Minute Taking at Meetings from Udemy

And you'll take the minutes.

This is a statement that often sends fear into the minds of meeting attendees. Why? Because too many people consider the role boring, stressful, and non-important.

This three-hour Minute Taking course: How to Take Minutes at Meetings will change your mind.

I have been involved in the meeting process both as a minute taker and as a chair for many years.

In fact, I have written one of the first books exclusively on minute taking The Minute Takers Handbook now in its 4th reprint. Since then I have taught minute taking to all sorts of groups. And I have learned even more techniques to help you.

Whether you are taking minutes for boards, committees, weekly meetings, volunteer groups or your condo association, this workshop will make you more confident and enable you to produce professional minutes.

Take this ultimate Minute Taking course right now and learn how to take minutes at meetings.

What's inside

Learning objectives

After this workshop, you'll be able to:
Determine what to record and what to ignore
Understand how privacy legislation impacts minutes

Convey information in succinct, effective sentences
Organize yourself before, during and after the meeting
Watch for the hidden variables

After this workshop, you'll be able to:
Determine what to record and what to ignore
Understand how privacy legislation impacts minutes
Convey information in succinct, effective sentences
Organize yourself before, during and after the meeting
Watch for the hidden variables

Syllabus

Introduction

Outines the ingredients for a successful meeting and describes how the course is laid out.

What Every Minute Taker Needs to Know

Outlines the qualities of a professional minute taker and explains the relationship with the chair.

Uses the definition of minutes to start outlining what the minute taker should record during a meeting.

Describes the impact of freedom of iInformation on minutes for both formal and informal meetings.

Explains the tools the minute taker should use to make the recording process easier.

Enter Quiz Information

Organizational Tips

Demonstrates how a detailed agenda will assist the minute taker and offers suggestions for preparing agendas for formal and semi-formal meetings.

Discusses how to handle the consent agenda when preparing minutes for formal meetings.

Provides suggestions for the minute taker before the meeting.

Discusses the various tools the minute taker could use -- short hand, long hand, lap top, and recording devices -- and also provides advice on how to handlce corrections to minutes.

Reviews the responsibilities of the minute taker after the meeting.

Enter Quiz Information

What to Include/What to Ignore

Outlines the details that should be recorded in the headers of formal, informal and action minutes.

Details what should be included in minutes and what should be omitted.

Discusses motions and resolutions for formal meetings and provides examples of how they are written.

This exercise contains five excerpts from minutes. Participants are asked to review the excerpts and note the details that should not have been included.

Critiques the minute excerpts in the previous exercise and provides better ways of writing the information.

Writing Tips

Lists words that should be avoided and provides guidelines to help you avoid some of the most common grammar errors in minutes.

This exercise should be downloaded and completed before the next lecture. The exercise involves nine statements from minutes that should be rewritten. It will test your ability to write clearly and concisely and to ensure "the loop" is closed.

Analyzes the sentences provided in the previous exercise and suggests better ways of writing the information.

Additional Aids

Points out the behind-the-scene activities and the behavioural styles of your members that may impact your meetings and minutes

Explains why you tend to lose track of information in meetings and offers some suggestions for keeping yourself alert.

Handouts

Enter Quiz Information

Guidelines for a Note Taker

Provides a summary of the entire course that you can download for your personal reference. Happy minute taking!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops professional skills in minute taking, which is highly relevant to administrative and clerical fields

Designed for beginners, this course establishes a solid foundation in minute taking for those with little to no experience

Teaches the essential principles of minute taking, including what to include and what to omit, leading to more efficient and accurate documentation

Facilitated by Jane Watson, an expert in minute taking with decades of experience and recognized for her work in the field

Offers practical guidance and hands-on exercises to reinforce learning, making the content easily applicable to real-world scenarios

Comparatively short in duration, requiring a three-hour investment, making it a suitable option for busy professionals with limited time

Reviews summary

Minute taking at meetings

According to students, this course on minute taking is highly rated with one student saying "You can always learn some great tidbits and form new habits." Students seem to be satisfied with this course.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Minute Taking at Meetings with these activities:

Review note taking techniques

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Reviewing note taking techniques will help students identify areas for improvement and develop more effective strategies for capturing and retaining information.

