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Embarrasing question about going back to school - LOL

Posted: Feb 03, 2015

I'm going back to school in May to study coding at my local junior college. Some of the classes are online and some are classroom. The last time I attended school we took notes with a pen and notebook. If I take a pen and nootbook, will I be the only one in class doing so? Do I need to get what they now refer to as a "tablet" even though I'm not sure what one is?

My thoughts .... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you should do whatever feels comfortable and works for you. You might, however, consider getting a digital recorder. Then you can listen to the information presented in class again, in addition to studying your notes. Good luck to you. I'm sure you will do well.

Find Out - What is Required

[ In Reply To ..]
Double check the list of things you are required to have for class. If the tablet or whatever is not on there, then do what's comfortable for you. I agree with a digital recorder and let the instructor and class know you are recording.

As to whether you will "be the only one" with a pen and notebook, I doubt it--a lot of older people attend classes these days. A lot of these credential courses (as opposed to a degree) have a lot of older folks because they don't take as long to complete as a degree program.

Even if you are the only one with a pen and notebook, so what? Knock yourself out!

Find out what is required - Gross generalization

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't know what age you consider to be "older," but I'm 60 and take notes on a tablet, but no class will ever require students to have one. "Older people" are not technologically illiterate. "Older people" also enter graduate school and enroll in 4-year degree programs and do not necessarily take "these credential courses." Thanks for the generalization. You too will be old some day.

I do not think that tablets have progressed enough-sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
that they are efficient for note taking. My guess is that you will likely find a tablet or an e-reader an asset for textbooks but not for note taking. Good luck.

Textbooks are online and cheaper that way - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Local college requires lap top or tablet for downloading texts and course work. Check with the college or instructor. Not a stupid question.

That is a very GOOD question. - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
A tablet is like a small laptop minus the keyboard. They are lightweight so you can hold them with one hand and read comfortably. When you want to type something, a virtual keyboard appears on screen so you can just tap the letters. IPad and Kindle Fires are examples of tablets, with the iPad being very expensive. Kindles are mostly dedicated e-readers.

I am a coder and have taught coding. I have also tried to use ebooks and hate them. I have several which I carry around on a kindle fire in case I need to look something up, but in my office I use paper. You can use an ebook for non-coding courses, but I do not recommend it for coding. You need those pages so you can flip around and SEE what is there. It is very hard to make good notes in ebooks.

You can get books on Amazon for great prices used, and rent them, if you plan ahead. Colleges love changing things at the last minute, making this difficult.

Your classes will all be on an online course management system, I think. For the in person ones, you will just have classes in addition. Course mgmt systems are a kind of course folder. Each of your courses is there. Each lists all the weeks, all the tests, all the assignments, and has a discussion forum. You do everything there from looking at the syllabus to turning in assignments and taking tests. Lectures may even be recorded there, but a lot of online courses just plop in course material from publishers. (I took coding that way for my RHIA, and it was horrible. Most of the class dropped out by midterm because the materials were so awful and the instructors RHIAs, but had never coded.)

You SHOULD take notes on paper. Studies are showing that only writing by hand facilitates learning. Typing does not. You will NOT be able to do this on a tablet or laptop. Yes, you should get a digital recorder but do not plan to relisten to everything. You won't have time. It is just for insurance.

Ignore what others are doing. You have no idea what kind of student they are. Do not assume they have any edge on you, because they don't. I also advise against getting involved in pointless study groups. Those have been shown to be mostly useless.

If you have questions, even while you are in school, please come to the coding board to ask. We have all been there, you know, and we can help. You may find that your instructors are not very helpful, so we might be able to fill in.

iPad versus Kindle - My opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes iPads are expensive compared to Kindles but my Kindle went in the drawer when I got my iPad, I love it and think it was worth the money. My preference is e-books, mainly because you don't have to carry them around. I know several people who attend school who use tablets to take notes, you need to see what works best for you. I don't know if it's ever been proved that people learn better when they write rather than type. I've never been a note taker because if I am in a hurry and go back later to review sometimes I can't decipher my shorthand or abbreviations. Just find the learning tools that work best for you because not everyone likes the same thing.

One more thing - Old person

[ In Reply To ..]
If a person has an iPad, there are note taking apps available where you can write with a stylus just as if you were using pen and paper. There is also a small tablet called the Samsung note with a built in stylus for note taking, just a couple of other options I forgot to mention before, good luck with your class.

Back to school - lgf1118

[ In Reply To ..]
I went back to college to finish what I had started 30 years ago. Surprisingly, the evening classes had a few youngsters, but about half the people were in my age group. I saw a few laptops but no tablets. Everyone still uses the old school method of pen and notebook to take notes.

thank you all for your replies - I appreciate it. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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