Virginia Tam, you seem to be making progress. Even without instruction you should meet your goal. Instruction usually speeds things up a bit though.

I know quite a few dulcimer players and most use their fingers exclusively for noting. A few use noters for certain tunes. County records released an album by the Russell family several decades ago and I believe it is now on CD. On that recording Bonnie Russell is playing dulcimer and is using a noter. It is one of my favorite dulcimer recordings. When I was playing a lot, I used the nail of my thumb to get some of the effects of the noter. In the hands of a master, and Jean Ritchie would qualify here, the noter can be very effective. Since it is slid along the fingerboard it is picking up grace (or whatever you might call them) notes adding to the tune you are playing. The noter can be a simple way to start but to use it effectively requires some real skill. With the fingers you do get a softer sound and have the option of adding harmony notes and chords. That comes more naturally to most people.