Quick Links: | Importance of Captions and Transcripts | Benefits of Captions and Transcripts for Student Learning | Add or Edit Captions in Canvas Using Kaltura |
Importance of Captions and Transcripts
Captions and transcripts are essential for accessible course design. Without them, students who are deaf or hard of hearing may miss critical information conveyed through audio or visual content. Captions and transcripts also support students in noisy settings or those who process information more effectively in text format. Including these tools creates a more equitable learning experience and improves comprehension for all students.
When captions or transcripts are unavailable:
- Students who are deaf or hard of hearing are excluded from audio content.
- Visual information described verbally is not accessible to students relying on text.
- Students in noisy or audio-restricted environments cannot fully engage.
- Learners who prefer text-based input are not supported.
These barriers disproportionately impact students with hearing impairments, neurodiverse learners, multilingual students, and those in challenging environments.
Benefits of Captions and Transcripts for Student Learning
Providing accurate captions and transcripts improves accessibility and enhances the learning experience.
- Improve engagement by offering multimodal access to content.
- Support students whose first language is not English.
- Allow flexible learning in varied environments.
- Provide searchable text for review and study.
Kaltura automatically generates captions for uploaded media, and you can edit those captions to improve accuracy. Zoom cloud recordings are automatically transferred to Kaltura for captioning. Embedding captioned media or including a transcript link ensures all students can access and understand course materials.
Add or Edit Captions in Canvas Using Kaltura
Use the following resources to add or edit captions:
For longer media, consider embedding the video or audio in a Canvas page and adding a written transcript below. Always review auto-generated captions for accuracy and test embedded media to confirm captions display correctly.
Still need help? Drop in to Academic Technology's live faculty support room via Zoom, schedule a one-on-one consultation with an instructional designer, or reach out to the Technology & Learning Program to ensure your courses are fully accessible.
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