Preservation of Knowledge: In the Middle Ages, books were rare and expensive to produce. Copying manuscripts was a common way to preserve and disseminate knowledge. By requiring students to copy texts, universities helped ensure that important scholarly works could be accessed by future generations.
Active Learning: Note-taking and copying were considered active learning strategies. By engaging with the material in this way, students could better understand and retain the information being taught.
Development of Critical Thinking: The process of copying and taking notes also helped students develop critical thinking skills. They had to analyze and understand the texts they were copying, rather than simply memorizing them verbatim.
Assessment of Learning: Note-taking and copying were also used as forms of assessment. By reviewing students' notes and copies, instructors could gauge their understanding of the material and provide feedback.
Training in Scholarly Practices: Copying manuscripts was a central part of medieval scholarship. By requiring students to participate in this practice, universities were preparing them for their future roles as scholars and intellectuals.