Note-Taking Assistance
Types of Note-Taking Assistance
Audio Recording of Lectures
The accommodation of ‘provision to audio record lectures’ allows students with disabilities an equal chance to receive and process information presented in class by supporting their notetaking needs.
Students are required to provide their own recording device, which may include a smart pen or the use of recording software on a laptop or cellular phone, such as Glean or Microsoft One Note.
- Recordings of class lectures are only for the student’s personal use in study and preparation related to the class.
- The student may not share these recordings with any other person, whether or not that person is in their class.
- The student acknowledges that the recordings are sources, the use of which in any academic work is governed by rules of academic conduct at the University of Missouri, in addition to federal copyright laws.
- The student agrees to destroy any recordings that were made when they are no longer needed for their academic work.
Audio recordings outside of the typical classroom experience (e.g. fieldwork, internships, clinical rotations) may need to be discussed on a case-by-case basis and in collaboration with the faculty, program, site, and Disability Center.
Occasionally, instructors raise concerns about recording classes that involve a great deal of self-disclosure, personal reflection, or confidential discussions from students or presenters as part of the class, fearing that the recording device will inhibit students from sharing freely or would risk anonymity. However, it is important to remember that the use of the recording device is to substitute and support the student’s note taking ability. If these open discussions are not appropriate subject matter for any student to be taking notes, then it would be appropriate to make a general announcement to the class and ask all students to stop note-taking in addition to turning off any recording devices.
If instructors have questions or concerns regarding the recording of their class discussions, or the nature of the information presented and discussed, please consult with an access advisor in the Disability Center.
If an instructor objects to the use of a recording device, it is typically because they maintain that their right to privacy of information discussed in the classroom is being violated or because there is a concern about a breach of copyright. However, the instructor’s right to privacy or concern over copyright does not override the student’s right to accommodation.
Copies of PowerPoint Slides
Copies of overheads and PowerPoint slides is an accommodation intended to give students access to materials displayed during lecture. With this accommodation, the Disability Center asks that instructors provide students with copies of the materials shown before the scheduled class time either via email or handed to the student at the start of class.
Students with this accommodation agree that the materials given to them are solely for their personal use while taking the class and are not to be copied or distributed to anyone. If the class as a whole is already provided this information through Canvas or by some other means, no further material would need to be provided to the student with this accommodation.
Peer Notetaking
Peer notetakers provide students with disabilities that limit their ability to take sufficient notes (such as those with significant physical impairments or who rely on sign language interpreters) equivalent access to class information. Volunteer peer-notetakers are asked to upload quality, typed notes for students with the accommodation to utilize during the duration of the course and may be eligible for a small stipend at the end of the semester.
Faculty are asked to assist with this accommodation by helping to recruit a peer notetaker in the class for which one is needed. Students with this accommodation understand that they are not permitted to share the notes given to them throughout the semester.