Join Assistive Technology Specialist Jessi Wright for a discussion of how she ensured a smooth transition for incoming students with disabilities at University of Alabama at Birmingham by digitizing note-taking support with Sonocent software. The session will cover her reasons for choosing Sonocent, the steps she took to implement the software, and the impact it had on student independence, grades, costs, and administration. You will also have an opportunity to register your interest in piloting Sonocent software for free at your institution over the summer semester. Learning Objectives - Identify the 4-step process for taking notes with Sonocent that has been shown to improve GPA and create learning independence - Identify the 2 links between effective note-taking practises and successful transition to higher education - Describe 4 ways in which Sonocent has been shown to improve academic outcomes in HE Presenters - Jessi Wright, Assistive Technology Specialist, West Virginia Assistive Technology System - Amer Latif, VP of Sales, Sonocent

1. How to Aid Transition by
Digitizing Note-Taking Support
with Jessi Wright, Assistive Technology Specialist, West Virginia Assistive Technology
System and Amer Latif, VP of Sales, Sonocent.

2. Agenda
www.sonocent.com
• Introductions
• Presentation by Jessi
• Sonocent demo by Amer
• Q&A

3. Jessi Wright
UAB Disability Support Services’
Journey to Sonocent

4. • Approximately 600 students enrolled with Disability
Support Services
• 266 accommodations for a Peer Notetaker
• 191 accommodations for permission to use an audio
recorder
• 330 students receive one or both of these
accommodations
UAB DSS Fall 2016

5. • Peer Notetakers receive a $60 stipend per class
• Problems:
 Notetakers are not assigned until a week or more into the
semester = missing notes
 No one signs up to be the notetaker for the class
 Notes are often turned in late
 Notes are incomplete or poorly done
Peer Notetakers

6. • 1-3 hours of lecture to sort through for
information
• No way to flag important information
• Many recorders do not have a method to
download recordings to computer; limited
memory on device
• Quality of recording
Audio Recorders

7. Location: AHEAD 2016, Indianapolis, IN
• New Attendee Breakfast hosted by Sonocent
• Later…in the Exhibit Hall
UAB DSS meets Sonocent

8. PLANNING A PILOT PROJECT

9. • Better notes for students
• Increasing options for notetaking
• Reducing peer notetakers
Things we considered:
 What information do we need to show that it works?
 If it works, is there money to purchase the software?
Step 1: Why? What are the desired outcomes?

10. • Getting a baseline
• How are you currently taking notes?
• How do you feel your current strategy is working for you?
• What is your preferred learning style?
• How many credit hours are you taking?
• What is your current GPA?
Step 2: Creating a Pre-Pilot Survey

11. • Identify target population
• Students receiving accommodations for
• Peer notetakers
• Permission to use audio recorder
• Email blast with information about project and links to
Sonocent website
Recruiting Participants

12. • Required students complete pre-
survey to gain access to software
license key
• Scheduled group and individual
trainings around campus
Getting Started

13. • Think outside the box
• Encourage customization of the color key
• Remember, there is no perfect tool for
everyone. There will always be those
who want a tool to do more.
Training Insights

14. NEARLY 3 MONTHS LATER…

15. • Prepare post-project survey
• Email blast reminding students the project is ending
• Send out link to survey
• Remind students to complete the survey
• Analyze survey results
Wrapping Up the Project

16. • 38 students expressed interest in participating
• 29 students followed through with enrolling in the
project and completing the pre-pilot survey
• 16 students completed the post-pilot survey
The Results are IN!

17. September December
My current strategy is GREAT! 0 44%
I feel good about the notes I am
taking/getting.
0 19%
It’s okay. 64% 25%
Not great, but I get by. 32% 12%
Not at all. 4% 0%
When asked how their current note taking strategy was
working for them, students responded:
Survey results

18. • The majority of students (46%) answered they feel they
are kinesthetic learners, indicating a need for interactive
learning options.
• 50% of participating students used the software in 2 or
more classes.
• 80% of the participants responded they felt the software
helped them academically this semester.
Survey Results, cont.

19. • ‘I listen to the recording more and notice the key
points.’
• ‘I think the software is great, and a lot better than the
normal peer note takers. I believe it could benefit
many students.’
• ‘Great way to help me study and plus having my color
coding for my notes is excellent.’
Student Comments

20. • We did not realize there was not a
Chromebook option for the
software
• Peers saw students using the
software and requested to join the
pilot project
Unexpected Events

21. • Used the data to create a final report.
• Due to the success of the pilot, DSS
requested funds to purchase 50 loan
licenses for the spring semester!
• Notified participating students as
information became available and gave
them first priority to a loan license.
The Pilot is Over. Now What?

22. • New students enrolling for DSS services will be made
aware of the software option in addition to peer
notetakers and use of an audio recorder.
• Students waiting for peer notetakers can be encouraged
to utilize the software to avoid missing notes.
• Demonstrating software to faculty and staff
Moving Forward

23. • Increasing independence
• Portable option with the
companion app
• Transitionable tool
Final Thoughts

24. Demonstration

25. Want to follow in Jessi’s footsteps?
Trial Sonocent for free
“Email me at
amer@sonocent-
usa.com or call me on
+1.202.657.4332 to get
the ball rolling.”
-Amer Latif, Vice-President of Sales, Sonocent
www.sonocent.com/pilot