Broadcast 38: 21st Century Note Taking with the Livescribe Smartpen

Some months ago, I talked about assistive technologies that are helpful for people with dyslexia. Recently, one of our advisors alerted us to an exciting new tool for note-taking: the Livescribe smartpen.

The idea of this clever little device is that a student (or someone attending a meeting) can record what’s being said and take some notes that are linked to the recording. Easy playback and easy transfer to computer files allow information to be reviewed, stored and shared with a tap or a click. The pen has a robust amount of memory and comes packaged with essential software.

For dyslexic students (and adults), this means less struggling with note-taking and better focus on what’s being said, with plenty of time to review later on. Instead of relying on a single source of review — for example, a tape recording or written notes — the student has dual sources that are linked together.

Janet Sankar, Director of Professional Services at Livescribe, joined us to discuss how the Livescribe smartpen helps people with language processing problems such as dyslexia and dysgraphia improve their note-taking skills. The Livescribe smartpen allows users to synchronize notes and drawings with an audio recording of a lecture. Students can easily replay what the teacher was saying at different points within their notes.

Janet began her career in elementary education. She later completed her Master’s Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University in Curriculum and Instruction with a certification in Reading. Janet has additional experience as a media specialist and has worked with technology tools for the last 16 years.

The recording of this webinar can be viewed below:

Additional Resources

Here are some of the links participants requested during our LIVE broadcast:

• 21st Century Note Taking with the Livescribe Smartpen Slides
• Echo Smartpen Introduction
• Sky Smartpen Introduction
• State Recording Laws

We are always happy to share tools with you that can help your struggling reader become a confident one. If you have any questions about this broadcast or our services, you can email us at Info@Lexercise.com.