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Note Taking
Get involved in the Laurier community with something you're already doing... taking lecture notes!
Accessible Learning provides access to note taking support for registered Accessible Learning students who have been approved for this classroom accommodation.
On this page:
How Your Notes Help
The fundamental design of lectures can make note taking challenging for some students with disabilities. It is not uncommon for lectures and lecture rooms to have extraneous noise and distractions, uncomfortable chairs and few breaks, presentation of highly visual material, and fast-paced delivery of content. These factors can impede the ability of someone with chronic pain, ADHD, a learning disability or sensory impairment, for example, to take comprehensive notes.
By being a note taker, you can:
- Feel good about helping another student.
- Improve your notes by being more conscious about what you're writing.
- Receive valuable references for a job well done.
- Gain experience to include on your resume and your Laurier Experience Record.
How to Apply
- Access the Online Note Taker application at AL online.
- Fill in requested information to create your profile.
- Click the button "register as a note-taker" (you are now registered).
- Sign into AL online using your Laurier user name and password
- This page is a different log in page than Step 1.
- If you have difficulties logging in, try accessing the link in a new tab.
- Verify the correct term is displayed.
- Enter your course CRN (course registration numbers). If you do not know your CRN for your course, you can look them up in LORIS.
- Read, sign and submit your note taker contract.
- Verify that you entered your course information correctly and submit your class schedule.
If you are selected to be a note taker, we will email your @mylaurier.ca email account.
Check your email regularly, as we are continuously assigning note takers throughout the term.
Posting notes
Note receivers need the notes as soon as possible after the lecture. This might depend on the course, but generally we ask you to post the notes within two to three days of the class.
Confidentiality
Maintain the confidentiality of student- and disability-related information at all times. Do not disclose the student’s name or the nature of the service being provided.
Attendance
It is your responsibility to attend class on a regular basis and to provide notes for every lecture.
- If you miss class: We understand that sometimes missing class is unavoidable. Please immediately borrow suitable notes from another student to post. We also suggest that you upload a document for that particular week letting students know that notes may be posted late.
- If the note receiver misses class: Note receivers must attend class and take their own notes. There are disability-related reasons that can lead to a student missing class; Accessible Learning will deal with these issues. If you notice that a student misses more than two classes, please contact Accessible Learning to let us know.
Boundaries
You are not responsible for tutoring, helping with assignments, or providing information from readings. If note receivers approach you for this assistance, please respectfully decline and refer them back to Accessible Learning.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Persons who are in a familial, sexual, marital or financial relationship (per university policy 8.1) with an Accessible Learning registered student may not act as a tutor, proctor or note taker for that student.
Should such a relationship begin, Accessible Learning should be immediately informed and alternative arrangements for note taking will be made by the staff at the centre.
In order to ensure that your notes are most beneficial to students accessing them, it is important to follow a few general guidelines:
- Notes should be well organized. Include dates, course name, headings and subtitles.
- Look for and follow the organization of the lecture.
- Indent information under related headings.
- Leave blanks when unsure and get clarification after class.
- Circle, star, or highlight assignments and announcements such as test dates and due dates.
- Include notes from slides, videos, guests and/or presentations that contain information that may be evaluated (verify with the instructor if you’re unsure).
- If notes are not given on a particular class meeting, post the following: “No notes for the class meeting on MM/DD/YYYY.” If known, write the reason that no notes were provided (e.g., class was cancelled due to weather).
Be sure to post your notes within two to three days of the lecture. Use the following instructions for posting notes.
- Log in to the Accessible Learning Online portal using your MyLaurier username (e.g. smit6789) and password.
- In the home screen, scroll down to "File Information."
- Using the drop-down menu, select the course for which you wish to upload notes. If you're a note taker for more than one course, ensure you select the correct course.
- Enter the week number in the "Notes for:" field.
- Select the day(s) of the week your notes were taken (e.g. Tuesday and Thursday).
- Select your files using the "Choose File" button.
- Select "Open."
- Select "Upload Notes."
- If you want to be anonymous, select "hide my name from student."
- Ensure your notes were uploaded to the system successfully. Look for a green circle and checkmark and a "System Update Successful" notification at the top of the page.
If you have any problems with this process, let Accessible Learning know immediately. You can also check out our note taking FAQs.
Note Takers
At the completion of each term, you will be asked to complete a note taking evaluation form. We are interested in your constructive feedback so that we may continuously make improvements to enhance the program.
Note Receivers
Toward the end of each term, Accessible Learning asks each note receiver to review their note takers. Posting your notes consistently and with all the relevant additional discussion points from the class can earn you a good rating. You should also be aware that we often do spot checks to ensure notes are being posted regularly.
Come prepared for the lecture so you know the topic and what is going to be discussed:
- Complete the readings.
- Skim over previous notes.
- Review and download any slides posted by the professor in advance.
- Review the syllabus.
Pay attention to the details and be sure to record:
- Anything written on the board.
- Any information that is repeated or emphasized.
- Numbered or listed items.
- New terms and definitions.
- Examples.
Once class is finished, always review your notes:
- Fill in any missing information.
- Expand on key points, as remembered.
- Check and correct spelling and grammar.
- Post notes online.
Tips and Tricks
Tips from the Accessible Learning Centre
- Sit at the front of the classroom.
- If you are unsure of spelling, use "sp?" and check it/correct it later.
- Be an active participant and ask questions.
- Expand/elaborate on key points.
- Make friends so you can get missed notes.
- Eliminate distractions, such as the internet, while note-taking.
Tips from Previous Note Takers
- Read over your notes before posting.
- Good time management is key and make sure to spell check!
- Set an alarm/reminder to post your notes at the end of the week and pay attention in class (this helps both you and the note-receiver!).
- Reduce distractions.
- Keep notes clearly labelled and organized.
- Have a backup if you cannot attend class.
- Take notes the way you want to take notes and recognize the small (but awesome) difference you’re making on campus.
- Ask for clarification if you are unsure of something; talk to the professor.
Take Advantage of PowerPoint Slides
If the professor posts slides in advance of the class, you can easily use these to help with your note taking. There are many ways to add your notes to PowerPoint presentations, and you are welcome to try any of them:
- Add notes in the notes section;
- Type directly on the slide; or
- Convert to an outline and add your notes to a Word document.