<p>hi i'm going to be a freshman in college next year and i had a question about taking notes and recording. i know that it's good to take notes in class. but should you record your whole class for all of your classes every single day? and if so, is it best to buy a recorder (what type) or just use your laptop? is it best to use your laptop for notes or a regular notebook and pen/pencil too? because on laptops it's easier to type faster but you cant draw diagrams and graphs like notebooks. also, i saw in the other thread that someone talked about the livescribe pulse - MIT</a> Admissions | Blog Entry: "Livescribe's Pulse Pen"
do a lot of people actually use that? or is it recommended? i mean it looks really cool and handy, but i just wasn't sure how people take notes and record their classes first to begin with and it's a couple hundred dollars so i didn't want to go asking my parents if i can get one if i really isnt' necessary etc.</p>
<p>I think you’ll find that it really depends on you. There’s no “one thing” that most people do–everyone studies, takes notes and learns in their own way. </p>
<p>You’ll basically need to go to a few classes and figure it out yourself. At my school (large state u), lots use laptops. Many take notes by hand on a notebook. Some just print out the powerpoint slides and use those. Some just don’t go to class at all and try to cover the material through the book. The last method is hardest, but all methods can yield an A–and all methods allow you to learn.</p>
<p>I get your concern. But I’m sure that once you spend a while at college you’ll look back and think that this was a silly question. Don’t worry. And don’t buy that pen until you’ve tried out some classes.</p>
<p>Edit: And, from my experience, very few people record lectures. That said, most professors don’t notice/care if you do if it’ll help you.</p>
<p>I’m planning to use a laptop. I can type twice as fast as I can write, and erasing is so much trouble. For diagrams and graphs etc., I’d like to just have a spare piece of paper to the side with a pencil.</p>
<p>Is this an ok method?</p>
<p>Just be aware that some professors don’t permit recording or sometimes even laptops in their classrooms before you invest in expensive technology.</p>
<p>listen to stradmom! Hah, most professors will usually allow laptops in appropriate classes (lecture style). However a lot of professors do not allow recording, some do but they usually want you to ask permission first.</p>