EasyScript Note Taking

Methods

Note taking can help to record and organize information. Lecture learning is prominent in classrooms and note-taking influences the academic success of all high school and college students [ [http://www.ctserc.org/library/bibfiles/study-skills.pdf] - Connecticut DOE STUDY SKILLS, RESEARCH SKILLS,NOTETAKING, AND MNEMONIC INSTRUCTION] and students usually spend about 80% of class time listening to lectures [ [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W4X-4HDX8TB-1&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=1d708fdc1fa140a2022414800fe8c60d - Science Direct:] Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of providing lecture notes] The problem is that students typically record incomplete notes--usually 20-40% of the important lecture ideas. In addition, approximately 80% of what is not noted is forgotten after two weeks and it is of vital importance that note-taking skills are taught [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NQM/is_2_41/ai_90190494] - How classroom teachers can help students learn and teach them how to learn] . Literature indicates [ [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0731-9487(199124)14%3A1%3C7%3ABONIFS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-J] - Benefits of Notetaking: Implications for Secondary and Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities] ) that a significant gap between lecture speed delivery and writing speed makes a negative impact on number of units of information recorded and comprehension of the class material.

Note-Taking Speed

An important aspect of effective note taking is the writing speed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EasyScript_Speed_Writing] . Humans cannot record spoken information at the speed it is generated. By writing words in an abbreviated form one can potentially attain a higher writing speed. There are several note-taking approaches such as the Cornell Method, Outlining and Mapping methods. For example, the Cornell Notes method provides a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes without laborious recopying. However, these systems do not provide methodology to process spoken word efficiently. EasyScript Speed Writing can be learned quickly to increase writing speed and to take fast notes at meetings, on the phone and in school more effectively.

Note-Taking and Word Abbreviation

Research [ [http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/notetake.pdf] - The Learning Center, Note Taking Skills] indicates that note-taking efficiency can be enhanced when information is encoded using abbreviations and suggests that abbreviating of spoken information can improve attention span, number of units of information recorded and improvement of subject retention.

Students perform note-taking more efficiently when they are allowed "to encode information" using abbreviations and abbreviating of spoken information increases the number of words in working memory and improvement of subject retention [ [http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-2066691_ITM] - Student study habits using notes from a speech-to-text support service.] Use of abbreviations decreases hands and eyes engagement and enable to record spoken information more efficiently. [ [http://www.ldonline.org/article/12855] - Teaching Students to Take Class Notes]

Moreover, abbreviating the spoken word reduces the gap between speaking and writing speed, enhances comprehension of the class material and can lead to improvement in overall organization of their notes. In addition, a higher writing speed allows more time to pay attention to handwriting legibility and style to make notes legible and readable.

Individuals with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities will derive an additional benefit from speed note-taking because they record fewer units of lecture information than their non-disabled peers.

As evidenced by various research studies, students with disabilities are not effective note takers. They do not possess a sufficient writing speed to take down spoken information and, even when they do take notes, are frequently unable to read them after the lecture, mostly because their notes are illegible [] http://www.dldcec.org/pdf/014.pdf] - http://www.dldcec.org/pdf/014.pdf] . As a result, students with disabilities either avoid taking notes, rely on note takers or teachers to assist them with guided lecture notes after class [ [http://ftad.osu.edu/dosomethinggreat/heward.html] - Want to Improve the Effectiveness of Your Lectures? Try Guided Notes]

Although these accommodations are helpful, and even necessary, it is important for students with disabilities to learn how to effectively take notes from lectures. A study [ [http://www.ldonline.org/article/6210] - Enhancing the note taking skills of students with mild disabilities] has found that students with learning disabilities are passive learners, and note-taking is one way to actively engage them in the learning process.

EasyScript Instruction

Some experts believe [ [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1968870665-12638887/content~content=a713844616~db=all] - THE EFFECT OF NOTE TAKING ON NINTH GRADE STUDENTS' COMPREHENSION] that all students would benefit if teachers deliberately trained their students in speedwriting techniques, especially the lower-achieving students and speedwriting techniques should be taught to students in the same manner that they are taught writing or computer skills [ [http://facstaff.unca.edu/mcglinn/jaymeyerrevPaper.doc] - Notetaking Training: A Worthwhile Proposal?]

Results

The list of organizations offering EasyScript training to their employees includes:

U.S. General Accounting Office

New York Dept. Of Labor United Way [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America]

Affinity Health Plan Harvard University

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

U.S. Postal Service

Jack Henry & Associates

CNN/Turner Broadcasting

Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Verizon Communications

Prudential Insurance

Bank of America

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Texaco

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

California State Polytechnic University

John Hancock Insurance

Notes