Fall 2009 Newsletter
- Web Search Tool
- Family Center on Technology and Disability
- Resource Kit for Itinerant Teachers
- Transition Summit
- Low Functioning Deaf
- FAQs from PEPNet.org
- ADA DVD
- Notetaking Accommodations
- Test Equity Issues and Answers
- Publishing Credits and Contact Information
- PDF Version of Fall 2009 Newsletter
- Past Newsletter Issues
- Suggest a topic for future issues
Pilot Program Enhances Notetaking Accommodations
Submitted by
Tia Ivanko, Coordinator and Maria Bohn, Project Associate Center for Collegiate Deaf Education, Bergen Community College
In 2008, The Center for Collegiate Deaf Education [CCDE] at Bergen Community College was awarded supplemental grant funds from the Commission on Higher Education to pilot improvements on services currently funded by the New Jersey Regional Center. The approved proposal submitted by CCDE was for implementing a Professional Notetaking Service as a means to improve upon the existing notetaking accommodation process and protocol.
Currently, CCDE provides peer notetaking services as an accommodation in conjunction with the Office of Specialized Services (OSS); however, the service enhancement brought about an opportunity to explore potential changes for the larger service. This service entails securing a peer notetaker with the assistance of the instructor after the first or second week of class. Thus far, notetaking procedures have been a fairly efficient method of obtaining notes for students, yet student concerns have been brought to our attention.
Why Notetaking?
- Notetaking services are an accommodation provided to eligible students based on disability diagnosis.
- There often are situations where students experience difficulty in securing a notetaker for their college-level class.
- Students often have concerns about the quality of the notes they are receiving from their peers.
Notetaking is a widely used accommodation and a valuable service for students with disabilities. By piloting improvements and changes with a small population, CCDE along with OSS can explore opportunities to expand the service to assist other students receiving notes on our campus. The ultimate goal is to create an efficient and effective service that students can easily access.
Our Pilot Program
In a joint effort with student service departments, CCDE employed Professional Notetakers. (PNTs) hired under specified academic requirements and criteria from the pool of current students. PNTs were provided comprehensive training in both notetaking training and deaf awareness.
PNTs were assigned to specific courses, and provided with mobile notetaking equipment, the Pegasus Mobile Notetaker and the DigiMemo. This equipment allowed notetakers to record notes onto plain paper, then upload the handwritten notes as text files which can be edited and sent to the student(s) receiving notetaking services, and the course instructor. A hard copy of the notes is archived in the CCDE for assessment and evaluation.
PNTs are responsible for keeping detailed records of classes in which they took notes, securing a back-up notetaker in the case of their absence, and reporting to the notetaking supervisor as necessary.
Service Enhancement Goals
- Improve the quality, availability, and accessibility of notetaking services
- Incorporate technology into current services to improve the quality and efficiency of notetaking
- Fulfill students' requests by providing reliable, accurate notetaking services.
Read more at:
http://ccdebcc.wordpress.com/2009/07/28/upgrading-note-taking-accommodations/