Taking Class Notes by Hand Compared to Typing: Effects on Children’s Recall and Understanding

Abstract

ABSTRACT The increasing adoption of educational technology in school classrooms has resulted in greater use of electronic devices to take lesson notes. Recent research comparing performance of adult students who recorded lecture notes using computer keyboards with that of students who handwrote their notes shows somewhat conflicting findings about their factual recall and conceptual understanding. There is very little, if any, research with children on the effect of note-taking mode on recall and understanding. The present study compared the recall and understanding of children taking handwritten notes to that of children typing their notes. Twenty-six boys age 10–11 years old participated in the study. Factual recall and understanding of a history and a biology lesson were assessed using multiple choice questions (MCQ). MCQ tests were carried out both immediately after each lesson and one week later. Factual recall was not affected by the note-taking mode but, in both lessons, children who handwrote notes had greater conceptual understanding one week after viewing their lesson, compared to those who typed notes.