Add to that I have issues with breaking “rules”, even self-created ones. Sometimes this is debilitating (i have a HARD time crossing streets when there is no crosswalk, or the sign has the ‘red hand’ vs. the white walking guy), but in this case i think beneficial b/c the guilt will crush me if i so much as open Firefox.

If my mind changes throughout the semester i will let you know.

In general, our eyes are attracted to flashy lights. So, when a person switches to another program or opens a new window it catches the corner of our eye and we are naturally drawn to look in that direction… just another distraction.

Finally, I found it funny yesterday that I noticed one person typing quite a lot during a section of the lecture where no one else was really typing… I couldn’t help but think, “must be emailing.”

As a final note, I think I need to edit the original post to include the fact that I believe that vintage notes are best used when converted to digital copy AT HOME. This makes you re-read your notes and wrestle through what you ment when you wrote them down.

FINALLY, for mac nerds like me, here is a link to the Journaler program -Paul mentioned.

I hear ya. Computers do have advantages for sure. I think the biggest one that you mention is searchable notes 10 years from now. That is huge.

I didn’t mention it in the post, but I highly recommend that when taking vintage notes that you go and eventually convert them to digital. This has a two fold benefit:

1) You now have the searchable database you mentioned.
2) It forces you to actually think about what all was said in the lecture and process it through a second time.

Finally, I know that computers will work great in class for some people… If I ever convince Just a Gal to let me get the Mac Book Pro then I’ll probably have a computer in class… But, I think that some change might be good for lots of people who are missing some of the points I made in the post. They are simply interacting more with the computer than with the professor and the class… that, I feel, is a shame.

Here’s why I like it better:

- It is easier to organize and add info to existing notes as I go on the keyboard. For a couple of classes I’ve added things like Additional references or quotes at the top of the notes, then whenever they are mentioned, they are all in one place.

– Spell check!

- 10 years from now, the notes are searchable, if I want to go back and look at them. Otherwise I’d be digging out some box of notebooks, trying to find the right one, and leafing through pages.

- Word has native drawing tools,for everything from squares to arrows to, yes, even smiley faces ( i have used this for a stick person), you don’ t necessarily need to head over to another program.

- You actually can make eye contact when typing, if you are proficient enough.

I will admit it can be noisy – like it’s raindrops when you get a whole room of keyboards going. But I prefer it, for sure.

Bring a pen. Remember the pen?

Right on!

ST