Juggling lectures, complex concepts, and keeping up in class can feel overwhelming. Traditional note-taking methods might not be enough, especially for students with learning difficulties.
Here's where assistive technology (AT) such as Glean can help the learner. Below, we’ll dive into the transformative power of assistive technology (AT) through the lens of real student experiences.
Anthony, a student at Utah Valley University, and Ben, a graduate student at Sacred Heart University, joined us to discuss their academic challenges and how Glean has empowered them to become better learners.
They particularly emphasised accuracy in transcription, ease in organising notes, and the ability to integrate presentations seamlessly into the note-taking process as cornerstones of the improved learning process.
Here’s the full round up…
Challenges and transforming through technology
Many students face challenges that hinder their academic success. Traditional note-taking methods often fall short of catering to everyone's unique learning styles.
Glean, however, addressed these issues by offering features like highlighting, categorising, and seamless integration of lecture materials, which he finds particularly valuable.
Active learning takes center stage
Anthony and Ben both credit Glean with revolutionising their approach to learning. Gone are the days of frantic note-taking; with automatic transcription and timestamped notes for easy access, they can now fully immerse themselves in their lectures.
This allows them to transform from passive listeners to active participants in their own learning journey.
A deep dive into functionality
The conversation then shifted towards specific features of Glean that have been particularly helpful to the panelists. They highlighted:
- Glean's organisation capabilities
- The ability to create tasks to return to later
- The ability to import slides before their lectures
Ben elaborated on his routine before, during, and after classes, showcasing how Glean aids in preparation, in-class absorption, and review, ultimately enhancing his academic workflow.
Comparing Glean to other study tools
Ben delved into a comparison between Glean and Quizlet. He highlighted Glean's superior functionality for a more holistic learning experience. Here were the key differences he identified:
- Glean seamlessly integrates audio recordings
- Glean’s clearer transcripts
- Glean’s ability to create quizzes directly from your notes
This all-in-one approach allows students to capture the lecture content, review it efficiently, and test their understanding – all within the same platform. This streamlined process eliminates the need to juggle multiple apps and promotes focused, efficient learning.
Anthony also chose to share similar negative experiences when using Otter.ai for transcription, commending Glean's superior accuracy and reliability. This inconsistency created a frustrating learning experience, as he couldn't always trust the captured information.
Contrasted with Glean which he found to have superior accuracy and reliability in transcribing lectures. This dependable transcription allowed Anthony to focus on the lecture itself, confident that Glean would capture the key points for future review.
Academic performance and confidence improvement
Anthony and Ben finished by discussing how Glean's efficient study aids have streamlined their academic routines, leading to better comprehension, prompt assignment completion, and increased class participation.
They also shared how Glean helped streamlined their academic routines, leading to better comprehension, prompt assignment completion, and increased class participation.
To learn more about their experiences as a student using Glean, click the button below to rewatch the session in full.
