Make Videos Accessible
Videos are a form of multimedia because they contain synchronized audio and visual elements. Although videos are beneficial for increasing engagement and enhancing the learning experience, videos aren't always accessible. For example, videos are not the ideal medium to communicate information to those who are hard of hearing or when English is their second language. To ensure the video-based instructional materials in your course are perceivable and understandable to everyone, make your videos accessible by:
- Adding captions to the video
- Including a transcript
- Adding timestamps
Captions
Captions are on-screen text that describe the audio components of the video. Captions display the dialogue, identify speakers, describe music and sounds, and clarify tone.
Include a Transcript
Transcripts are a translation of a video's audio into text. Transcripts provide text alternatives for audio content like videos, presentations, e-Learning courses, and podcasts. By including a transcript, you give learners a text-based possibility for the video. Transcripts can be embedded directly on the web page or provided as a separate text file.
Add Timestamps
Timestamps are a list of notable parts of a video. By identifying in advance which parts of the video are most relevant, you allow the viewer to jump ahead as necessary or return to those parts of the video at a later point in time. In general, timestamps make the video content more usable and findable for the viewer.
References
Transcripts. Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). (n.d.). https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/transcripts/.
