Volunteer Note Taking FAQ

What is a volunteer note taker?

A Volunteer Note Taker is a regular student just like you. The only requirement is that you share a copy of the notes you are already taking anonymously with another student. Some classes may have several volunteer note takers while others may have none.

Why does a student require a volunteer note taker?

There are many possible reasons why this student may need help with taking notes:

  • They may not be able to see overheads or things written on the board
  • They may not be able to hear what is being said
  • Their disability may affect their arms/hands
  • They may have a learning disability that makes it difficult to decode lectures, and to read and write quickly
  • They may have difficulty paying attention for long periods of time
  • For disability related reasons, they may have to miss all or a part of class

Your notes are very important to the success of these students.

Is there compensation for being a volunteer note taker?

Volunteer Note Taking is very rewarding. At the end of each term or year, Accessibility Services will be happy to provide you with a letter of reference outlining your volunteer service.

Do I have to give notes for all of my courses?

You only have to give notes for the courses you select to be a volunteer note taker for. Every student has areas of strength and as such you may feel more confident giving your notes for a particular subject (i.e. Intro Anthropology or Intermediate Micro Economics). At the same time, if you do not feel confident in another subject or class you may note choose to volunteer your notes for that course.

When you volunteer either in person or online, you will be asked to choose from the courses you are already attending to determine which of those courses you will be available as a volunteer note taker.

What if I miss a class?

There will be times when you cannot make a class for a variety of reasons. If this occurs, we ask that you leave a simple note in your file (online or in person) so that the student receiving your notes will know that they should find an alternative way to catch-up or receive the notes that you missed.

How often should I submit my notes?

Ideally you should submit your notes at least once a week. Though if your course meets more than once, it is preferable that you submit your notes after each time your class meets.

How do I submit my notes?

There are a number of ways in which you can submit your notes:

  • If you take hand written notes, you may upload photocopied notes to Clockwork using your student login information (However, cellphone photos are not allowed).
  • You may upload text files directly to the Clockwork web server using your student login in information

How should I format my notes?

When taking notes, you should always make sure that your notes are as clear and legible as possible. When you can, you may wish to use a grammar/spellchecker to proof your notes before uploading them to the Clockwork Server.

Every student has a different style of note taking so there are no hard and fast rules about how you should produce them or what to include. Obviously the more detailed and useful they are to you, the more likely they will be put to good use by your note recipients

  • When naming files to be uploaded, please include the course number, section number, month, and day of notes taken (ex: PSYC 2400/3-001_January 5). This is extremely important to ensure that the notes get placed in the proper folder/web link for the student.
  • Make sure your notes are labeled with the course number/name, date, and your student number.
  • These notes are extremely important to the student so please make sure the student has them on time. If a test is coming up make sure they have them well in advance for studying purposes. Remember sometimes students with disabilities need longer prep times for test and exams. So please be considerate of the students needs and have your notes to them on time.
  • Don’t forget page numbers!

How Can I make my notes more useful?

  • Label each set of notes with the lecture title and date, and number the pages.
  • Listen intently from the beginning of the lecture; the instructor may outline the lecture in the first few minutes and often will make sure that important details that have not been explained are covered in the last 5-10 minutes.
    • record all technical facts, names, dates, equations, diagrams and examples
    • note clues the instructor gives indicating that something is important, such as the repetition of a definition or point of information, change of voice, body language, verbal cues, etc.
  • Circle or star (*) assignments and announcements, such as test dates
  • Reading the text and reviewing your notes before class will improve your understanding of the lecture
  • Write as many meaningful facts and details as you can:
    • write down everything the instructor writes on the board/overhead
  • Make the notes easier to read and more effective as a study aid by:
    • using dark, ball point pen
    • writing legibly
    • leaving blanks when you are unsure (get clarification from the instructor after class)
    • using correct spelling (if unsure of a word, write “sp?” above it and correct it later)
    • using white space effectively (separate main ideas/topics with a line or two)
    • marking points of emphasis (change the print, circle, underline, use stars, etc.)
    • underlining definitions and including them verbatim
    • using abbreviations carefully (make a list at the beginning or end of the note as to any unusual abbreviations you used and what they represent)

Why do I have to sign a confidentiality agreement?

As a volunteer of the AS it is quite possible that you may come in contact with information that is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). This includes medical information, personal identification information, and personal life details among others. It is the right of ONLY the person whose information is being handled to disclose that information, and that information cannot be shared by others for any reason without their direct consent. As such Accessibility Services requires all staff and volunteers to commit to respecting the privacy of others through a confidentiality agreement.

Questions about confidentiality can be referred to the Accessibility Services Coordinator at 204.786.9771 or to vnt@uwinnipeg.ca

Will I ever know if my notes are being used?

Yes. You will only be selected to be a volunteer note taker through the AS online system for courses that a student requires a volunteer note taker. If you opt to be a note taker for all of your courses in a term it is possible that you may be called upon to submit notes for all, some or none of your courses.

Will I meet the person I am taking notes for?

It is possible that you may meet the person(s) for whom you provide notes. However, Accessibility Services will never disclose the identity of either the volunteer note taker or the beneficiary of your services. Any meeting of service providers and recipients will be completely coincidental.

What if I can no longer take notes for a course?

If you can no longer take notes for a specific course we ask that you give advance notice where possible to the AS Note Taker Coordinator. You may also give notice to those receiving your notes at the same time by accessing the online system and choosing the appropriate option.

How do I contact the AS or the Note Taking Coordinator?

AS (Accessibility Services (Office 1M35))

Office hours are from 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Mail:

Accessibility Services, 1M35

University of Winnipeg

515 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg MB R3B 2E9

Phone: 204.786.9771

Fax: 204.774.5519

Email: vnt@uwinnipeg.ca