Digital notetaking is not without its dangers. James Loeffler, Professor at the University of Virginia, wrote for TIME about why he banned laptops from several courses.

Distraction is obviously one reason. But among the attentive, Loeffler noticed that laptops had become a way to record everything, when part of the art of notetaking is knowing what to record and what to let go.

So for those taking digital notes, I offer these suggestions:

1. Find a way to actually compress your notes. If you have a tablet that allows you to write, this will likely be slower than typing, and you will not take too many. When I take digital notes, I am more likely to be writing on my screen than typing.
2. Try an app like Evernote or OneNote, which are designed for digital notetaking.
3. Make sure you have a backup of your digital notes.
4. Don’t forget to review your notes! This may be easier when they are digital.

While I do take paper notes in most of my classes (from math to history), digital notes are my preference for computer science and engineering classes. Pencil and paper can be more reliable in the act itself — I have never had my paper “crash” — but when I need to take notes on code or when the instructor gives us digital slides, I gravitate toward my college-issued computer. It is probably also true that, if you have a backup, digital notes are actually safer than paper ones.

Question: What have you learned about taking notes, digital or otherwise?