Exactly. I use digital to keep notes (e.g. meeting minutes) which I need to refer to and lookup regularly.
I use a notebook to write stuff down while studying. I don't always refer back to them. Especially not after I've finished studying the topic but the process ingrains the ideas into my head in a way that typing can't. I also draw diagrams and things to illustrate ideas which further help retention.
Ditto. Some notes are evergreen though. I still have the single page of notes I made during your session on building web apps. Specifically, the dev setup necessary to stand up "Something that will last on the public Internet".
And --- you can't make this s*#% up --- that was twelve years to the day (I just checked); 14 Feb 2012.
As it turns out, that page is still entirely relevant, and I'm still working on it. [Insert :sweat-smile: emoji].
Back to hand writing; Too late in life I realised its value. I spent all my school and college life absolutely hating it --- writing was too hard.
Now I use it when I really need to pay attention to detail. It compels me to slow down and that is how I absorb material better. Further, I realized it is most useful when I am reading / thinking on my own, whereas live classroom note-taking disconnects me from the topic. So now I just listen through live lectures and only jot down keywords at points of confusion and/or insight.
This applies to code too. From time to time, for difficult topics, I will hand-copy code from textbook examples, and also hand-evaluate them on paper before typing the thing into the computer to see if it works. Even if I am following along by typing directly in my Emacs, I always type out any demo / sample code; never copy-pasting. Some of the mechanics remain the same; i.e. slow down, breathe, and pay attention to detail.
I use a notebook to write stuff down while studying. I don't always refer back to them. Especially not after I've finished studying the topic but the process ingrains the ideas into my head in a way that typing can't. I also draw diagrams and things to illustrate ideas which further help retention.