For student support services professionals, success isn't just measured by GPA, it's measured by retention, well-being, and a student's sense of belonging. Our recent study with LXD Research conducted a mixed methods approach to the efficacy of Genio Notes on student outcomes during 2024-2025.
Some of the most compelling findings are the stories of students whose relationship with learning itself was fundamentally changed by using Genio Notes. Here we’ll focus more deeply on the emotional change students faced after using Genio Notes, shifting their feelings towards learning for the better.
“As I analyzed students' emotional testimonials, I recognized something from the new majority students I hadn't fully anticipated would be so prominent - Genio Notes functions not solely as a productivity aid, but as a research-grounded intervention that alleviates stress and reduces cognitive load” Dr Colin Ackerman, LXD researcher.
Genio Notes impact during lectures
The “New Majority Learner” (NML) - a population often comprising working adults, first generation students, and those with accommodations - frequently enter the classroom weighed down by balancing multiple commitments, academic anxiety and emotional overwhelm.
For these students, note taking often feels like a pressured race against the clock, turning the lecture hall into a source of stress rather than a place of growth.
The qualitative data from our study reveals a profound emotional transformation as students move from a state of cognitive overload and stress to one of calm control and active presence.
Before Genio Notes, many students described an internal panic - the constant fear of missing critical information, the difficulty of processing complex concepts while simultaneously trying to transcribe them, and the anxiety of having to constantly ask peers or instructors for help.
This perpetual state of internal chaos is a significant barrier to learning and a major pressure on student mental health. Genio Notes fundamentally changes this dynamic by handling the mechanics of capturing the lecture, allowing students to shift their mental energy from transcribing to understanding.
This reduction in cognitive load is the source of significant emotional relief, with one student commenting: "It has taken so much stress out of my life. I'm not panicking in class anymore. I feel like I can actually breathe and be present. I can focus on what the professor is saying, not just on writing.”
Encouraging productive review after lectures
The emotional transformation doesn't end when class does. For new majority learners juggling work and family, the thought of sorting through disorganized, incomplete, or confusing notes after a long day is often enough to prevent studying altogether.
The results highlighted a stark shift in students motivation and willingness to review notes after lectures, confirming that the change in note quality directly leads to a higher propensity for post-class review.
Students were significantly more likely to use their notes and review lecture material at home because the resource was no longer a source of frustration, but a reliable, accessible study tool.
An engineering student described: "I used to avoid studying because my notes were so incomplete. Now I'm more engaged because I can actually understand what happened in class."
This productive review cycle reinforces the emotional benefit and is a direct precursor to increased retention. The emotional relief translates directly into time efficiency and study motivation, as highlighted by a psychology major: "Before Genio Notes, studying felt overwhelming. Now I actually look forward to reviewing because I know everything is there. My stress has gone from a 9 to maybe a 4".
This transformation from avoidance to engagement was supported by usage data showing students with 50+ events demonstrated significantly higher academic engagement.
Building self-efficacy and the levelling the playing field
One of the most impactful findings is the role in building student self-efficacy and agency. When a student can trust that their notes are secure, organized, and available for post lecture review, they shed the persistent feeling of being underprepared or unable to cope compared to their peers.
The technology is no longer perceived merely as a compensatory tool for a deficit; it becomes a powerful equalizer. This emotional change in mindset allows students to step into the classroom with renewed confidence, viewing themselves as competent and capable scholars, rather than observers struggling to keep up. This transformation in attitude is key to long-term persistence.
Perhaps one of the most significant NML groups to benefit from this levelling of the playing field is first generation students. Representing 43% of the qualitative sample, first generation students described how Genio Notes provided necessary scaffolding for academic skills they had not developed through family educational experience.
One first generation student reflected: “I didn’t know how to take ‘good’ notes because no one in my family had been to college to teach me. Genio Notes showed me what matters - I could see patterns in what I highlighted during review, understand what professors emphasized through repetition. It taught me how to learn at this level”.
This development of academic skills addresses inequities in educational preparation.
Fostering ownership and engagement
By assisting in recording the lecture and providing a tool to create synchronized, clear notes, Genio Notes frees up the necessary cognitive bandwidth to enable students to engage with the material on a deeper, more curious level. This engagement is no longer driven by fear of failure; it is fuelled by intrinsic interest and a desire for mastery.
The result is a powerful shift from passive note taking (merely recording words) to active learning (processing ideas and synthesizing concepts). This empowerment, rooted in reduced anxiety and increased confidence, is vital for student retention, as engaged students are far more likely to persist and complete their courses.
By addressing the underlying emotional and cognitive barriers to learning, Genio Notes directly supports DSS professionals' mission to foster student well-being, equity, and academic confidence. The emotional relief and restored sense of capability documented in this study are the foundation upon which sustained academic success is built.
Interested in learning more about the emotional shift Genio Notes provides? You can read the full article via the link below.
