TY - JOUR AB - Purpose The purpose of this study is to recommend the university authorities to build better teaching-learning environment for its students to use variables and multiple note-taking methods in class for best results fundamental in each method.Design/methodology/approach The study is a case study that follows a ‘problem-driven’ approach concerned specifically with providing practical solutions to real-world problems. A sample size of 320 respondents was obtained, in which 300 were university students selected from the first, second and third years of study and 20 were professors.Findings This case study made it very obvious to all that mobile phone note-taking is a regular practice among students at Bankura University. At the same time, the study also reveals that the practice does not significantly differ based on students’ sex.Research limitations/implications Based on the findings, the study recommends for the need to educate students on the importance of paper and pencil note-taking method so that they do not fall prey to such risks. A befitting environment should be created so that students can use various methods of note-taking in classrooms avoiding their negative impacts.Practical implications It has a wide implication in the modern age where cutting-edge technologies are shaping our course actions every day. We cannot keep ourselves from this technological association and our mobile phones have become our friend, philosopher and guide. In this scenario, this study bears a big implication in itself.Originality/value This study is based on the authors’ ground study and is purely original and unique in the true sense. VL - 17 IS - 1 SN - 1741-5659 DO - 10.1108/ITSE-09-2018-0063 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/ITSE-09-2018-0063 AU - Kundu Arnab AU - Bej Tripti PY - 2019 Y1 - 2019/01/01 TI - Mobile phone vs paper-pencil mode of note-taking, a case study among the students of Bankura University T2 - Interactive Technology and Smart Education PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 1 EP - 13 Y2 - 2024/04/25 ER -