PROGRAMME OUTLINE NQF Level : 3 Credits : 4 1. Minute Taking 1.1 Effective Meetings • Preparation • Ensuring a meeting is successful - what role will you play? • Arranging the meeting, agenda setting, minute taker 1.2 The Meeting Cycle • Structure of a meeting • Agenda setting 1.3 Note Taking • Do's and don'ts of effective note taking • Example layouts • Mind Mapping 1.4 Attending the Meeting • At the meeting - concerns/issues • Common problems • Finding out who's who/remembering • Not understanding • Hearing • Arguments • Coping with numbers and figures 1.5 Writing Minutes • Layout of Minutes • Example of Agenda Items • Tradition style • Factual style • Practical exercises • Language and grammar • Business English • Punctuation • Agreeing actions to take forward 2. Speedwriting This module is ideal for people with some experience, or new to any form of speedwriting, who needs to improve their note taking abilities, or to produce reports on a regular basis, but have had no formal training. You may have seen people using old-fashioned shorthand or you may have tried to learn it – it’s like learning Arabic or Chinese! The alternative to frustrating traditional shorthand writing is our easy way of speedwriting. • Identify how writing speed is inhibited and identify mediums to improve speed • How to practice your Speedwriting Methods • Physical requirements to improve your writing speed • Summarising information • Master the rules of abbreviations and symbols • Grasp the art of listening and writing at the same time • Writing what you hear (Phonetic Writing) • Learn memory techniques that will increase retention of information • Take minutes of unfamiliar information • Posture and movement to increase speed and professionalism