Peer Note Taker Frequently Asked Questions  

How do I register to be a note taker?

·       To be considered for a peer note taker role, please click on the “Profile” tab and log in using your UNBC Login credentials.

·       Complete all the steps in this section to be considered as a peer note taker.

Please note that you do NOT need to be selected as a notetaker to start uploading notes. Once you select the course(s) you wish to volunteer for, please start uploading right away. Our system has a limitation where only one notetaker can be selected as a primary notetaker, however, the student can view notes from multiple notetakers, if they are available. This really helps in situations when the primary notetaker is away from class as the student continues to be supported. If you are not selected as a notetaker, the option to upload notes will display as Sample notes. 

How do I submit my notes?

There are a few ways in which you can submit your notes:

·       If you take handwritten notes, you may upload scanned notes to the ARC Online Student Portal using your UNBC login credentials.

·       You may upload text files directly to the ARC Online Student Portal using your UNBC login credentials.

·       You can use Comments during the upload to provide any additional information about the lecture. This could include chapter names, lecture descriptions, anything useful to help identify the lecture or provide additional important information. 

How will I know if I am selected to be a note taker?

You will be notified via email that you have been chosen as a note taker.  Once you receive the email, please ensure you are uploading course notes within 24 hours of the class.

What if I am away from class?

We ask that you send advance notice where possible to arc@unbc.ca to notify us of any absences and/or changes in registration for classes in which you are assigned. You may also give notice to those receiving your notes at the same time by accessing the online system and adding a comment under the expected missed lecture date.

What should I do if I am having issues uploading my course notes?

·       Make sure that the file you are trying to upload is closed on your end

·       Should you require further assistance, please email us at arc@unbc.ca

·       If you are having issues with our portal, please email your notes to arc@unbc.ca with subject line “Notes ready for upload for (Course name and number), lecture date___________”

Will I meet the person I am taking notes for?

It is possible that you may meet the person(s) for whom you provide notes. However, ARC will never disclose the identity of either the volunteer note taker or the beneficiary of your services. Any meeting of service providers and recipients will be completely coincidental.

How should I format my notes?

When taking notes, you should always make sure that your notes are as clear and legible as possible. When you can, you may wish to use a grammar/spellchecker to proof your notes before uploading them.

Every student has a different style of note taking so there are no hard and fast rules about how you should produce them or what to include. Obviously the more detailed and useful they are to you, the more likely they will be put to good use by your note recipients.

·      When naming files to be uploaded, please include the course number, date, chapter(s) covered. This is extremely important to ensure that the notes get placed in the proper folder/web link for the student.

·      Make sure your notes are labeled with the course number/name, date, chapter(s) covered.

·      These notes are extremely important to the student so please make sure the student has them on time. If a test is coming up, make sure they have them well in advance for studying purposes. Remember sometimes students with disabilities need longer prep times for test and exams. So please be considerate of the students needs and have your notes to them on time.

·      Please do not forget page numbers. 

How Can I make my notes more useful?

·       Label each set of notes with the lecture title and date and number the pages.

·       Listen intently from the beginning of the lecture; the instructor may outline the lecture in the first few minutes and often will make sure that important details that have not been explained are covered in the last 5-10 minutes.

o   record all technical facts, names, dates, equations, diagrams and examples

o   note clues the instructor gives indicating that something is important, such as the repetition of a definition or point of information, change of voice, body language, verbal cues, etc.

·       Circle or star (*) assignments and announcements, such as test dates

·       Reading the text and reviewing your notes before class will improve your understanding of the lecture

·       Write as many meaningful facts and details as you can:

o   write down everything the instructor writes on the board/overhead

·       Make the notes easier to read and more effective as a study aid by:

o   using dark, ball point pen

o   writing legibly

o   leaving blanks when you are unsure (get clarification from the instructor after class)

o   using correct spelling (if unsure of a word, write “sp?” above it and correct it later)

o   using white space effectively (separate main ideas/topics with a line or two)

o   marking points of emphasis (change the print, circle, underline, use stars, etc.)

o   underlining definitions and including them verbatim

o   using abbreviations carefully (make a list at the beginning or end of the note as to any unusual abbreviations you used and what they represent)

How do I request a letter of recognition for my note-taking volunteer hours?

Please send an email to arc@unbc.ca with following information:

·       Your full name

·       Course(s) you have uploaded notes for

·       Student number

·       Semester (e.g., Fall 2025)

Letters of recognition are typically sent at the end of the semester to your UNBC email address.