Musings on active vs. passive memory (and learning)

I’ve been thinking about why I haven’t adopted AI note-takers. I learn best through active memory, not passive capture. For me, note-taking isn’t a task to offload. It’s part of how I engage, understand, and remember.

It reminds me of something I noticed early on: the difference between borrowing someone else’s notes and taking your own. Their notes might be clearer or more complete, but for some of us, the act of writing is what makes information meaningful.

Sure, your friend's notes might be better structured and more comprehensive, with details you didn't consider and a different point of view.

Sure, you don't have to focus on taking notes.

For me, writing things down is how I stay fully present. It’s how I process what someone said, synthesize it, structure it, re-frame it, and ideate on things. If I’m not actively capturing the conversation, it risks going in one ear and out the other.

These thoughts resurfaced something I’d forgotten: I was taught active learning techniques very early in my life. They became so ingrained that I stopped noticing them. But they still shape how I understand, remember, and build on information today.

Not everyone learns this way, and that’s okay. Learning styles vary, and the methods that support one person’s clarity may not support another’s. For me, active learning happens to be the foundation everything else sits on.

So my takeaway is this: AI can support us in powerful ways, but understanding how you learn is still one of the most valuable tools you have. Sometimes the simplest habits, such as taking your own notes, can be the ones worth keeping.