So, I was reading the New York Times (on line, which means special sections are available early). And, I am not sure if I am happy with the idea or against it.
As I have written (both here on my blog and elsewhere), I was a copious note taker. (OK. In the interests of full disclosure, I still am.) I pay attention (most of the time), and take down one or two words of each sentence. Then, within about 7 hours of that event, I read my word nmemonics and translate those hints into full sentences- paraphrasing (often reciting completely) the issues discussed or mentioned.
And, when I was in college and grad school, my friends (and my fraternity brothers) demanded (yes, that is the verb of record) that I share my notes with them. Like, because they were my friends, they were entitled to my diligence and not responsible for their lassitude. (I’m guessing you can figure out where my notes traveled.)
My notes were great, if I say so myself. And, when I taught classes, I provided my outlines for students to use to take notes. Hoping they would use that framework to take the best notes possible.
My notes helped me dramatically. Because I paid attention, I read the texts, I did my homework, and I prepared the notes in full sentences, I could just scan my notes the day before the exam and I was ready for almost anything. Data shows that having notes- even if you were not the one who took them (but did study them and follow up on the weak points in one’s understanding) are vital for educational performance.
It turns out if you take notes on a laptop instead of writing them long hand (or using my method of keywords and then translating them into cogent sentences), you are bound to do worse. Using the laptop means you are transcribing the lecture and not refining the subject matter into your own words, absorbing the material. And, that means one lacks the ability to capture the fundamentals of the matter presented.
And, now I hear there are new sources for notes. Flashnotes is a new service where students at five schools (Maryland, Ohio State, Florida State, Rutgers, and Kent State- with more to come) can buy or sell their lecture notes. By class. Flashnotes takes a 30% cut of the price the student sets (and which some one pays). NerdyNotes seems to be present at much fewer schools and is much less extensive that Flashnotes.
Now, I wonder how one determines whose notes are worth what. I remember the battle between Cliff’s Notes and Monarch Notes. (Cliff’s were cheaper, Monarch’s were much better.) It’s my guess that folks at the various schools are having their friends provide approbation, which travels via social media and helps sell the notes.
I see this as a perfect example of caveat emptor.
