Students with barriers pertaining to the act of note taking notes may have access to utilize a volunteer peer note taker.
Generally, students are encouraged to attend class at least once to determine if the course will be structured in such a way that limitations will lead to missed information. Students who decide to utilize their volunteer note taker accommodation must complete the Note Taker Request Form (each semester).
Things to know about this accommodation:
- Students must be approved and have a current Letter of Accommodation for the semester during which the note-taker is being requested
- Note takers are not paid, rather they are peers from the course volunteering to share their notes with OSD
- OSD will make every attempt to collect notes, though the quality, quantity, and frequency of the notes themselves cannot be guaranteed
- Students requesting a note taker are kept anonymous, volunteers simply know they are sharing their notes for a student in the class
How to request a volunteer note taker
- Complete the Note Taker Request Form for the course(s) you would like to use this accommodation in (each semester)
- OSD will contact course instructor requesting a volunteer
- Once a volunteer is identified they will send copies of notes to OSD to be distributed
- OSD distributes notes via email to the student who requested them within 24 hours of receiving the file
Information for Volunteer Note Takers
Thank you for volunteering to take notes for a student in need of access to the information in your course! While this is not a paid position, the experience could be used as community service, to enhance your resume, build leadership skills, and much more.
You may be a great note taker if you:
- Attend class regularly
- Have a method to organize your notes, or use a specific note taking style (bullet notes, Cornell notes, etc.)
- Are an active listener
- Have specific experience, interest, or expertise in the content area
How to be a Volunteer Note Taker
If an instructor or staff from OSD initiates a request for a volunteer note taker, please consider this opportunity to support the academic success of a classmate. Requests for note takers may come via email, D2L announcement, or verbally in class.
Steps to volunteering
- Share your email address, phone number, and start ID with OSD to be listed in the volunteer note taker database
- Take notes as you always have in your class
- Label each note session with the Class, Section, Date, and Topic (if applicable)
- Example: CHEM 1061-31, 8/24/2021, Cell Structure
- DO NOT put your name on the notes
- Consider electronic notes—typed notes are easiest to coordinate and read
- Please use pen or ink for handwritten notes when possible
- Send a copy of your notes to OSD after each class using one of the following methods:
- Typed notes can be sent via email to OSD@anokaramsey.edu (Word document format)
- Microsoft 365 Word has a “Share” option in the upper right corner of the tool bar. Click “Share” and “attach a copy instead” at the bottom of the prompt. This will generate an email with the word document attached.
- Use a scanner application to make your physical notes digital and email them to OSD@anokaramsey.edu
Tips for Volunteer Note Takers
- Note important ideas, terms, concepts
- Explain abbreviations or acronyms when using them for the first time
- Ask questions about topics that need more clarification
- Indicate uncertainty about content with a question mark or side note
- Consider reviewing notes before they are sent to OSD
What to include in your notes
- Information written/typed on the board or presented on projector (if PowerPoint slides are provided, you do not need to repeat content
- Any information that is repeated or emphasized, i.e. “this is important”, “this will be on your exam”, “don’t forget this”
- Numbered or listed items, procedures, examples
- Use key words, dates, phrases for fast-paced lectures as needed
