Where to Keep Your Study Notes

Where you choose to keep your notes really depends on your personal preference and situation. When I was in college I preferred to take my notes using my laptop. I went to a university that required students to purchase a laptop, so nearly every instructor was OK with students having their laptops open in class. Many even encouraged it. There are many reasons that using a laptop for taking notes can be more beneficial than handwriting them in a notebook:

-Most students can type a lot faster than they can write.

-You don't have to deal with painful writer's cramp. Nor will you have a sore neck and shoulders from leaning over your notebook to write.

-Programs such as Microsoft Word will correct your spelling for you as you type, so you don't have to waste time trying to figure out how to spell a word.

-Your notes will all be in one place, but can still be very organized by creating a separate folder for each subject and chapter. You can do the same with handwritten notes, but it usually requires having several notebooks or folders; if you bring the wrong one to class, you're screwed.

-You can back up your notes on a disk or portable hard drive. If your computer crashes, all of your notes will be safe and sound (as long as you remember to back up regularly). The same isn't true if you spill coffee on your notebook or your dog decides to use it as a chew toy.

-It's easy to share your notes with a friend if they are ill and miss class. They don't have to waste time trying to decipher your handwriting - you can just send them an email with the document attached.

However, not everyone can afford a laptop or is allowed to have one in class. You can still take excellent notes with good old-fashioned pen and paper. I would suggest investing in either a multiple-subject notebook or a three-ring binder so that you can organize your notes according to subject. This way, you don't have to worry about grabbing the wrong notebook, as you will always have everything you need with you.

Learning shorthand or simply remembering that you can abbreviate a lot of what your instructor is saying will make hand-writing your notes much easier. Making photocopies of your notes is also a good idea in case your notebook is damaged or misplaced. It doesn't cost much to make photocopies and you can keep this second set of notes in a safe place just in case.

Whether you're handwriting your notes or using your laptop, transferring your notes to flashcards when it comes time to study is always a good idea. Flashcards may seem juvenile, but they really do work. Not only are you forced to review the information when you make the flashcards, but they also let you know how well you really know your stuff.

Wherever you choose to keep your notes, the important thing is that they are legible, organized and safe from damage.