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Manual Notetakers
How a manual notetaker works in an educational setting
Potential problems
What is a manual notetaker?
A manual notetaker is someone who provides a good set of written notes to enable students to access the curriculum. These notes can be in two forms:
1. Live reference – for as student who requires total classroom information. Here the notetaker is expected to:
- As far as possible record everything that happens in the classroom including student discussion, asides, jokes, interruptions
- Make a full and accurate record, using correct spelling
- Write legibly and quickly
- Use clear layout and numbering
- Label each page clearly with the course name, date and page number
- Use abbreviations systematically, with a glossary at the end for explanation
- Modify the language to suit the reading skills of the student, where necessary
(RNID, Deaf students in further education, November 2001)
2. In summary form - for deaf student who is lipreading the lecturer or following a sign language interpreter and therefore can’t take notes. (Not to be confused with minute-taking.)
Both forms are for deaf students who are competent users of the English Language.
The manual notetaker may have undertaken professional training and assessments to provide the most effective service for a deaf student and must not be confused with a fellow student taking notes and sharing them.
The qualified notetaker will provide a confidential service but if they are part of a support team in a college, they may need to pass on information to both tutors who deliver and support tutors about their work. This must be made clear and agreed with the student beforehand. Confidentiality aspects can be agreed in the notetaker’s contract.
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How a manual notetaker works in an educational setting
- In a class or lecture theatre, the manual notetaker must liaise with the student as to where they should sit.
- Sometimes the student prefers to read the notes as they are being written, therefore space should be made available adjacent to the student.
- If the student does not wish to have the notetaker near them, they should sit somewhere where they have optimum audibility.
- In either situation, if possible a desk for the notetaker should also be provided and individual lighting in cases where overhead/data projectors or other media resources are being used and the general lighting requires to be dimmed.
- The notetaker should have prior information as to the content of the lecture/class, with handouts where relevant (even if the rest of the class are not receiving them till the end). This should also apply to the deaf student so that they have clues to assist them throughout the session.
- To facilitate the above, the notetaker and the lecturer/tutor should discuss the layout and format of the session especially if there are likely to be any changes in the seating arrangements during the session e.g. for group discussions.
- Forewarning of specific language and terminology is also helpful. Where possible, time should be allocated to facilitate this.
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Benefits of using a manual notetaker
- If a student has to rely on lipreading to participate in a session, they have no time to take notes of what is being said.
- A manual notetaker will enable them to fill in any gaps they have missed either concurrently or consecutively. As only 25% of what is said is lipreadable, this is a crucial tool.
- Lipreading demands an incredible amount of concentration and therefore can be very tiring so knowing there are notes to back up the session relieves some of the pressure. The same applies to a deaf person using an interpreter and notetaker simultaneously.
- If the course content contains a lot of visual tools such as diagrams and flowcharts, manual notetaking may be preferable to electronic notetaking because it is easier to replicate diagrams.
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Potential Problems
- As with sign language interpreters, there is currently a shortage of manual notetakers in Scotland, although there is current training within various organisations.
- The lack of availability means there may not be continuity for the student.
- Live reference notetaking in particular is very demanding and regular breaks are needed if sessions last more than an hour. It is unusual for 2 notetakers to be employed per session so time must be allowed to rest to prevent injury (such as repetitive strain)
- It is sometimes difficult for the format and content of the sessions to be advanced to the notetaker and therefore preparation is minimal.
- Liaison between the student, college staff and the manual notetaker can be limited due to lack to time but is beneficial where possible.
- As with sign language interpreters, the role of the manual notetaker can be misunderstood and it must be made clear that this support mechanism must be regarded as support and not as a ‘bonus’ for the deaf students or their fellow students who may wish to use the notes themselves. Once the notes are completed, they are directly handed over to the student.
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Booking manual notetakers and costs
As there is no registered association of notetakers, it must be understood that there may be disparity regarding charges and related costs between agencies and individuals.
- Booking can be done through agencies such as the local deaf organisation and the RNID, as well as directly.
- Rates for manual notetakers vary across the UK so if you book directly, it may be best to check rates with a local deaf society to use as a benchmark.
- There is usually a minimum 2 hour fee regardless of the time required
- Travelling expenses should be reimbursed and some organisations charge time for travel in addition to the duration of the session.
- There are usually clauses notifying a cancellation fee from the service provider. This fee will vary depending on the length of notice given. This should be made clear at the time of booking.
- If the booking is made through an agency, there will be booking fee to be added (even with a cancellation).
- Time for preparation or for ‘fine-tuning’ notes afterwards is not always charged but this can be negotiable.
As all colleges must adhere to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA), they are required to support disabled students, but there may be variations about the level of support possible. See the Legislation area of this website. back to top
Useful links
www.deafaction.org : Deaf Action
www.deafconnections.co.uk/ : Deaf Connections
www.signature.org.uk : CACDP has changed its name to Signature
www.rnid.org,uk : RNID
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