Now that the initial feeling of dread for waking up at 8 a.m. to register for every class you need is (hopefully) over, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do differently next fall. Finding a solid note-taking routine can completely change the way you go about surviving the school year, and for me, the notebook-to-iPad pipeline was the way to go!
The switch isn’t for everyone, though. As a notebook survivor and an iPad warrior, below is my complete review of each method to help you decide what suits your study grind best.
Organization
iPad
When taking notes on an iPad, the organizational opportunities are endless. You can categorize your notes by class, units, subunits, etc. Online note-taking apps make keeping a lot of different information in one place super easy and efficient.
Organizing your notes on an iPad also makes finding certain items easier. Either after just a few clicks or a search bar, you’re exactly where you want to be.
Notebook
Notebooks aren’t as simple. To stay organized, you’ll either have to carry multiple notebooks for your classes or share some and hope you’ve allocated enough space for your notes in each class.
Finding certain notes after you’ve already written them isn’t as efficient as an iPad, but you can still be efficient when you utilize physical aids such as sticky note tabs or bookmarks. If you’re feeling extra creative (and maybe a little bored), you can even make a table of contents and number each page.
Reliability
ipad
As with all technology, your iPad is only as reliable as its battery life and internet connection. There’s no feeling more frustrating than getting to class, opening your iPad, and seeing that 2% icon in the corner.
However, sometimes carrying an extra charger and finding spots with free internet access is worth it for other aspects of reliability. Taking your notes on an iPad means you can save them to multiple devices. So, if anything were to happen to your precious tablet, your notes wouldn’t be lost with it.
Notebook
A strong pro point for taking your notes traditionally in a notebook is that they don’t depend on a charged battery or accessible internet, which is an indisputable benefit. Despite that, in the case of one of Florida’s wonderful thunderstorms appearing as soon as you leave your class, your notebooks are quickly considered victims.
If you’ve never had to set out notebooks to dry and hope that you still have the notes for your scariest class, may your luck stay with you. For the rest of us who have been personally victimized by the weather or a spilled drink, digital notes can be a savior!
Study Logistics
iPad
For digital note-taking, there’s an abundance of apps with built-in study features. My personal favorite is Notability, which automatically creates flashcards, quizzes, summaries, and more features based on my notes without adding any extra information.
Aside from note-taking app features, taking your notes online also makes it super easy to upload them to other online study tools, saving so much time when creating your own study materials.
Notebook
When you take your notes by hand, you can still use the same study methods from note-taking apps, but you have to enter all the information yourself manually. This can be time-consuming, but it can also be a study method in itself because you’re repeating the same information through writing and then reading.
Aesthetics
iPad
When I first began taking notes on an iPad, I prioritized making them cute and fun over useful. Before you know it, you’ve just spent two hours taking notes on a 30-minute lecture. However, once you get used to how your chosen app works, it’s easy to take useful notes while still making them visually appealing.
Between digital sticker labels, charts, and other visual aids you can quickly import, there are multiple tools on digital note-taking apps to add useful aesthetics to your notes.
Notebook
For hand-written notes, it’s easier to decorate them once they’ve already been written. You can go back to highlight what’s important, which can also help you study. Yet, it’s not always visually appealing if having cute and fun notes is something that motivates you.
Cost
iPad
iPads are obviously going to cost more, but unlike notebooks, they’re a one-time cost. You can purchase one device to take your notes on, and that device will carry all the notes you’ll ever have to take again.
Some of the note-taking apps/features are an extra cost as well. There are some free note-taking apps out there to choose from as well; it all just depends on what features best match your study habits.
Notebook
Notebooks and pens are cheaper, but how many are you repurchasing over time? Whether you’re thinking of these purchases as short-term or long-term, it’s still something to consider.
At the end of the day, there’s no “right” choice for taking notes, just the choice that suits your study routine best. Taking notes digitally on an iPad vs. traditionally with notebooks have their pros and cons; it’s just a matter of finding which attributes matter the most to you and can get you through the semester!
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest!