4.3 Captioning Videos for Accessibility

Captioning a Video Within Canvas Studio

1. Navigate to your Canvas Studio library
2. If the video you want to caption is already in your library, select it
3. If the video is not in your library, select the Upload button and drag and drop your video file into the designated upload area
4. Access the video for captioning by clicking its title

1. Once your video is selected, look for the Captions option in the video's menu
2. Click on Request Captions to access Canvas Studio's automatic caption generation feature

Select the language spoken in the video to start the captioning process

1. After the captions have been generated, it's essential to review them thoroughly
2. While auto-generated captions can save a significant amount of time, they should not be trusted outright
3. Be on the lookout for inaccuracies, especially with technical terminology, names, or idiomatic expressions, as these are common in auto-generated captions

Editing Auto-Generated Captions

1. Within the video's Captions menu, locate the generated captions.
2. Select the language of the captions to enter the editing mode.

1. Once in the editing mode, Canvas Studio will display the captions alongside the video timeline.
2. Use the timeline to navigate to specific sections of the video where corrections are needed.
3. Play the video and pause it at the segments you want to edit.
4. Select the caption text to make your changes and corrections.
5. Once you have completed your corrections, select the green Publish button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

For more in-depth instructions, we recommend that you review the following Canvas Community Guides:

Within a selected YouTube video click on Show transcript which you can find in the video descriptions

Copy and paste the entire transcript into a text document

1. Have a copy of the YouTube transcript open
2. Open up a YouTube video that you've added to Canvas Studio. Make sure you are on the Captions tab
3. Select create from scratch then in the next window, select the language you wish to use for your captions

Select Add your first caption line

1. Copy and paste the first line from the transcript to the clipboard
2. Paste the first line from the transcript into the Caption Text box
3. Enter Appears At and Until times
4. Select Add Line

1. To insert a new line, chose Insert line. Continue this step until all of the captions from the transcript have been added
2. Select Publish when you have finished adding all of the captions

• Importance of Accessibility: Captioning videos is not just about compliance with accessibility laws; it's about inclusivity and ensuring all students have equal access to learning materials.
• Review is Crucial: Auto-generated captions are a starting point, not the finish line. Reviewing and editing captions is essential to ensure accuracy and clarity, thus enhancing the learning experience for all students.
• Engagement and Comprehension: Accurate captions can significantly improve engagement and comprehension for all students, not just those who rely on them out of necessity. They support various learning styles and can be especially helpful in noisy or quiet environments.