<p>All of my professors post their powerpoint presentations online except for my Abnormal Psych professor. I usually take handwritten notes and print out the powerpoints to accompany them, but I can't do that for my abnormal psych class. So, I've been typing up the notes after class, because I feel like I should have a digital copy in case I lose my notebook or something else happens.</p>
<p>Is re-copying my notes a waste of time if I've already written them down in my notebook? Does anyone else do this?</p>
<p>I would type up my handwritten notes for all my classes, but I feel like the powerpoints suffice. Also, that would take up way too much time, but I feel like if it's for just one class, it's okay to take the time.</p>
<p>Rewriting notes is perfectly fine! In fact, if you’re really concentrating on them and soaking it all in while rewriting them, it’s a good form of studying.</p>
<p>Physically writing things helps you learn better than just reading them over again on a PowerPoint or notebook, so don’t stress. My mother is a professor and actually encourages her students to actively study by making flashcards or summaries as opposed to just rereading notes. You’ll probably have to “study” less later because of it. </p>
<p>(I do this all the time, btw, and it’s worked well for me thus far) </p>
<p>I agree. Especially if you’re a kinesthetic learner, retyping or rewriting notes is a very good way to study. I do a version of this when it gets close to exams, as well - I go through all of my notes, decide what’s important, and make new study sheets from these. I discover what helps me the most about this is being forced to actively go through all of my notes again and think about what’s important.
On the other hand, you may discover that this isn’t the best method for you to learn, and you at some point you’ll stop retyping all your notes. That’s fine, too. I think I spent at least my first year of college constantly revising and refining my note-taking and studying methods to figure out what worked best for me. Everyone has a different way of thinking and studying!</p>
<p>I was copying my notes into One Note on my pc at home, but I had to stop because I’m getting so much homework I didn’t have time anymore. Copying is a good method to help you remember things though - I wish I could still do it.</p>
<p>That’s what I do for social science and humanities courses where it’s possible to. In other classes, I make flashcards for key information. As others have said, it makes you think about the material again and recognize what the key points of the lecture were. I find that it works much better than just rereading notes.</p>
<p>Bottom line: If it helps you learn the material, it’s not a waste of time. If you find that it doesn’t help you, then stop doing it and try other methods.</p>
<p>I used to rewrite my notes as a way of studying before exams. Most of my notes were typed so I’d handwrite, and while I was doing it, I’d organize them, go over bits that I didn’t understand or remember, and try to condense them into the most important bits.</p>
<p>As long as you’re thinking about them (perhaps, rewriting them in your own words or organizing them or picking out the most important bits), then I think it’s a great way to remember the material and solidify it in your brain. If you’re just mindlessly copying them down, then yes, I think it’s a waste of time.</p>