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Note-taking by hand: A powerful tool to support memory

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Summary

This article discusses the importance of taking notes by hand as a powerful tool to support memory. It explains that handwriting involves cognitive engagement, which leads to deeper understanding, and that handwriting also involves tactile feedback to the brain, creating a stronger connection and neurocircuitry. It also discusses the advantages of handwriting over keyboarding, as well as the cognitive demands of note-taking. Additionally, it explains how sketching and drawing can also support understanding and remembering of information, and how digital and analogue formats can both be used to store and share information.

Q&As

What is the benefit of taking notes by hand?
The benefit of taking notes by hand is that it creates a robust external memory storage and involves cognitive engagement in summarizing, paraphrasing, organizing, concept and vocabulary mapping, which leads to deeper understanding.

What is the difference between keyboarding and handwriting when it comes to note taking?
The difference between keyboarding and handwriting when it comes to note taking is that keyboarding involves taking notes verbatim in a way that does not involve processing information, while taking notes by hand involves cognitive engagement in summarizing, paraphrasing, organizing, concept and vocabulary mapping.

What are some effective strategies for taking notes by hand?
Some effective strategies for taking notes by hand include the Cornell style, compare/contrast charts, webs, and sketching and drawing.

What is the importance of being able to write fluently?
The importance of being able to write fluently is that it allows for legibility and speed when taking notes, which is best achieved with a clean, uncluttered and connected script, such as cursive writing.

What did Leonardo da Vinci and Florence Nightingale have to say about the importance of note-taking?
Leonardo da Vinci wrote that it is necessary to make a drawing as well as to describe in order to avoid confusing the mind of the reader, while Florence Nightingale is credited with creating the pie chart to represent information.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an excellent insight into the cognitive benefits of taking notes by hand. It is full of useful information and resources for students and professionals looking to make the most of their note-taking skills.

👎 This article fails to mention the advantages of taking notes by digital means, such as convenience and speed. While it is true that hand-written notes have their benefits, it is not an exhaustive exploration of the options available.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the power of taking notes by hand and how it can help with memory storage and information processing. It's suggesting that handwriting your notes can be more effective than typing them into a laptop.

Friend: That's really interesting. It makes sense, since handwriting engages more of your senses and can help your brain to commit things to memory better. It's also nice to know that it's never too late to start taking notes by hand.

Me: Absolutely. The article also talks about how note-taking by hand can help deepen understanding and can be used as a study technique. It can also be beneficial to sketch things out, like diagrams or charts.

Friend: That's really useful, especially now when a lot of people are having to learn remotely. I think I might try to incorporate some of these techniques into my studies.

Action items

Research different note-taking templates and formats to find the best one for your needs.
Practice handwriting and cursive writing to increase fluency of hand.
Experiment with sketching and drawing to deepen comprehension of concepts.

Technical terms

Note-taking: The process of writing down information from a lecture, book, or other source.
Embodied cognition: The idea that the body and its physical environment are integral to cognitive processes such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Neurocircuitry: The neural pathways in the brain that are responsible for processing information.
Non-generative note-taking: Taking notes verbatim without processing the information.
Cognitive tool kit: A collection of strategies and techniques used to help with learning and studying.
Tactile feedback: The physical sensation of touching something.
Cornell system: A note-taking system developed by education professor Walter Pauk.
Compare/contrast charts: A visual representation of similarities and differences between two or more items.
Webs: A visual representation of how different concepts are related to each other.
Fluency of hand: The ability to write quickly and legibly.
Authentic literacy engagements: Activities that involve reading and writing for real-world purposes.
Pie chart: A type of graph used to represent data.
Analogue: A type of technology that uses physical objects to store and transmit information.
Digital: A type of technology that uses digital signals to store and transmit information.