Handwriting and Digital Notetaking: Comparison of Immediate and Long-Term Recall of Novel Lecture Content

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Computer Applications for Learner Development in Diverse Contexts (Table 5)

Abstract

Notetaking is a complex task that simultaneously involves multiple modalities, listening, observing, recording, reading, and coding verbal cues often for the purpose of organizing information into coherent patterns. The primary purpose of notetaking is future information recall. Notetaking, intrinsic to academia, is utilized in classrooms from elementary through post-secondary for data collection to support learning. Digital technology changes processes of notetaking, from single-handed process of handwriting to the bi-manual process; typing. Hypothesizing that modality of note taking may impact recall, adult participants (N=82) recorded notes via handwriting or digitally immediately followed by a brief content assessment. Participants completed the same brief assessment one week later. Results supported the research hypothesis that method and preference for notetaking impacts recall.

Authors

• Donna Murphy, Baltimore County Public Schools

• Mark J. Fenster, Notre Dame of Maryland University