Skip to content
Justin's Digital Garden

Written Note Taking

Source: My notes with added commentary on My analog note-taking system to maximize memory retention (+ debugging) bashbunni - YouTube

Use of Written Notes

Section titled “Use of Written Notes”

Even when a digital medium is available, written notes can help with thinking about real world application of what you are learning. Notes can summarize the use case for testing and review later.

Paper gives advantages with a digital medium like a computer or when one is not present:

  • Free form input and drawing of visuals
  • Can complement using a device with the paper as an additional place to think, do visuals. Example: doing computer programming and debug and writing the call stack on paper, similar to rubber duck debugging.
  • Paper notes are easy to review, scan, and randomly access on the go

Workflow with Physical Written Notes and Digital Mediums

Section titled “Workflow with Physical Written Notes and Digital Mediums”

A workflow might be to use written notes when learning, review, and record in a digital format important points like items for an exam and things to remember in future.

Use the digital format to write que cards, for example use with a spaced repetition system like Anki. Those cards and course material are useful as reference.

Writing Notes --▶ Learning / Review / Scan, reflects point
       │
       │
       │  Transfer key points
       │  to remember
       ▼
Digital Notes / Cards ◀-----------------▶ Spaced Repetition System
                        edit and refine
                        during recall

Supporting Research

Section titled “Supporting Research”

Studies support writing notes helps with information recall and comprehension:

Take notes by hand for better long-term comprehension - ScienceDaily

Writing note takes compared to laptop note takers tended to do better with conceptual understanding and recall. Possible reasons are time constraints in writing, ability to take visuals, and needing to capture concepts rather than transcription of learning.

Study shows stronger brain activity after writing on paper than on tablet or smartphone - ScienceDaily

Writing on physical paper leads to more brain activity helping with recall. “Unique, complex, spatial, and tactile information” of writing likely leads to improved memory. Non-standardization of notebooks and their spatial complexity help with brain activity. Conclusion is use paper notebooks for memorization and learning.

See Also

Section titled “See Also”