speedwriting or notetaking

Hi,

Unfortunately, I don’t know of any courses that you could take, per se. However I will give you some suggestions that helped me.

I went to the Learning Center at the college I attended and they helped me learn valuable note taking skills. Also, because I was classified formally as having LD, I was permitted to bring a small tape recorder into lectures with me. When I knew that I wasn’t getting everything down that I needed I would put a question mark in the margin, or … to signify that I didn’t get it all. Then when I listened back to my lecture I filled in the blanks.

I found this to be so helpful. My understanding of class material improved dramatically because I finally had notes that were complete and made sense.

Hope this helps.

I’ve wondered about taping lectures.The Educational psychologist that tested me recently suggested I use a tape recorder in future classes. However, I don’t like the idea of recording any off-topic tangents that may occur! I usually had a notetaker in college and it really helped. However, my husband made a good point—it doesn’t allow you to pick out the important parts, like you’re having somebody else pick out the important parts. Thus, I guess you don’t develop that skill.

Good luck!!

Christine

I agree to some degree with Chrstine. I am coping with similar problem.
I can’t listen and take notes at the same time. On one hand, I use every
accomodation available, tape-recorder, note-taker (the psychological
evaluation lists those accomodation under the subtitle of “recommodation”
I found out that most evaluators are not familiar with the school’s
accomodations and you have to ask them to include or add it to their
evaluation) At the same time I write my own notes. Even if they are far
from being complete, at least I feel more secure. that I have other accomodations. .If people use calculators even when they don’t have math problems why not use accomodations? Go over the previous LD reports. I remember reading some techniques about how to take notes. Sit always in the front seat.. Maybe speak with the professor, disclose to him your problem, He might speak slowly and repeat himself. Good Luck.!

Thanks Omer. I have found that sitting in the front of the class is helpful. I alwasys used that as an accommodation for my slight vision impairment (for seeing the blackboard). However, that is a good point. It would help one focus better on the lecture.

Good luck!!

Christine

I’m a very middle-age teacher and a graduate student trying to become a media specialist. I also find it very difficult to read the 700 page textbook for the class. I am dyslexic. Here is my solution to the problem of making good grades in school. I start with a $30 microcassette tape recorder. You can pick one of these at Wal-Mart or Kmart. The next item I have is a voice recognition program. It is very basic, I believe it was around $50 but the cost might be higher now. I sit in front of the class by the professor and make sure I get every word he/she says. At the same time I’m listening and taking notes. Then, when I get home, I sit down at the computer, I open my notes, I plug in the head set into the tape recorder and put it on. Then, I put on the headset microphone (yes I look pretty silly but no one sees me because I’m alone to study,) and I listen to the tape and dictate/edit the professor’s lecture into my word processor.

If you get a voice recognition program you will have to spend about 20 minutes reading some material into the computer (the material will come up on the monitor.) It has to be used to your reading, your pace, and your syntax; so make sure when you do this that you read very clearly and pronounce words accurately. Over time the program will learn your vocabulary and its accuracy will go up (it could be rough in the beginning.)

Good luck Sharon, I look to reading your comments.

Listening to a lecture a second time (or even a third time) is never a bad idea. but listening and typing, or listening and rewriting your notes is an effective way of learning. you have to bring the material to your eyes, into your brain, and out through your hands to begin to master the material. Also, don’t forget to highlight the text and take notes on what you read, and get that into your computer as well.

Finally, spend some time to memorize your work.

This process is saving me loads of time, and time is what a college education is based on. If you take a three-hour class that means you should spend nine hours a week outside of class preparing for the class. Using this method I can put a 3 hours of class lecture/session into the computer in about the same amount of time. Know this material the first. Professors love to test over material they lectured on. On the test you fill in with details from the text.

Make sure you meet your deadlines, and put extra effort into your projects. using this process you will get to great grades.