Pixel or Paper: Noting the Differences Between the iPad and Notebook for Students

Intuitively, students' academic success is contingent on their ability to retain knowledge. With classes, at Parker in particular, spaced out with at least 48 hours in between, expecting students to passively listen to lectures and return to following class periods having retained the entirety of the previously delivered information is unreasonable. Notes, then, hold significant value. Note-taking, requiring students to be actively attentive to record all facets of a lesson, is foundational to the ability to revisit information more effectively and the mindset students enter the classroom with on a day-to-day basis. As a concept, it merely consists of writing down the information presented. However, the way in which note-taking is done is not uniform; instead, it takes many forms. Primarily, though, it is done with a notebook in pen(s) or pencil(s). Realistically, how else could it be done? Well, originating with the release of the iPad in 2010, the iPad has introduced great utility to academic performance. Especially after the release of the Apple Pencil in 2015, the iPad became a standard tool, particularly for college students, to take efficient and organized notes. In this comparison between physical and digital, the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing a notebook or an iPad will be explored to, hopefully, aid in informing your decision and clear possible indecisiveness.

Climate change and our actions’ effects on the environment are a beneficially pervasive topic of discussion, with over 60% of adults reporting that they view steps to mitigate climate change as favorable for America. Considering this, the iPad's economic impact versus the notebook's is stark. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs), it would take the iPad over seven hours of use to generate more GGEs than a single sheet of paper–generating 0.002 KG of CO2 per hour compared to a sheet of paper’s 0.02 KG. However, iPads are much harder to dispose of. Once at the end of their lives, iPads are harmful to the environment by contributing to long-lasting e-waste and are not bio-degradable. Instead, though, iPads can be recycled by returning them to Apple once dead.

The next step in considering the two is their respective functionalities. Here, the iPad takes the cake on all fronts. Simply buying an apple pencil grants the utilization of almost every writing utensil in a pencil case. When totaled, the $70 investment is often less expensive than the total of a pencil case's contents. Additionally, the Apple Pencil saves substantial space, being significantly smaller than an entire pencil case. In terms of efficiency, free apps like Notability and Goodnotes, which unfortunately include in-app purchases, provide all the functions of a notebook while condensing a backpack full of notebooks into 10.86 inches. While it can be argued that the paper-like feeling of writing is more enjoyable, paper-like screen protectors can be found for less than $10.

The final and often most important consideration is cost. To be able to experience the aforementioned benefits first requires the unfortunate task of purchasing an iPad. The most commonly purchased iPad is the 10th Generation model, currently on-sale for $237.99 at Target. However, seeking out lower prices for older generations and cheaper models may do the trick in avoiding this steep price. So, for $119, you can find a Restored Apple iPad Air at Walmart. Not including accessories like a case, Apple Pencil, etc., the exorbitant price of an iPad is highly deterrent. Suppose a student, at Parker in particular, takes an average of eight classes, not including a study hall, over a four-year period. In that case, they might use around 35 individual notebooks for each class. Composition notebooks costing as cheap as $1, $35 plus a few pens or pencils is all it takes to take notes physically throughout one's entire high school career. Compared to the iPad’s $119+ cost, physical notes are the clear winner in this aspect.

This ongoing debate is truly multifaceted, undermining a clear verdict. Insofar as the three aspects of the debate outlined in this article are subjectively valuable to different people, I hope the information presented helped influence, or maybe de-influence, your independent decision, irrespective of the opinions wealthy influencers on TikTok or Instagram may have.