disability, dss

Notetaking

The Notetaking Program facilitates the sharing of volunteers’ lecture notes, through Blackboard Learn to eligible students. The program may assist students who have difficulty physically taking notes, who have difficulty hearing the lecture, or who may be easily distracted. The program is confidential for both the Notetaker and the DSS registered student.

How do I take advantage of the Program?

  1. Register with DSS.
  2. Request a letter from DSS for your professor stating that you need a notetaker. Once you get the letter, deliver it to your professor. You must remember to do this at the beginning of each term, even for a Term1/Term 2 class.
  3. Once DSS receives your class information, they will send an e-mail to all the students in your class requesting a volunteer notetaker.
  4. If you have requested letters for term 2 of a 6 credit, Term 1/Term 2 class, then you do not need to deliver the letters to your professors again. Just delete them once you receive them in your inbox. This process ensures the continuation of the Notetaking Service for Term 2 of your classes.
  5. The notetaker must fill out a contract with DSS. There is no need for the notetaker and the recipient to ever meet.
  6. How to access your notes: please see the link on the top right of this page.
  7. Once your notes are downloaded to your computer you can save them wherever you’d like (it is easier to create a file on your desktop for them) or print them off.
  8. Please know that notes are not kept on the site, past the current term. Once the term is over, the notes are taken off, due to lack of space on the web server. If you have a deferred exam and have not downloaded the needed notes, please contact the Notetaking Program who will try and get the notes to you.

How do I become a notetaker?

  1. Notetakers must be registered U of S students.
  2. You must be in a class in which notetaking is required by a student. If a notetaker is required, all students in the class will receive an e-mail from PAWS requesting a volunteer notetaker.
  3. If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Notetaking Program to make an appointment.
  4. A notetaker receives a $40 honorarium to take notes for one class. If you are able to volunteer to take notes for another class, you will receive an increment of $20 for each additional class. For example, if you are taking notes for three classes, you will be paid $80 for the year.
  5. If you use your laptop in class to take notes then it is a simple process to upload your notes onto Blackboard Learn (BBL).
  6. If you would like to eliminate scanning hand written notes (instructions follow), and just transfer them to your home computer and on to BBL, then we have a pen kit for you to borrow that has this technology. As well, this same pen will make an audio recording of the lecture notes synched with the notes you have written.
  7. If you just use pen and paper then you will need to scan your notes in one of three locations:
    • The DSS reserved scanner/computer set in the Learning Commons in the Main Library (this is the only location with on-site staff that can help you with any difficulties that may arise)
    • Learning Commons in the Education Library
    • Arts 110 computer lab
  8. Scanning is done by logging into the computer using your NSID and then uploading the notes to  BBL - "course tools". There you will be asked to save the notes to the corresponding class and section number folder. More information on this simple process will be given in the 5 minute appointment with the Notetaking Program.
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