Assistive Technology and Note-Taking Strategies to Foster Achievement Motivation and Self-Sufficient Learning in Students with Learning Disabilities

This pilot study examined the impact of the Livescribe™ Symphony smartpen assistive technology and the Cornell note-taking strategy on lecture comprehension and note quality for college student-athletes with learning disabilities.The study involved 5 undergraduate student-athletes who used the Livescribe™ pen and Cornell note-taking during health lectures.Findings showed that the combination of the Livescribe™ pen and Cornell notes increased lecture engagement, optimized note organization, improved critical content capture, assisted with information review, and enhanced recall abilities.Students reported that the assistive technology and structured note-taking techniques aided comprehension while reducing anxiety, and they desired broader implementation in fast-paced college courses to become more self-sufficient learners.Overall, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Livescribe™ pen and Cornell notes in overcoming note-taking barriers and boosting achievement motivation among university students with disabilities.