August 7, 2024
Captioning videos efficiently through Mediasite
This summer, the university acquired new captioning tools through Mediasite to make the captioning process easier for faculty. Users of Canvas can now add media into Mediasite and video content will automatically receive machine-generated captions. Those captions can then be edited easily using Mediasite's built-in caption editor. This process will save faculty time and resources as they create accessible course content.
The Student Access Center encourages use of this tool for classroom content to provide captions to all students. Many students use captions as an accommodation through the SAC. In these cases, captions are required and must be checked by faculty to ensure accuracy. If you are unable to ensure the accuracy of your captions, please contact the Student Access Center. Using Mediasite will save departments considerable time and resources versus alternative third-party options, especially when videos are created shortly before being provided to students. Accessibility is a shared responsibility that we can all advance.
Captions promote learning for students who do not have accommodations as well. Captions:
- Facilitate notetaking
- Help students focus on content they are hearing
- Improve retention of information
- Remedy poor audio quality in recordings
- Allow videos to be viewed in environments where audio cannot be played
(A Rising Tide: How Closed Captions Can Benefit All Students | EDUCAUSE Review).
Using these resources will help us build better coursework and prepare for future needs. By April 2026, we are required to make all digital content accessible per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Using Mediasite to create accessible content now will save you time and resources in the future.
Utilizing tools in Mediasite creates high quality videos while reducing our need for expensive remediation. Please become familiar with these tools and help K-State meet the needs of students and deliver an accessible, inclusive, and exceptional learning experience.