]

I use a Tablet PC for taking notes and its wonderful. I can hand-write or type depending on how I am feeling that day. I would highly recommend a tablet to anyone...I love mine.

As for OneNote, its basically an electronic notebook with a ton of features. Much better for school stuff than Word. To get the best feel for OneNote, check out Microsoft's website and look for it there. I could spend an hour just listing and explaining what it can do...its an amazing piece of software.

 

[mastamark]

I use a Tablet PC for taking notes and its wonderful. I can hand-write or type depending on how I am feeling that day. I would highly recommend a tablet to anyone...I love mine.

As for OneNote, its basically an electronic notebook with a ton of features. Much better for school stuff than Word. To get the best feel for OneNote, check out Microsoft's website and look for it there. I could spend an hour just listing and explaining what it can do...its an amazing piece of software.

Ditto. I have a tablet with onenote. I start in a few weeks but I have been using that program to organize things, really awesome. Many schools(DCOM, KCOM et al.) will have the notes in powerpoint and/or pdf format online for you to download. You just save it to onenote and you can write right on the notes. Then you can make up notebooks for each subject to keep them organized. Some of the other cool features are pasting pics from your book CD roms or the internet to help you study. You can also sync your lecture(if you record or if the school records) to your notes as you write on them. When you go home or to the library it's like sitting in lecture again, except this time you can pause it, speed it up, slow it down, chunk it with other notes and other things. I am tottally sold on the tablet and onenote combo. Thanks for putting that bug in my ear back when Nascardoc 🙂

How are things anyway? Long time no whatever?

 

[CDO2012]

I'm totally typing my notes... my hand writing is pure garbage

 

[Senor Hound]

It never even occurred to me to take my laptop to class... That's an awesome idea. I hope my clicking doesn't bother the persons next to me, though.

I wanted to learn shorthand from my business teacher in high school, but she didn't have time to teach me. I thought even though its rather archaic nowadays, it would do a lot of good for someone who has to write a lot.

Personally, I find taking notes to be distracting. I just write down what I hear and it never goes into the internal processor. But if I sit there like a dork and listen, I absorb a lot more. I'm sure I won't be able to do that in medical school, but I might if they have note services. 🙂

I wonder if any schools have .mpg files of their lectures. That would be sweet... So you could get every last syllable the professor said in case you missed out the first time.

 

[Dissected]

I hope my clicking doesn't bother the persons next to me, though.

Hahaha Thats their problem man.. using your comp is normal 😀

 

[acrunchyfrog]

I wonder if any schools have .mpg files of their lectures. That would be sweet... So you could get every last syllable the professor said in case you missed out the first time.

I'll be getting a tablet soon. Typing would work fine for most things but my professors and note taking style are rather non-linear in nature, so I end up drawing diagrams and such pretty often. With a tablet, I can have the best of both worlds and use whichever I please.

One idea from youtube I might try: get a small webcam and record the lecture while taking notes. Not only will you get sound, but also video. IIRC Onenote has a feature where, as the video plays back, your notes automatically advance in sync.