Peer Note Taking
A peer note taker is a volunteer/ University of Minnesota student that makes duplicate copies of their notes from a class and provides a copy to the requesting eligible student registered with the Disability Resource Center.
It is a great opportunity to work with other peers and remove any barriers within the classroom to allow same access to class material.
Tips for Peer Note Takers
Thank you for agreeing to be a peer note taker. As a volunteer for a student registered with the Disability Resource Center we appreciate your assistance and want to help you fulfill your responsibilities in a professional manner.
The purpose of your notes is to convey the content of class discussions and presentations in a way that will make them usable to the student.
Here are some tips to help you plan your note taking:
Know the various ways in which Peer Note Takers can take notes.
Peer Note Taker using a Laptop:
If you and your Peer Note Taker agree to use a Laptop to take and transmit notes, the notes can be sent to the student via email.
Peer Note Taker using a Carbonless Notebook:
If you and your Peer Note Taker agree to use a Carbonless Notebook you may pick these notebooks up at the Disability Resource Center in the McNamara Alumni Association, Suite 180. The Carbonless Notebook is a notebook that has carbon copies. After notes have been taken the Peer Note Taker can provide one copy of the notes to the student and keep one copy of notes for himself/herself.
Peer Note Taker using a Copy Card:
If you and your Peer Note Taker agree to use Copy Cards for transmitting notes the registered DRC student may pick up a Copy Card at the Testing Center front desk in the Disability Resource Center at McNamara Alumni Center, Suite 180. The Testing Center/Front Desk will provide you with one copy card. The Copy Cards start with $10 on them. That $10 will be automatically replenished on the 1st of each month. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of the Copy Card and make copies of their Peer Note Taker’s notes at one of the locations on campus where the copy card can be used.
| Building | Bank/Campus | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson Library | West Bank | Ground Floor |
| Carlson School of Management | West Bank | Library |
| Diehl Hall | East Bank | 2nd and 3rd Floors |
| Ferguson Hall | West Bank | Music Library, Basement |
| Hodson Hall | St. Paul |
Fish and wildlife Library, 3rd Floor |
| Magrath Library | St. Paul |
St. Paul Library 1st and Ground Floors |
| Mondale Law Library | West Bank | 2nd Floor Plaza |
| Murphy Hall | East Bank | Journalism Library, MAC Lab Basement |
| Rapson Hall | East Bank | 2nd Floor Architecture Library |
| Skok Hall | St. Paul | Basement |
| Veterinary Science | St. Paul | Vet. Med Library, 3rd Floor |
| Vincent Hall | East Bank | Math Library, 3rd Floor |
| Walter Library | East Bank | 2nd and Basement Floors |
| Wilson Library | West Bank | 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Basement Floors |
If you run out of the $10 on your Copy Card before the month is over, please contact the Disability Resource Center. The Peer Note Taker will take notes on his/her own notebook paper and then meet with the registered DRC student to make copies of the notes.
Peer Note Taker using a 20/20 Pen:
If you and your Peer Note Taker agree to use a 20/20 Pen it is the student’s responsibility to provide the Peer Note Taker with the 20/20 Pen. Once notes are taken the student and Peer Note Taker can determine a way in which they will transmit notes. A 20/20 Pen is a pen that acts as a regular pen but provides bold, easy-to-read writing in black ink.
Here are some strategies that will contribute to a successful note taking experience:
- Talk to the student ahead of time to decide what note taking style and format may work the best, identify any special needs or preferences, and determine the best way to deliver the notes.
- Attend each class session and arrive on time. Make arrangements for a substitute, if possible, should you be absent or decide to drop the class.
- Put the course name, date and page number on the top of each page.
- Print or write clearly and use black or blue ink. Write on only one side of the paper.
- Write down the most important things mentioned by the professor or presented in other ways during the class, such as during a discussion or power point or video presentation.
- Mark editorial notes in the margins to identify your opinions, and use a question mark to show uncertainty about spellings or other details.
REMEMBER: It is important that Disability Resource Center volunteers regard all information about the student they are assisting as private and confidential. Thank you for providing this essential assistance.