Note Taking

Note-taking involves documenting vital pieces of information in an electronic or manual format. It is not limited to the classroom, but can be an important accommodation for other environments such as practicum experiences. The skill of note-taking is refined through training and improved with continuous professional practice. Deaf learners rely on this as an accommodation in the learning environment.

Deaf individuals access information visually. The access auditory communication by focusing on interpreters, the speaker, and/or captioning. The concentration required for attention in visual communication demands a high level of concentration and has the potential to be exhausting. Taking notes would put another layer of concentration on an already burdened level of concentration while forcing the learner to divert their eyes from the main source of information. Remember, they cannot hear the speaker speaking while writing notes.

A qualified note-taker allows the learner the freedom to focus on the information being shared. A note-taker assures the learner that the documented core concepts, key points and supporting details will be accurately captured.

A qualified note-taker, ideally, is intelligent, reliable, and able to produce legible, clearly organized and accurate notes, wither handwritten, or in electronic format. Reliability, accuracy and legibility cannot be emphasized enough. It is not uncommon, in post-secondary institutions for another student in the course to be asked to volunteer or be paid to be a note-taker. Some institutions may also have note-takers on staff. Note-taking services is not considered to be  equivalent to TypeWell transcribing or CART captioning services.  These options for text-to-speech services include a copy of a transcript that can serve as notes.