up: [[Studying MOC]] Tags: #🌲 # Handwriting notes is associated with better retention and understanding Many studies have shown that handwriting notes leads to better retention and understanding of the concepts the notes were taken on afterward. It's theorized this is because people who handwrite notes aren't able to copy down what the professor says verbatim because their notetaking is slower. People who can type notes, however, are able to type as fast as the professor speaks and therefore can easily fall for the trap of writing down everything they say, using their precious cognitive energy not distilling what the professor says and connecting it to past knowledge but rather to passively learn in a trancelike copying state. I talk more about how to write effective lecture notes in [[How to write lecture notes]]. ### Drawbacks to these studies While I do agree that handwriting notes seems to be better for retention, I don't think it's the analog nature that makes for better retention but rather the slower notetaking it promotes. I believe retention and understanding can be fostered just as well and with the advantage of being in a digital system if computer notetakers simply slow down and understand how to take effective notes. Reference: Related: [[What should you take notes on]] [[How should you link your notes]] Created: [[20-09-2022]]