Note Taker Handout

Disability Resource Center

Main Campus, B132

Phone: 425-564-2498

Fax: 425-564-4138

TTY: 425-564-4110

Interested in being a note taker? Read on!

You have been asked to provide a copy of your notes to a student with a disability. The student's disability may be obvious; it may not. This information is confidential, and some students do not like to share it.

Whatever the disability, it makes it difficult for the student to take written notes in class. The student may be able to listen better and profit more from their own notes if they can use additional notes from a classmate who does not share their disability.

Your notes will be valuable study material for the student. You may also find that by taking careful notes and using the following guidelines, your notes will be better, clearer, and more useful to you.

You can submit notes in 3 ways:

2-part carbon note taker paper, that the DRC provides

Bring your notebook into the DRC, and we can make copies for you

Email the DRC with the electronic copy of your notes, and we can print them out

Tips to make your notes more useful for someone else (and you).

  1. Label each set of notes with the class, lecture title and date
  2. Listen intently: The instructor may outline the lecture in the first few minutes and will often make sure that important details are covered in the last 5 to 10 minutes of class.
  3. Circle or star (*) assignments and announcements; such as test dates or group/class assignments
  4. Write as many meaningful facts as you can:
  5. Write down everything on the white board; the instructor must think it’s important
  6. Record all facts, names, dates, equations and diagrams
  7. Note “clues” the instructor gives indicating that something is important, such as the repetition of a definition or a point of information, etc.

5. Make the notes easier to read and more effective by:

  1. Using one side of the paper only
  2. Writing clearly
  3. Leaving blanks when you are unsure (get clarification from the instructor after class)
  4. Using white space effectively (separate main ideas/topics with a line or two)
  5. Marking points of emphasis (change the print, circle, underline, use stars, etc.)
  6. Underlining definitions
  7. Give notes to the DRC within 24 hours, right after class is best

6. Write in ink (pencil does not copy well)

7. Check out this website for note taker resources:

8. PepNet is a website with resources for note takers.

Your contribution is vital to the success of a student with a disability.

With your cooperation in sharing your notes, the student has a chance to concentrate on the content and the information presented in class instead of getting it down on paper. This shifts the emphasis back to what is to be learned instead of how to learn it and may make all the difference when it comes to grading, tests, and showing what they know.

Important Information

Should you find it necessary to withdraw from the class, please notify the DRC so a replacement note taker can be found as quickly as possible.