Keep it Classy: Analog versus Digital.

Technology has become a vital part of our school work. As a college student, I have to say I run into a lot of technical difficulties.

Some teachers treat your class like an online class and put EVERYTHING on your campus's eLearning site. Some teachers are anti-tech and refuse to allow computers, assuming that all students are fooling around on Facebook instead of writing notes.

I've experimented with both the "old fashioned" and the digital method. I lean toward the digital method, mostly because I prefer typing over writing (hand cramps are expected with 17 credit hours). But I found a happy medium. So how did I balance digital and old school studies? It turned out to be really simple.

*Keep a Binder. My mom got me some really nice fabric-covered binders.
*Page Protectors. Instead of messy hole puncher, use page protectors to keep handouts, note cards, and whatever else safe. Unless you carry your binder upside down, there's no easy way to loose them.
*Highlight the Good Stuff. I used to be very anti-highlighter. Mostly because I over highlighted. I found that if I highlighted what my teachers covered, I was pretty much set. However, this does vary from professor to professor.
*Type your notes. Super easy to make edits, and it's okay if you spell something wrong or jumble something. You can make sense of it after you've typed what your teacher said to turn into true verbatim.
*Thank your Prof for spending time typing up notes and uploading them for your use. A thank-you note would be a nice touch. Another nice touch would be using them.
*Pay attention. Don't Facebook in the front row. If you have real trouble, go to "File" and check "Work Offline" to try and keep yourself in check.
*Keep Everything on a JumpDrive. I have a cute penguin one! This way you aren't relying on your computer if it crashes.
*Guard your JumpDrive with your life. I've had success keeping it on my keys or in a special spot in my bag.
*Keep both a digital and hard copy agenda. Therefore there is no way you will miss something.
*If you just can't pay attention, Record your Lecture. You'll thank me later....

So this is how I do it. The multimedia method will of course need some tweaking for each person, but it's worth a shot if you stand in the middle.

How do you stay organized in class? Paper, Digital, or both? Let me know how you do it!