My latest posts have been AI heavy: ironically, this one is too. Without AI, captioning videos was expensive and cumbersome. Few colleges really had the time or money for it. At community and technical colleges, we\u2019re all juggling heavy work and teaching loads, diverse student needs, under-staffed, under-funded, and rapidly evolving technologies. It\u2019s no wonder many faculty still hesitate to use video in their courses, especially when they think captioning is still the onerous process it once was.<\/p>\n
But times have changed.<\/p>\n
Thanks to AI-powered platforms like Panopto and Zoom, captioning has never been easier, more accurate, or more accessible. The National Institute of Health says<\/a> that “More than 100 empirical studies document that\u00a0captioning a video\u00a0improves comprehension of, attention to, and memory for the video.<\/em> Captions are particularly beneficial for persons watching videos in their non-native language, for children and adults learning to read, and for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.” In other words, captioning should be a non-negotiable part of your teaching toolkit because:<\/p>\n Captioning is a cornerstone of inclusive education. For students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, captions are essential. But they also help English language learners, neurodivergent students, and others who benefit from reading along with audio.<\/p>\n Captioning supports multiple means of representation which is one of the key pillars of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).<\/p>\n Research shows that captions help students retain information better. Seeing and hearing information simultaneously strengthens understanding and memory, especially for complex content or unfamiliar terminology.<\/p>\n With tools like YouTube or Panopto, captions become searchable transcripts. Students can quickly find key moments by searching a keyword. That\u2019s not just convenient; it\u2019s a game-changer for review and studying.<\/p>\n Studies repeatedly show that most students turn on captions<\/strong>, even if they don\u2019t have an accommodation. They might be in noisy environments, on the bus, in a crowded apartment, workplace breakroom, or simply prefer reading along. Why not meet them where they are?<\/p>\n Think ahead: accessibility requirements are only going to become more rigorous. Especially with the DOJ letter from April of 2024<\/a> giving us all a deadline of April, 2026! Captioning now ensures your course materials stay compliant, usable, and shareable\u00a0 whether you\u2019re teaching online, hybrid, or in-person with supplemental media.<\/p>\n Captioned videos lead to fewer student interventions and fewer last-minute scrambles to meet accommodation requests. The students should not have to make these requests. We can build this into your workflow. That\u2019s more time teaching, less time troubleshooting. By building accessibility in everything we do, we are creating a more inclusive experience for everyone.<\/p>\n May is Global Accessibility Awareness month. If you\u2019ve been avoiding video because of captioning hassles, now is the time to rethink that. The barriers are lower, the tools are better, and the benefits are undeniable.<\/p>\n Start small<\/strong>: Try captioning one short video: a video welcoming your students to your class, or letting them know that you value access and inclusion. Let your students know. See what they say. You might be surprised at the impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My latest posts have been AI heavy: ironically, this one is too. Without AI, captioning videos was expensive and cumbersome. Few colleges really had the time or money for it. At community and technical colleges, we\u2019re all juggling heavy work … Continue reading 1. Accessibility Is Equity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Captions Boost Comprehension and Retention<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Searchable Content = Better Learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Students Use Captions, Whether You Know It or Not<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. It Future-Proofs Your Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Fewer Accommodation Requests<\/strong><\/h3>\n
No Time Like the Present<\/strong><\/h3>\n