Do your third level students use an iPad for taking notes in lectures?

[ShmartyPants]

My son is about to start studying maths in uni and thinks an iPad would be best for taking notes as it would make it easier to organise his notes on his computer.

Do your kids(particularly maths students) use an iPad and if so which one?

DD studies biomedical science and really likes hers, especially when it comes to doing calculations and rough working out. Less pieces of paper to worry about!

My DD used one during her PE PGCE. She said it made her life so much easier than having lots of bits of paper.

Yes both DCs use/used iPads for lecture notes - science subjects.

Could people be so kind as to give me specific models that they recommend as I'm bit of a techno phone and the different models are so confusing?

I probably shouldn't have limited it to iPads in the title because we're perfectly happy to get Android if that's better value etc.

DD is only Yr11 but her (state) school require them to have a laptop from Yr7. Hers needed replacing over the summer and we went for a Lenovo which is touchscreen and the keyboard can be flipped around and under so the laptop is then like a tablet. It’s heavier than a tablet but, one week in, and DD is really liking it. We also got her a “pen” so she can write on the screen.
We actually went into Curry’s and were pleasantly surprised at how helpful & knowledgeable their staff were.
My only concern about this laptop is how durable the hinges are on the keyboard

My DD used a mini iPad to take notes, with a pen, during her biosciences degree. She'd then go over notes on her laptop once back in her room.

Check if your son prefers to handwrite or type notes and make sure whatever you choose supports that (external keyboard or touch screen). I much prefer to handwrite.

I would get the bigger iPad with keyboard and pen. Very expensive, however it will last a LONG time. That's what I used during my degree and ever since. It doubles as a laptop really well in that configuration as well.

Android is better value in the short term. I don't find the products as good as Apple.

Mine uses an iPad pro with keyboard. The pencil is also good for quick notes.

If you get an iPad, get an Apple laptop so it syncs the notes - DD used notability but there’s plenty of note taking apps out there.

She did it for me when I’d a thing to sign and send back - sent the form to her by email, she opened it on the iPad, I signed it with the pencil and she emailed me it back.

What notes apps are people using, out of interest?

As I said, DD used Notability. It’s paid for but I don’t think it was dear. I think it used to be free?

I think I’d rather a MacBook for notes or a large iPad with a keyboard. I’ve never used a pen with my iPad though.

He wants to write cos' he said it's difficult to type maths equations etc quickly.

My maths lectures were like an inefficient photocopier. Often too busy writing to take it in. I wonder if things have changed?

My daughter started her maths degree without an iPad and we got her one with a pen for her November birthday that year. She finds it the best and quickest way to get equations down using the pen which puts the handwritten equation into tidy fonts.

Mine both graduated last year, one used paper to take notes then type them up. The advantage of this is the act of typing them helps to retain. The other just left them as handwritten notes but she didn’t actually have exams as an assessment so a bit different

DD used Onenote on her iPad and could sync it with her regular laptop with microsoft.

DD2 doesn't have an iPad but will use a tablet with a pen. And laptop in her room. Although you could just connect the tablet to a monitor if you need a bigger screen.

There's research that shows writing is better than typing.

Would you know the exact model please?

I didn’t know one note could sync. That’s a good shout!

My son uses a lenovo tablet that has a detachable keyboard, stylus and the cursive app. It's a Lenovo duet 5. We are not an Apple household, he wanted to be able to use Google stuff as that's what his school has.

Yes, it's good to know isn't it, because universities will typically use Microsoft and their students will be using OneDrive. Those with iPads can get the Onenote app.

OP, all iPads will do what you want. If possible go to an Apple Store or a John Lewis or similar and look at them as the only real difference is the size and the storage space. The rest of the difference is things like screen resolution and speed which really won't make a difference for writing notes in a lecture. The very smallest / lowest in this respect might be too little, but all the others will be absolutely fine.

You can still use Google and Microsoft apps on Apple stuff. I don't generally, other than Word etc.