International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210
International Journal of Progressive Education
International Association of Educators

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2023, Vol. 19(2) 1-18

Are iGen Freshman Different? Notetaking Habits of STEM Students: A Descriptive Study

Marie-Christine Potvin, Monique Chabot, Abigail Garrity, Richard Hass, Colleen Zane & Anne Bower

pp. 1 - 18   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2023.534.1   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2102-20-0002.R1

Published online: April 01, 2023  |   Number of Views: 253  |  Number of Download: 248

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Abstract

Notetaking practices (e.g., modality, strategies) as well as confidence with notetaking has been linked to college success. A descriptive study was undertaken to explore the notetaking practice of a sample of freshman STEM students (n=139) over the duration of their first semester in college. The study found that iGen STEM students prefer taking handwritten notes when entering college, and that this preference persists throughout the first semester. Students report using a variety of strategies consistently throughout the semester while taking notes (e.g., abbreviation, summarizing, highlighting) and a desire to improve their time efficiency with notetaking.  Students report use of more active learning strategies when interacting with their notes by the end of the first semester. While the amount of time spent engaging with their notes remained constant at 2.5 to 3 hours per week per class, more students created their own test questions, used drawing and labelling, and wrote connections between concepts by the end of the first semester.  STEM students from the iGen generation demonstrate a preference for handwritten notes.  They appear to adjusted their notetaking strategies over the semester and interacted with their notes in ways that supported learning.

Keywords: Note-Taking, iGen, Freshman

How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Potvin, M., Chabot, M., Garrity, A., Hass, R., Zane, C. & Bower, A. (2023). Are iGen Freshman Different? Notetaking Habits of STEM Students: A Descriptive Study . International Journal of Progressive Education, 19(2), 1-18. doi: 10.29329/ijpe.2023.534.1

Harvard
Potvin, M., Chabot, M., Garrity, A., Hass, R., Zane, C. and Bower, A. (2023). Are iGen Freshman Different? Notetaking Habits of STEM Students: A Descriptive Study . International Journal of Progressive Education, 19(2), pp. 1-18.

Chicago 16th edition
Potvin, Marie-Christine, Monique Chabot, Abigail Garrity, Richard Hass, Colleen Zane and Anne Bower (2023). "Are iGen Freshman Different? Notetaking Habits of STEM Students: A Descriptive Study ". International Journal of Progressive Education 19 (2):1-18. doi:10.29329/ijpe.2023.534.1.
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