I have seen (far too) many people in class simply using their phones to take pictures of what the lecturer writes on the board rather than taking notes by computer or hand. I thought it was crazy people typed their notes (it has been shown that writing notes actually helps more), but I was truly shocked to see people just taking pictures of the board. How does this help at all? Can someone enlighten me as to what the reason behind doing that is as oppose to actually writing things? Is it just being lazy? Do they go and type them up later? I just don’t see how that could possibly help you learn any material. I find it disgusting that some people come to college and don’t think of their education coming first. They would rather Snapchat and occasionally take pictures than take notes.
I personally subscribe to the benefits of handwritten notes and one of my kids is a firm believer in the benefits. But some people are very good at learning visually so for those types, this probably works. Some people have a photographic memory.
I’m sure others, though, are just lazy and find this easier even though they might do better writing it down.
Different people learn differently. One of mine learns best buy doing so the act of writing helps. My other kid can pick things up well just by listening and remembering. I used to think this one wasn’t paying attention when young but they could spit back what they heard without issues.
Bottom line, just do what works best for you and not worry about others. If your classes are graded on a curve, perhaps it’ll work to your advantage. 
Unless you have seen they aren’t also taking notes, I wouldn’t assume. My d just came up with the idea on her own to take a pic of her stats assignment that is written in the board, even though she also writes it down. She always worried that maybe she misheard it miswrote something, so this is her solution to double check. Maybe at least some of those students are doing the same with notes.
Some students have graphomotor difficulties, and by the time they write the note they have missed additional information Don’t Susie they are being “lazy” by using technology to help their academics. I am glad to hear they are paying attention and not wasting time on Facebook in class.
@jym626 Many I have seen are not really paying attention. They mess around on their phone, and then when they see the prof has written something they just snap a pic. Whatever, though. They can do what they want. I will continue to take notes and soak in all the information I can.
The very act of writing the notes helps your brain learn the material.
However, also capturing what is on the board won’t hurt.
@CollegeMan91 There are surely both types of students- those who don’t pay attention and those who do but have trouble quickly/easily/efficiently taking notes, and will use alternative methods to get the necessary information. Some may be slackers, but not all.
Because sometimes I don’t want to write / format a string of numbers or data… And looking back at the logic and following it through yourself works too. And yes, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the formulas and variables so a pic and reviewing it later will do the job.
Related to this, students sometimes now just take a photo of their homework assignments and then email it to the prof. For example, a four page assignment will consist of 4 jpg files.
^To me that’s not ok
Why not, Stradmom? I had a class where that was the only way the professor would accept homework.
I’m a grader for several CS classes. When students submit jpgs of their hw, they are often very hard for me to read (bad lighting, too small, etc) and if I can’t make out their answer, they don’t get the points. Technically the professor does not forbid it, but its definitely not the way to go.
I’ve had classes where people have taken photos of the board for their notes, but usually this is to supplement their handwritten or typed notes. In CS, sometimes we’ll take a picture of a diagram the professor drew on the board because we often type our notes in those classes and those are hard to copy if you’re not using pencil and paper for your notes.
The only time I consistently take pictures in class are for courses where the professor writes the hw up on the board at the beginning or end of class. I’ll often take a picture of that to make sure I don’t miss anything or forget something.
@bodangles to each their own. I wouldn’t accept it, but happy for your professor.
A math teacher recommended this strategy to my son. The class was difficult for him, and the teacher felt that he was missing critical bits when he was struggling to write/copy work from the board rather than watching the process and listening to the explanation. My son wouldn’t do this because he felt it’d make him stand out, which would be embarrassing to him. I thought he was foolish for feeling this way but as I read OP’s post, I am more understanding of my son’s thought process. Please. … do what works for you and don’t worry about others. You may unwittingly be undermining someone.
I’ve taken pictures before, usually to supplement handwritten notes. One time my math professor made a calculation error and had to re-do his example. My notes on that problem were so screwed up that I just asked to take a picture.
Besides, who cares? If the professor allows it, it’s not your business. Let people waste their money, you do you
I am huge believer in hand-written notes and survived law school and two state bar exams in no small part due to home-made flash cards.
That being said, I have a kiddo who resists physically writing out notes and still manages to do well (he takes notes and remembers important info in a different way than I did).
It’s great that technology has opened up new ways of doing things (so long as the professor doesn’t mind).
Don’t bother yourself with this- what works for you might not work for others. Some people write slow, messy, etc and know that their notes will be illegible anyways and so they take pictures. Maybe they just learn better by taking photos and going back to it later. Maybe they’re non native English speakers and need a photographic supplement. Maybe they really are lazy. As long as the professor doesn’t object, who cares?