By Jasmine Wong

Photo by Thought Catalogue, CC BY 1.0 on Wikimedia Commons

Students today have many choices when it comes to note taking – some stick with the traditional pencil and paper, while others prefer digital devices. These two methods of note-taking can make a big difference in the individual’s learning, and each method has its pros and cons.

Typing notes through a computer is a fast way to put information into online documents for later. However, there are some disadvantages to this quick note-taking method.

Here are some pros and cons of typing notes:

Pros:

  • Organization is easy – With the use of different word processing programs that also come with templates, organising your notes is quick and efficient. In addition, these documents can be organised in online files.
  • Easy to share – Instead of having to copy others’ notes, digital notes can be easily shared with others with just a click of a button.
  • Typing is fast – Typing notes ismuch faster than writing notes traditionally, which can be useful in a fast-paced learning environment.
  • Importing slides and access to images – Typing notes also allows you to import slides, use diagrams, and add the web’s images to your document to aid in visual learning.
  • Stored on different devices – Typing notes provide the opportunity for it to be backed up and accessed on different devices that share the same account. 

Cons:

  • Some editing limitations – Typing notes, unfortunately, sometimes limits where your text goes as well. For example, text is limited to certain lines and headers and often cannot be freely moved around.
  • Cost – Computers are much more expensive than a simple paper and pencil, even though it could be a good investment. Although, it is likely you already have a computer to access the internet.
  • Low retention – Studies have shown that typing tends to yield less retention when learning. The fast typing leads students to pay less attention to what they learn and just mechanically type everything quickly.
  • Limited to battery life – A computer’s battery life is limited, and without a charging port for your computer, typing notes would not be possible.
  • Distractions – With games and videos also available on the computer, typing notes on it may lead to you getting distracted with other things available to you.

The traditional method of notetaking using paper and pencil also has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some examples:

Pros:

  • Portable – Paper and a pencil is easily portable and does not require a charging cable.
  • Low cost – The cost for paper and pencil is cheap, which is good for people who want to be more cost-effective.
  • High retention – Studies have shown that physically writing down notes provides higher retention than typing because it takes more time and thinking to write the notes.
  • No distractions – With paper and pencil, there are no games or videos to distract you from learning.

Cons:

  • Easy to lose or destroy – A sheet of paper is easy to lose, tear when erased, and be soaked in water.
  • No backups – Losing a notebook or a sheet of paper with notes is a hopeless situation, as written notes can not be backed up or accessed online without extra time spent scanning it.
  • Difficult to correct mistakes – When using highlighters and pens, it is difficult to correct mistakes, even with whiteout.
  • Time consuming – It takes time to write on paper compared to typing, which may not be beneficial in a fast learning environment.

Both typing notes and handwriting them on paper have their advantages and disadvantages, and the best one depends on your learning style. Knowing these pros and cons can aid you in determining which method works best in your learning environment and helps you retain information.

Work Cited

Navin, Cole. “Pros and Cons of Typed, Digitally Handwritten, and Paper Notes | GUTS Tip.” Greater University Tutoring Service, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 19 November 2020, https://guts.wisc.edu/2020/11/19/pros-and-cons-of-typed-digitally-handwritten-and-paper-notes/. Accessed 10 February 2025.