[nabs-l] Study Methods and Tools

Sat Jul 23 05:03:14 UTC 2016

Hi all,

Definitely do take your own notes.  A lot of universities, my college
included, automatically give blind students the accommodation of
volunteer notetakers.  I have always taken my own notes since that
accommodation wasn't something on my IEP in middle and high school,
but that aside I wouldn't want someone else taking notes for me
because writing them down does help, and the only time I will ask for
someone else's notes is if I miss a class.  I took notes on my
BrailleNote during high school and was able to type quickly while
listening to the teacher.  I also found that reading my notes in
braille worked a little better than just using the computer alone like
I did early on in college.  Now I do take notes on the computer
because the qwerty keyboard allows me to type slightly faster than I
can on a BT keyboard, but I do usually save them in either word or
text format so I can pop them onto an SD card and instantly read them
on the BrailleSense I have now.  I honestly don't use bluetooth
connectivity to use a braille display through my notetaker with the
computer, but I've found that is okay because it allows me to
concentrate on taking the notes while in class, and reading them
later.  Typically I write down things that I either want to emphasize
in my studying, things I can't find in the book, and any helpful
tricks or phrases the professor or other students might offer.  My
anatomy notes were riddled with neumonic devices because those help me
a lot, but I know they don't always work for everyone.

For studying I usually read the notes and passages from the book.  I
find that also taking notes while you do reading on your own even if
you're not required to is really helpful for me.  Working in study
groups is also really beneficial because different people catch
different things or remember different tricks that you can share back
and forth.

On 7/23/16, Ashley Bramlett via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Jameyanne,
>
> Good luck with law school. Law school is not only about knowing the laws but
>
> interpretations. So, you will have more analysis than just facts.
> I'm not surprised the socratic method is used a lot in law school. We used
> that some in english classes.
> I suggest for classes using this way, you take down ideas based off the
> questions. Its not about facts or dates in a class using the socratic
> method. So, I'd say write down major points and ideas. If someone has a
> position, write down that and how they concluded that thing.
>
> I also write real fast in braille. For some classes, I write key things
> down. For others, I write most everything. It depends on  how the instructor
>
> teaches and how much their lecture duplicates the textbook. If they
> duplicate the text, I am less likely to write down everything. I'll just
> write major things down they say particularly info not in the text. I try to
>
> read the text ahead of class  so I'm aware what is in it.
>
> HTH,
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jameyanne Fuller via NABS-L
> Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 7:44 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> Cc: Jameyanne Fuller
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Study Methods and Tools
>
> Hi Amy,
> I don't make flashcards for all classes, only classes that have a lot of
> memorizing. I make Braille flashcards, using index cards and a Perkins
> Brailler. I'll generally use 3 by 5 cards, especially if it's just like
> vocab or names and dates, but in my sophomore year of college, I actually
> got 5 by 8 index cards (at least I think they were that size) and copied
> out
> all the Italian verb conjugations and noun endings and basically all of
> Italian grammar, and that was really helpful for me. I'm a strong believer
> in the idea that reading, writing, and speaking something cements it in
> your
> memory, so this is why I use Braille for flash cards (even though it did
> result in an entire bin of Italian vocab and grammar cards at the end of
> the
> year), because I retain information better in Braille than just listening
> to
> it. I also make sure to speak aloud what I'm putting on the flash cards,
> and
> when I quiz myself I do it aloud.
> I didn't make flash cards in every class. Sometimes I would just read
> through my notes, sometimes I would copy out my notes in a different
> way--shuffle things around so they're in a different order or something
> like
> that. In some classes I found a study buddy, and we would review the notes
> together and answer each other's questions.
> In terms of notetaking, I don't do what they tell you to do. I don't write
> down only key information or use abbreviated sentences or stuff like that.
> I
> type in Braille really fast, like I can keep pace with the teacher talking
> no problem, and it's actually easier for me to pay attention if I'm
> constantly taking notes than if I'm only writing down the most important
> facts, because my mind will wander off topic super fast. But that's just
> me,
> really.
> I'm interested to hear how other people take notes, especially since I'm
> about to start law school and I'm not sure what's an effective way to take
> notes when the class is taught using the Socratic method.
> Jameyanne
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aimee Harwood
> via NABS-L
> Sent: Friday, July 22, 2016 6:02 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Aimee Harwood <awildheir at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Study Methods and Tools
>
> Yes I think adding how to take notes to my question would be a wonderful
> idea. I did not get a lot of this training or information growing up. I
> have
> kinda been winging it. I was one of the first people in my area to be a
> part
> of the inclusion program so I only went to a school for the blind for three
> years. I think that a school for the blind might have been better at
> teaching me the skills and also I might have remained a braille reader
> throughout school. A year after I went to public school, I was transferred
> from braille to large print. I know many braille readers who have been
> lifelong braille readers who are very fast at reading  and writing braille.
> I use a braille display so I can keep up on what braille I know in hopes
> that I will become faster.
>
> When you guys talk about study and note-taking in your answer my previous
> questions, please do include as much references to braille as you like.
>
>
>
> Eagerly waiting to hear what you have to say,
> Aimee
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jul 22, 2016, at 5:18 PM, Aaron via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I have been wondering this as well. I have been trying to find a good way
> to study and also take notes.
>> Thanks,
>> Aaron
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Kaiti Shelton