Written or typed notes? Which worked best for you?

CFA Level II
#1

Hey everyone,

I started studying this week and I am wondering how you guys take notes. Do you usually type them or write them? If you have experience with both methods, which one worked best for you? I started by writing them but I feel it is very time consuming. I am considering switching to typed notes.

Let me know what you think

#2

Both, actually. Typed for ones that I was going to constantly review (theory points) and then I’d leave space to write a formula if it was needed.

Then when I was reviewing the notes I’d actually write each formula out over and over in a separate notebook.

im a big believer in actually writing out points and formula over and over again for repetitiveness. I probably had 5 notebooks full of scribble for level 2 where I just wrote out formulas, etc. over and over again.

That’s just how I learn.

#3

I handwrote the bulk of my notes; I typed up a few of the readings. Typing helped avoid writer’s cramp. I found both to be time-consuming, but well worth the effort to produce compact, understandable notes.

#4

My understanding is that handwriting tends to create stronger memories than typing.

#5

For handwriting, I repeat my previous nagging on the subject: get rid of the ballpoint pen and use a wide-bodied, gel ink or fountain pen!!!

#6

I actually read an article about this a while back. I’ll post it if I can still find it somewhere. But it said handwriting activates/engages your brain in a different way and helps you to memorize easier and organize your thoughts.

Considering this, it’s a shame that laptops and ipads have started to appear in college lectures and even in elementary schools.

#7

hahaha glad to see that I’m not the only one who despises ballpoint pens! I don’t understand how people take notes with those things.

Gel ink all the way :grin:

#8

Research has shown that people tend to remember hand written words for longer.

  1. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/to-remember-a-lecture-better-take-notes-by-hand/361478/

  2. https://redbooth.com/blog/handwriting-and-memory

  3. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/you-will-remember-information-longer-you-hand-write-notes.html

  4. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/

  5. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/take-notes-by-hand-for-better-long-term-comprehension.html

#9

Dude I can mindlessly type words I’m looking at with no thought. I also think it’s a harder lot type important formulas versus write. If I were you I’d definitely hand write. It’ll take you longer but better returns.

#10

To each their own, but I would prefer writing them rather than typing. Like PreDRaR66 said- writing formulae for me is easier than typing them… Also, I somehow feel I pay more attention when I am writing rather than when I am typing.