Students must be registered with Disability Services and approved for note-taking accommodations in order to access note-taking services. If you are not currently registered with Disability Services, please visit our Register with Disability Services page.

If you are currently registered with Disability Services and you would like to request note-taking accommodations, please contact your assigned Access Coordinator. If you do not know who your Access Coordinator is, you can email dsinfo@colorado.edu using your CU Boulder email account to request that information.

Disability Services offers Peer Note-Taking and Glean, a note-taking application. However, if students would like to explore other note-taking options, we can help them decide what note-taking method is best for them.

Glean

Students can receive a free license to use Glean, a note-taking tool that puts the student in control of their own notes. This software captures audio and allows students to annotate their audio recordings with markers for important information, questions, and tasks. The software enables students to effectively engage with class content in real-time and makes it easy for them to come back to review important information later on.

Glean is an online application that can be accessed from any device with internet capacities (though Glean recommends using the most updated version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge when using the program).

Watch a brief video about Glean

The built-in features allow you to:

  • Capture audio, text, and slides in a single workspace.
  • Annotate notes so that information can be found and reviewed easily.
  • New “task” feature helps to keep track of to-do items for classes.
  • Organize notes by date, class, or other collection.
  • Embed PowerPoint slides, PDFs, images, and other media to support audio recordings.
  • Customize the application’s layout to support attention and minimize distractions.

Additional resources and information for Glean can be found on the Glean Skills Portal. Please note: All students must review the new Student Parameters for Recording Class Lectures. 

Additional Note-taking Options

Students can choose from a variety of note-taking options. Students who choose to use alternative note-taking methods will be responsible for acquiring and maintaining their own technology. CU Boulder does not cover the cost of Smartpens or applications other than Glean.

Additional FAQ

Livescribe logo - square with a flower in the centerLiveScribe Smartpens

LiveScribe Smartpens record audio and written notes from lectures. The two are synced for convenient playback. Notes from the Smartpen can be stored and played back using a number of applications, including Evernote and Google Docs. Learn more about LiveScribe Smartpens.

OneNote logo - Purple circle with an "N" in the middleOneNote

OneNote is a free note-taking application included with Microsoft Office that allows students to record audio notes, insert online videos, add files, annotate notes, draw, type, and more. The application also allows students to highlight important information and 'to-do' items. Stay organized by sorting your notes into different notebooks, sections, and pages for easy access. Learn more about OneNote.

Evernote logo - green circle with an elephant in the centerEvernote

Evernote is similar to OneNote. It allows you to easily organize and find information, scan documents, create note templates, tag important information, and more. Learn more about Evernote.

Notability logo - pencil with a microphone on the endNotability

Students can combine handwriting, typing, photos, and more to create customizable notes. Students can also upload PDF files to add information and annotate. Save your notes within Notability or share it to your Google Drive, AirDrop, Dropbox or email. Learn more about Notability.

 Please note: Notability is only available to Apple users (Mac, iOS).

Peer Note-taking

Students approved for a peer note-taking accommodation can request a peer note-taker to share lecture notes from their courses to supplement their own notes. Once a peer note-taker is assigned, students receive instructions on how to access their notes through the Accommodate Portal.

Peer Note-taking FAQ