{"id":301,"date":"2023-05-30T18:31:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T01:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0278\/?p=301"},"modified":"2023-06-04T18:24:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T01:24:00","slug":"discussing-impacts-of-digital-learning-reading-and-taking-notes-in-class-paper-vs-digital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0278\/discussing-impacts-of-digital-learning-reading-and-taking-notes-in-class-paper-vs-digital\/","title":{"rendered":"Discussing impacts of digital learning: Reading and taking notes in class – paper vs. digital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Image of a notebook, pencil and laptop <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Update June 4, 2023<\/strong>: The reflections in this blog post where a collaborative effort by Radhika, Chris, and me. I apologize I didn’t state this when this piece was originally posted. TT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pros & Cons of Digital vs. Paper Note Taking & Reading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The tools we use can have a significant impact on our success. In the era of technology, academia now heavily involves the use of electronics to teach and share information. As we learned in the course debate, Digital Learning Environments are varied, and can differ from one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With academia\u2019s taking advantage of digital options and allowing students to be able to access resources more freely, there is concern that digital learning will have the consequence of newer generations losing skills to read and write without technical assistance and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 An example of newer generational loss in seen in some countries is the ability to write cursive. Students are now being taught how to type on the keyboards. In this post we\u2019ll examine the positive and negative nature of traditional paper and digital use for note taking and reading as it applies to educational environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Note Taking<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Digital note taking is the practice of taking notes with digital tools which can include a variety of technologies such as audio, video, photography, text, data visualization, and illustration with the assistance of electronic devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of Digital Note Taking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A key benefit of digital note taking is the ability to share information quickly between students and adapt the information immediately for those with and without learning disabilities. \u201cUse of digital note-taking tools may allow students with learning disabilities to better use working memory, visuals, and auditory learning capacities to complement information processing during lectures and review.\u201d (Belson et al, 2013 p.13) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ability to store digital notes electronically and collaborate with others also leads to the ability to assemble documents online and have a backup of those materials to fall back on. This can take the form of multiple copies but also multiple different versions which enables learners to branch off into alternate avenues with the knowledge they can return to earlier work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Data entry with digital note taking is often faster and allows for easier input compared to traditional pen and paper approaches. While it\u2019s impossible to predict individual learners, \u201cthe average American can type 40 words per minute but can only handwrite 13 words per minute.\u201d (Robare, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Benefits of Digital: Reading & Writing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  • Able to customize device settings \u2013 Font, size, color, and brightness (light or dark screens) <\/li>
  • Clear and organized writing \u2013 easy to read through<\/li>
  • Automatic corrections of spelling, grammar, & syntax<\/li>
  • Swiftness of predicted text completion<\/li>
  • Linking of other documents, websites, graphics, diagrams, and tables or videos<\/li>
  • Ease of duplication of text, images, and documents<\/li>
  • Timesaving in editing & alleviate stress of locating words or phrases<\/li>
  • Able to hold a large amount of data and information in one space<\/li>
  • Easier to move, organize and sort notes<\/li>
  • Eco-friendly<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Disadvantages of Digital Note Taking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Accessibility in Learning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With digital note taking, the limits of screen size add an extra dimension of complexity for students with visual impairment or learning impairments. The simple act of redistributing notes in a meaningful way for people on the autistic spectrum, or similar non-traditional processes can become cumbersome and challenging within a locked visual environment. As the authors discuss in the article Developing a Holistic Approach for E-Learning Accessibility, \u201cthere is a need for a more sophisticated model for addressing e-learning accessibility which takes into account the usability of e-learning, pedagogic issues and student learning styles in addition to technical and resource issues.\u201d (Phipps and Swift, 2004)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Understanding of Digital Technology <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With the rapid change of digital technology, there is a need to offer training support for less technologically focussed individuals including older adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cRogers and colleagues found that older adults were less likely to use automatic teller machines (ATMs) than younger adults. However, the majority of the older people in their sample indicated they would be willing to use ATMs if trained to do so.\u201d (1996)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Digital Equity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Requiring and mandating students to use digital devices for course work can present issues with access and equity. From social class to a simple lack of access due to geography or reliability, dependency on technology by its nature can lead to inequity in a digital space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cNo matter how powerful in educational terms a particular medium or technology may be, if students cannot access it in a convenient and affordable manner they cannot learn from it\u201d (Bates, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201c[Shirley] Malcom points out that lowered cost and greater physical access to computers will not by themselves be sufficient to improve the lot of disadvantaged students.\u201d (Nickerson, R. S., & Zodhiates, P. P, 2013)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other Disadvantages of Digital: Reading & Writing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    • System and software can differ per user changing the look of notes and text<\/li>
    • Not always straightforward to use<\/li>
    • In a collaborative space not easy to distinguish who wrote, changed, or edited documents <\/li>
    • Unless publicly shared there can be access and permission issues<\/li>
    • Eye strain and fatigue<\/li>
    • Distracting \u2013 Ads, banners, pop-ups, graphics, and design flaws in certain websites<\/li>
    • Plagiarism and copyright issues<\/li>
    • Can be expensive, fragile and has a limited life span<\/li>
    • Concern about access to internet, electricity, and battery life<\/li>
    • Impersonal & formal<\/li>
    • Locked to the display screen of the electronic devices<\/li>
    • Not easy to spread multiple documents, pages, text, and seamless move through them<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Written Notes<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

