Notetaking Assistance
- A notetaker is a volunteer who provides copies of their notes to a student with a disability.
- If a notetaker is needed in a course, the instructor will make an announcement asking for volunteers. You can then let them know you're interested and provide your notes for review.
- You could also let the instructor know that if someone ends up needing notes in the course, you are willing. You should show the instructor an example of your notes.
- You can sign up to be a notetaker on the Accommodation Request Portal before an announcement is made, as well. If a notetaker is required, you will receive an email pairing you with a student.
- Take notes during class
- Attend all classes - if you must miss a class, alert both the student(s) receiving your notes and the instructor
- Take clear and concise notes
- Make sure your notes are legible (or use a computer)
- Be prepared for class
- Sit near the front, or in the place you're best able to pay attention
- Upload your notes to ARP as soon as possible - preferably within 24 hours, but no more than 48 hours after class
- Properly label your notes:
- Class number OR Name of class AND
- Section number AND
- Instructor name AND
- Date of notes AND
- Number each page
- Check your notes before uploading them - be sure they're good quality, clarify things that need clarifying, correct spelling errors, add additional information if necessary
- Keep the name of the student(s) you are taking notes for confidential
- Track your volunteer hours and turn in the tracking page at the end of the semester
- Scan your notes - if you need help, ask a library staff member or a CSD student employee
- Sign on to the Accommodation Request Portal
- Click on "Notetaker" in the top black ribbon
- Click on "Upload and View Notes"
- Choose your class from the dropdown
- Choose the week from the dropdown
- Choose the day(s)
- Click "Choose File" and find the notes you want to upload
- Click "Upload Notes"
- Remember - this not only assists a student/students in your class, but it also helps you become a more effective note taker!
- Feel free to use understandable abbreviations and symbols (for example, etc., misc., i.e.).
- Drawings are good too as long as they are clear and not too complicated.
- Listen for big ideas and key words
- Facts o Connections
- Main ideas
- Questions to Ask Yourself
- What is the topic?
- What do I need to know about the topic?
- Why is this topic important?
- What is an example of this topic?
- How did this event or procedure come about?
- Look for instructor's verbal cues o Repeating information
- Pausing or slowing down
- Talking louder
- Saying things like...
- "The main cause was..."
- "Something you should remember is..."
- Look for instructor's non-verbal cues
- Hand gestures
- Pointing at words on the board - be sure to copy all of the information the instructor writes on the board
- Instructor looks at students' notes to make sure they are writing things down correctly
- Avoid using pen colors other than black, dark blue, and red; light colors can be difficult to scan
- Pen is better than pencil for the same reason; if writing in pencil, be sure your marks are dark
- Avoid using highlighters, unless you are careful to scan in color every time
- If using highlighters, stay away from light blue and any shade of red, orange, and pink; the scanner may miss the blue, and may translate the red/orange/pink as black
- Skip lines
- Box formulas
- Identify videos, books referenced, etc.
- Indicate if the information is from someone other than the professor (i.e. a student from the class)
- Emphasize important points by
- Underlining o Using bigger letters
- Using symbols such as stars
- Leave blank spaces in your notes if you're unsure of the information