- What some faculty may think: Students will surf the internet or use social media.
- What some students may think: I can type notes faster on a computer.
What the Evidence Suggests
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More material can be captured (oral lecture/slides) as most type faster than write. | Less deep processing or understanding due to verbatim typing |
| Laptops allow students to collaborate with their classmates inside and outside the classroom. | Not optimal for classes where instructors talk quickly, or figures, diagrams, equations are used. |
| Students can record notes via software. | Laptops can be distracting if used for non-class related activities as it divides attention. |
Bottom Line
In contrast to early work (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014), the most recent meta-analysis of research by Urry, et al. (2021) shows NEITHER laptop or handwritten notes are better BUT it depends on the class (level, discipline) and instructor (vocal speed, amount on slides, class structure). Clearly, laptops can be distracting if not used for note taking.
In General:
The effectiveness of your pedagogical choices on learning depend on a number of factors (e.g., the educator and student characteristics, discipline, course level, lecture, & slide quality). Be intentional, transparent, and compassionate in pedagogical decision making. It always pays to be CCOMFE (Compassionate, Clear, Organized, Multi-faceted, Flexible, and Engaging).
References
- Morehead, K., Dunlosky, J., & Rawson, K. A. (2019). How much Mightier is the pen than the keyboard FOR Note-Taking? A replication and extension of Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014). Educational Psychology Review, 31(3), 753–780.
- Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard. Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159–1168.
- Urry, H. L., Crittle, C. S., Floerke, V. A., Leonard, M. Z., Perry, C. S. III, Akdilek, N., Albert, E. R., Block, A. J., Bollinger, C. A., Bowers, E. M., Brody, R. S., Burk, K. C., Burnstein, A., Chan, A. K., Chan, P. C., Chang, L. J., Chen, E., Chiarawongse, C. P., Chin, G., . . . Zarrow, J. E. (2021). Don't ditch the laptop just yet: A direct replication of Mueller and Oppenheimer’s (2014) study 1 plus mini meta-analyses across similar studies. Psychological Science, 32(3), 326–339.
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