There’s something powerful about writing things down by hand.

In a world of shared Google Docs, AI summaries, and conference slide decks that land in our inbox before the keynote even ends, it might seem unnecessary. But research, and my own experience, tell a different story.

When we write by hand, with pen and paper, and yes, even a stylus and tablet counts, we see greater brain activity. A study in Frontiers in Psychology  found that those writing by hand had higher levels of electrical activity across a wide range of interconnected brain regions responsible for movement, vision, sensory processing and memory. The same study suggested that “when taking notes by hand, it’s often impossible to write everything down; students have to actively pay attention to the incoming information and process it—prioritize it, consolidate it and try to relate it to things they’ve learned before. This conscious action of building onto existing knowledge can make it easier to stay engaged and grasp new concepts.

When we take notes by hand:

• We process information more deeply.
• We slow down enough to think.
• We remember more.
• We make meaning instead of just recording content.

If typing captures words then handwriting captures thinking.

I always take handwritten notes whenever I’m at a conference or professional development event. I’m intentional about what, and how, I write so that I can remember the key points. I’ll note what nudged my thinking, I’ll quote the presenter, I’ll list resources that I aim to check out in the future and if I’m watching a PE session I’ll probably sketch out the activity alongside my notes. When I return back to school and revisit my notes, I take a highlighter and identify the information that I plan to action in the coming weeks.

I’ve written before about my love of notebooks and have quite the collection of old Moleskine books that contain my thoughts and ramblings throughout the years. Hidden in between to-do lists, and notes to myself, are the notes that I’ve taken at PD events. And that’s the problem – they’re hidden. While I might remember the awesome IAHPERD session from Adam Metcalf on Global Games, it might be difficult to locate my original notes, and that’s why I decided to create a single-purpose notebook that I can set aside specifically for professional development note taking.

A simple way to create your own notebook (if you’ve ever thought about it)

I’d seen the social media posts about how it easy it was to design and print notebooks (ignoring the promises that it would also make me thousands of dollars – bahahaha) and was intrigued. After watching this YouTube video and some trial and error I realised that the process is surprisingly simple:

1. Design your interior pages in Canva (or any design tool).
2. Export as a print-ready PDF.
3. Upload to Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
4. Add a cover, description, and hit publish.
5. Amazon prints it on demand when someone orders it.

That’s it.

What makes my notebook unique, and ideal for HPE teachers?

Each spread features a unique layout – the right side includes a unique motivational quote and is lined for traditional note-taking, while the left side boasts an emotional check-in, plus grid dots, providing a canvas for diagrams, sketches, and organized lists. But that’s not all – a dedicated page guides educators with a curated list of thought-provoking questions, ensuring intentional and focused engagement throughout the conference.

I love seeing my notebook being used at conferences (and sharing on Instagram). The dotted pages are great for sketching #PhysEd activity layouts, the check-in emojis are fun, and I appreciate the unique quote on each lined page.

The real reward of creating this notebook was never the sales number, it was the friction, the thinking, the designing, and the refining. Bringing an idea from a blank page to something teachers now carry into conferences feels far more meaningful than any sales metric. I’m proud that I made something tangible, something useful, and something that reflects how I think about professional learning. I love seeing teachers open it during sessions, jotting ideas, sketching connections. And maybe the best endorsement of all? I use it myself. It works for me, and that’s what made it worth creating in the first place.

Conference season is always around the corner. Whether it’s a state event, a district PD day, or a national conference you’ve been looking forward to all year, don’t leave your professional learning to scattered pages and forgotten notes. If you value reflection, intention, and turning ideas into action, consider ordering your copy of Educator Conference Notes in advance of your next event. Pack it in your bag. Bring your favorite pen. And give yourself a dedicated space to capture the ideas that might just shape your teaching in the months ahead.

If you enjoyed this blog post, you might also enjoy:

Why I’m Making 2006 My Analog Year

Why Writing by Hand Beats Typing for Thinking and Learning via NPR