Browse courses on Note taking

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Identify your preferred note taking method
Practice taking notes from different sources
Review and revise your notes regularly

Explore online resources on meeting facilitation

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Exploring online resources on meeting facilitation will provide students with additional insights and best practices for managing meetings effectively.

Browse courses on Meeting Facilitation

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Search for articles and videos on meeting facilitation
Identify key takeaways and tips
Apply what you've learned in your own meetings

Practice summarizing meeting discussions

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Practicing summarizing meeting discussions will help students improve their ability to capture the key points of a meeting and produce clear, concise minutes.

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Attend a meeting and take notes
Write a summary of the meeting based on your notes
Share your summary with a colleague for feedback

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Develop a template for meeting minutes

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Creating a template for meeting minutes will help students develop a consistent and efficient approach to recording meeting details.

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Identify the essential elements of meeting minutes
Design a template that includes these elements
Use your template to create minutes for a real meeting

Career center

Learners who complete Minute Taking at Meetings will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Administrative Assistant

Minute taking requires thorough documentation, organization, and an ability to write clear, concise sentences. Administrative Assistants use these skills every day to support their teams and manage their schedules. A course covering these areas will help you enter this field and learn skills that will help you be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Business Analyst

Business Analysts gather and document requirements in order to suggest changes to business processes. Their work relies on clear communication and the ability to analyze a situation to determine the most effective course of action. This course can help you master the key skills needed to succeed in this role and may give you an advantage as you enter or advance in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants work with a variety of clients on a variety of projects, so the ability to quickly grasp new information and communicate effectively is essential. This course will help you develop the skills needed to be successful in this role. It covers topics like taking accurate notes, organizing meetings, and drafting reports, skills that will help you succeed as a consultant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Data Analyst

Data Analysts need to be able to understand and organize complex information to identify trends and patterns. This course will help you develop these skills and may give you an advantage as you enter or advance in this growing field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Executive Assistant

Executive Assistants manage all aspects of an executive's schedule and business life, and a key part of that is taking notes during meetings and writing reports. This course will teach you the skills you need to execute these tasks and be successful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Executive Assistant

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts need to be able to gather, organize, and analyze complex quantitative information to make recommendations to their clients and company leadership. This course may help you enter or advance in this field by teaching you how to take accurate notes and interpret data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for all aspects of managing an organization's workforce, and a significant portion of their job involves creating and maintaining documentation. This course will help you master the essential skills you need to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts must be able to gather and organize sensitive information in order to secure their clients' networks and assets. This course may help you enter or advance in this field by teaching you about the importance of data privacy and information security.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Legal Assistant

Legal Assistants support attorneys with a variety of tasks, including taking notes during depositions and hearings, and summarizing complex legal documents. This course will help you develop the skills needed for these responsibilities in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Assistant

Meeting Planner

Meeting Planners are responsible for planning, coordinating, and running a variety of meetings, and a critical part of that is taking accurate notes and distributing them to attendees. This course may assist you in this role by teaching you how to take notes efficiently and write clear, concise reports.

See salaries and explore the career path for Meeting Planner

Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization, which often involves documenting processes and procedures. This course will teach you how to create and maintain accurate records, which will help you be successful in this role.

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Paralegal

Paralegals work under the supervision of attorneys and are responsible for a variety of legal tasks, including taking notes during depositions and hearings. This course will help you develop the skills needed for these responsibilities.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. A significant part of this involves documenting project plans, progress updates, and meeting minutes. This course may help you enter or advance in this field by providing instruction in how to take accurate notes and create clear, concise reports.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation to help users understand and use a product or service. A critical aspect of this job is the ability to understand a subject matter, analyze needs, and write clearly and accurately. This course may help you enter or advance in this field by providing instruction in note-taking, organization, and writing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers create and deliver training programs, which often involves writing and revising course materials. This course may help you gain a strong foundation in these skills. It teaches you how to organize and present information in a clear and concise manner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager