With all the new technology around us it only seems natural to rely on a phone or tablet when you’re taking notes. However, recent studies show that we might want to go old-school (yes, it means writing long-hand!) depending on the kind and purpose of notes we want to take.

Check out:  Why we may want to go ‘old school’ for our next meeting: How technology may be undermining our learning and performance

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Listen

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Glossary

• and the like = and things of the same kind
• underlie – be the cause or basis of (something)
• factual – based on facts
• counterpart – a person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another person or thing in a different place or situation
• copious – abundant in supply or quantity
• spark – provide the stimulus for (an event or process)

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Think about it

Answer the questions below.

• What “underlying belief” does the author refer to in the opening paragraph?
• What were the students tested for following the first experiment?
• What were the results of the the first experiment?
• What idea did the researchers test in subsequent study?
• What conclusions did the researchers reach as to the laptop users?
• What kind of notes might technology facilitate? What kind of notes is it better to take long-hand?

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Practice makes perfect

Fill in the blank spaces with the missing words.

Technology ________ undoubtedly taken a firm grip ________ all areas of our lives. In our offices, laptops, iPads, and ________ like have been integrated into almost every element of our work. Many people now bring ________ devices to meetings and there is ________ underlying belief that these “smart” tools are essential for maximizing our productivity and innovation; however, recent research has ________ some interesting questions about this practice.

These results suggest we ________ want to rethink how we use technology within our workplaces. ________ you are a senior executive or organizational leader, you may want to reconsider how you capture information in meetings. If the goal is to capture as ________ information in as accurate a way as possible, perhaps laptops are the way to ________. However, if your goal is to maximize learning and conceptual understanding, it may be extremely beneficial to ________ your laptop or iPad in the office and bring some pens and paper.

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