Writing for FindLaw's Writ, Professor Sherry F Colb, a professor at Rutgers Law School, makes a convincing argument on "Taking Notes Without a Computer: How Laptops Distract From Classroom Learning". Here is part of her argument:
When you take notes by hand, you are forced to digest what has been said and write down only a fraction of it. You are forced, in other words, to think while the class is in progress. It is what distinguishes a live lecture from a recorded one, after all. Listening means that you can understand the material, not just take it down like a stenographer. It also means that you can ask pertinent questions, answer professors' inquiries well, and listen intelligently to what classmates have to say.
Putting my money where my mouth is, I have instituted a virtual ban on laptops in my classroom this semester (virtual, because two students are allowed to use laptops on the condition that they share their notes with the rest of the class). This is the first time I have adopted such a policy, and many students - at least before the semester began - expressed unhappiness about it.
These students are used to taking notes on a laptop computer, and they believe that they do their best learning that way. They are, however, likely mistaken, in my opinion. I have already noticed a higher level of reasoning, after only two weeks of class under the virtual laptop ban, and I am optimistic that student performance throughout the semester will improve as well.
If you want a magic bullet for how to get more out of your law school class, here it is: Put the laptop computer away, and take out a pen. You might actually learn something.
Read more of her argument here. An argument which, by the way, I think is absolsutely correct. I base that opinion not on my limited experience as a law lecturer, but on my relatively recent experience as an LL.M. student. Although I think I am quite comfortable in front of a laptop and can type a reasonable speed, I found that my note-taking in class was far more effective and useful later on if my notes were hand-written rather than typed. I think the reasons for this are several.
First, the temptation of surfing the internet, logging into Messenger or even playing a game was far too tempting for me whenever a lecturer was beginning to bore or confuse me.
Second, I found that when typing my notes I would waste time formatting the document as I went, meaning that not only did I miss important information due to time spent formatting, but I then didn't go through the process after the lecture of revising my notes.
Third, as it is impossible to write down every word a lecturer says when writing your notes by hand, I found that when hand writing my notes I became more engaged in the content of the lecture. This was because I had to make a series of decisions as to what information or idea was so vital it had to be written down. This decision making process and critical evaluation of content discussed by the lecturer encouraged a deeper learning.
I am aware that all of these reasons could simply be put down to poor study technique on my part, but if you have the opportunity to sit in the back row of a large lecture theatre where most people are using laptops, you will see the majority of students misusing their laptops in similar ways. Learning is enchanced by paying close attention in lectures and the use of a laptop will almost inevitably give everyone many and varied distractions.
