Is it better to take notes by hand or type them out for learning?

I've been in a few study groups lately and I keep seeing people argue over this. Handwriting notes takes longer but I feel like I remember more when I do it. Typing is faster and you can organize things easier but it feels like I'm just copying words without really thinking. A friend of mine swore by typing and then got a C on the exam after studying for hours. I've been testing this out for the last 3 weeks with my biology class and my handwritten notes helped me recall specific details from page 47 of the textbook. But typing lets me search through my notes in seconds. So which method actually sticks better for you guys? Has anyone else noticed a real difference in test scores based on this? Or is it just personal preference that people get way too defensive about?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellis.faith1mo ago

People get way too defensive about" it for real.

susanb341mo ago

Did you try both methods like @cora518 said lol?

cora5181mo ago

You said your handwritten notes helped you recall something from page 47 specifically. Was that just a one time thing or does it happen a lot? I'm curious if you've actually tested yourself on both methods with the same material. Like taken the same chapter, done handwritten notes for half and typed for half, then quizzed yourself a week later to see which half you remembered. That's the real test. Because I think people pick a camp and then just stick with it without actually checking if it works.