Fall 2012

 Note takers are volunteers for the Center for Students with Disabilities.  Some students have note taking as a classroom accommodation.  Note takers volunteer to take notes for a student with a disability for a specific class.

 Instructors will announce in class if a note taker is needed.  Once a volunteer has been identified, he/she should come to the Center for Students with Disabilities to fill out a volunteer application.  Note takers are given a log sheet to fill out each time they take notes for the student. At the end of the semester, the note taker turns the log form in to CSD. The following semester, the note taker will receive documentation of community service hours. Note takers will be notified via when the letter is ready for pick-up.

 You will take notes during class.  It is important to remember the following:  Attend all classes (as is possible).  Take clear and concise notes.  Make sure notes are legible (or use a computer).  Be prepared for class. Read assignments, print out Power Points or helpful information the professor may put on-line.  Sit in the front of the class.

 Bring your notes to CSD as soon as possible. At a minimum bring them twice a week (for classes that meet 4 or more times a week) or once a week (for classes that meet 3 times or less a week).  Copy your notes, put them in the basket on the table near the front desk. Please paperclip pages together.

 Properly label your notes….  Class number (i.e. Coaching 359)  Name of Class (i.e. Coaching of Volleyball)  Section Number  Instructor Name (i.e. Boudreau)  Date of Notes  Number each page This helps us scan & file notes accurately!

 Remember – this not only assists a student or students in your class, but it also helps you become a more effective note taker!  Feel free to use understandable abbreviations & symbols (for example: etc., misc., i.e.).  Drawings are good too as long as they are clear & not too complicated.

 Listen for BIG IDEAS & KEY WORDS  Facts  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  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

Listen for Key Words Advantages FindingsRules Benefits FunctionsSolutions Causes Kinds ofStages Characteristics MethodsSteps Conclusions PartsTechniques Disadvantages PrinciplesTypes of Effects PurposesUses Factors ReasonsWays

Listen for Terminology X means… X is also called… X is defined as… X, also referred to as… The definition of X is… X, also known as…

Other Things to Listen for Details: dates, names, facts, statistics, & definitions Ordinals: first, second, third, next, also, another, in addition, last, finally Examples: Examples are used to make the information more interesting, so include a reference (you don’t need to retell the whole story) to the example in your notes to help trigger your memory

Use one side of the paper 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 o Underlining o Writing it darker o Using bigger letters

Go back & check your notes before bringing them to CSD (clarify things that need to be clarified, correct spelling errors, add additional information if necessary) Leave blank spaces in your notes if you’re unsure of the information Ask the student & your instructor for feedback on the notes

Keep the name of the student you are taking notes for confidential. You can talk about the process of note taking (& maybe recruit some new note takers for CSD!), but please don’t mention anyone by name.

Much of this information came from: learning/notetaker

Patty Beran Testing Coordinator Center for Students with Disabilities Andersen Library