As students return to class after the winter break, University Disability Services are facing a familiar crunch. The first few weeks of term are often a race against time: recruiting peer note takers, matching them with students, and managing the inevitable administrative bottlenecks.
In our first webinar of 2026, "Digital Transformation on a Budget: Why it’s Time to Rethink Peer Note Taking", we explored why the traditional peer model is no longer just a logistical headache, it’s a barrier to student success.
What are the challenges of using peer note takers?
While peer notes are still a necessary accommodation for some, using them as a default primary support can create administrative challenges, more departments are moving away from this model due to four critical reasons:
- Challenging to administer: The process is complex and difficult, especially for smaller departments. It drains time that could be used for other vital student support.
- Unreliable and variable quality: The quality of notes can vary wildly from one peer to another. Even the best note taker may not capture information in a way that is helpful to the recipient.
- Poor notes impact learning: We know the act of taking notes is essential for learning, but receiving someone else's notes removes that benefit.
- Creates dependence, not independence: Relying on peer notes limits the receiving students note taking skills, leading to a passive learning experience.
“I’ve always had someone else take notes for me. It’s really difficult to rely on them and know that you don’t know how to do that skill yourself…Peer note takers are a source of anxiety for me because they remind me that I struggle with this”
Samantha, Postgraduate student
Why colleges should encourage independent note taking
Independence is fundamental for effective learning. Research indicates that students who engage in active note taking in class see a notable increase in test scores, up to a 13% improvement.
Independent note taking is critical because it encourages students to:
- Process brand-new information in real time.
- Actively engage with the material to build stronger connections.
- Improve retention by creating a personal resource for later review.
With the rise of the New Majority Learner, support with effective note taking is still needed for many students. By providing Universal Design for Learning (UDL), support is universally available and barriers are minimized, this could look like digital note taking tools or note taking courses available across campus.
Empowering students with digital learning tools
While peer note taking will still be the right fit for a number of students, for the majority, it falls short of providing the active engagement needed to master their subjects. When students use tools to capture and interact with lectures independently, they develop the critical information-processing and study skills they need to thrive, not just in the classroom, but in their careers after graduation.
The transition to digital tools like Genio Notes is about more than just efficiency; it’s about providing productive friction. While AI can remove the "stressful friction" of scrambling to write every word, it should never replace the learner's own input.
Ultimately, rethinking note taking is about balance. By moving the majority of students toward independent, digital solutions, Disability Service Officers can mitigate compliance risks and reduce overhead. This allows the team to focus their human-led support where it is most impactful, ensuring every student has a pathway to success that fits their specific needs.
By empowering students to take their own notes using assistive technology, institutions move from a support model to an enablement model.
Ready to rethink your note taking strategy?
Don’t let administrative hurdles stand in the way of student independence. You can watch the full webinar to learn more about implementing UDL principles and supporting students with independent tools.
