# The Surprising Benefits of Handwritten Notes for Memory Retention
Written on
Chapter 1: The Power of Writing by Hand
If you're looking to retain new information, consider the benefits of writing by hand. Recent research indicates that handwritten notes significantly improve memory retention. In today’s digital age, many students have shifted from traditional notepads to typing their notes on laptops during lectures. However, as Pam Mueller from Princeton University reflects, her experience with handwritten notes was far more effective for understanding and retention. “I noticed a lot more,” she remarks, highlighting the advantages of manual note-taking.
This sentiment is echoed by her colleague, Daniel Oppenheimer, who initially preferred typing notes. He soon realized that this method hindered his understanding of the material. Motivated by these revelations, they embarked on a study to investigate the crucial question: Do handwritten notes lead to better memory retention compared to those taken on a computer?
In their first experiment, 65 students viewed 15-minute lecture videos. Half of the participants were permitted to type keywords on their laptops, while the other half took notes by hand. Mueller encouraged them to decide how much they wanted to write. After a 30-minute distraction period, the participants were tested on their recall of the lectures, answering both factual and comprehension-based questions.
Results were revealing: both groups performed similarly on factual recall, but the handwriting group excelled in comprehension questions.
Section 1.1: Understanding the Results
Mueller and Oppenheimer replicated this outcome in two additional experiments, consistently finding that the typing group remembered less overall, particularly in terms of comprehension. What could explain this discrepancy?
Mueller noticed a key difference in the note-taking strategies between the two groups. Those using laptops tended to write significantly more words, often attempting to transcribe the lecture verbatim, which negatively impacted their understanding. Even when participants were instructed to take fewer notes, the laptop users still produced more content than their handwritten counterparts.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Impact of Note-Taking Methods
Section 1.2: The Cognitive Trade-Off
This doesn't imply that handwritten notes are universally superior or that typed notes are always forgotten quickly. Instead, the use of a keyboard seems to encourage excessive writing, which can detract from critical thinking and comprehension. As a result, both understanding and memory can suffer.
Chapter 2: Video Insights on Note-Taking Strategies
To further explore the topic, consider watching these videos that delve into effective note-taking methods.
The first video, Digital Notes vs Handwriting Notes (Which Should You Do?), discusses the differences in retention between digital and handwritten notes.
In the second video, Best Way to Take Notes To Remember More From Class, strategies are shared for maximizing memory retention through effective note-taking techniques.