      Written note taking is an important skill for everyone to master, it can include written text as well as illustrations and drawings by hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Advantages of Written Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The Encoding Hypothesis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cThe encoding hypothesis suggests that the processing that occurs during the act of note taking improves learning and retention.\u201d (Mueller and Oppenheimer, 2014, p.1159) essentially theorizing that the acts of listening, processing, and summarizing during the moment of learning adds benefit in the retention of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Learning Style Freedom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Unlike the nature of digital note taking, written notes allow for learners of different styles to quickly access shortcuts they\u2019ve developed over a lifetime. Shortcuts such as indents, symbols, choices of inks or formatting codes that are known only to themselves. These shortcuts allow individual learners to manage information both within a single note and on a larger scale by organizing notes into formats that can\u2019t easily be replicated within a digital environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      For example, the placement of coloured sticky notes or highlights on text to amplify meaning or organizing large collections of notes in a graphical manner with circles of knowledge spread across a tabletop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Simplicity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Whatever benefits students can gain from building digital skills does not translate equitably across all students due to reasons of economic, cultural, and social status. One distinct advantage of written notes is its simplicity which is often overlooked in our desire to over emphasize the power of digital skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

       \u201cOne challenge is that approaches to digital skills overemphasize the role of basic operational skills (e.g., how to install apps or use Internet browsers) despite indications that it is a combination of skills, including the social and creative (e.g., sense of self-efficacy in using social networks, capacity to create digital content) that generate positive tangible outcomes (Helsper et al., 2015).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Flexibility for Learners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Learners should be encouraged to build literacy and critical thinking about the different information and communication technologies available. Then they can decide to choose\/use\/adapt the tools that support the way they learn best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

       \u201cI decide whether to adopt new devices and software\/apps\/services based on their value to me.\u201d Beetham, H. (2015, Nov 10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Other Advantages of Paper: Reading & Writing  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      • Handwriting is more expressive of a person\u2019s emotions, personality and is unique to the individual<\/li>
      • Inexpensive & disposable<\/li>
      • Tangible and portable<\/li>
      • Easier to mark up, highlight, draw & doodle<\/li>
      • Greater freedom to write anytime and anywhere<\/li>
      • Larger real estate to spread papers and see the big picture<\/li>
      • Able to switch between different writing tools \u2013 pencil, pen, marker, etc.\u2026<\/li>
      • Less tiring to read large amounts of text<\/li>
      • Simpler to write formulas & math equations <\/li>
      • Easier to work through thought process more critically<\/li>
      • Freedom of movement and location<\/li>
      • Better comprehension on spelling, grammar, and flow process<\/li>
      • Awareness of each individual\u2019s work in collaborative spaces<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Disadvantages of Written Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Time Consuming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        The primary disadvantage of written notes can be time-consuming to create, as well as laborious to search through at a later date.  Additionally, the sharing of written notes is dependent on the transfer of physical content, requiring duplication and transportation, or one party to read the content to another which can introduce a variety of errors in tone, urgency, or understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Document Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Without proper care and maintenance, handwritten notes can easily be smudged, torn, damaged or become illegible through the simple passage of time. The neglect of these aspects can lead to the permanent degradation of the notes, leaving their contents inaccessible to future reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Accessibility to Other Readers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Handwritten notes, especially those transcribed in the hurry, can lack the formatting and structure needed to easily convey ideas to other readers in an effective manner. The shortcuts described earlier as an advantage for written notes can also compound this fault as those meaningful clues are lost without the cipher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Other Disadvantages of Paper: Reading & Writing  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n