Adding closed captioning to your Zoom meetings is an excellent method for improving accessibility for all attendees. It’s a simple and efficient way to accommodate participants who are deaf or have hearing impairments, as well as ensuring that everyone can easily follow the discussion.
Step 1: Enable Closed Captioning in Zoom
The first step to adding closed captioning to your Zoom meetings is to enable the feature. To do this, log into your Zoom account and navigate to the “Settings” tab. From there, select “In Meeting (Advanced)” and scroll down until you see the option for “Closed Captioning.” Check the box to enable closed captioning for all of your meetings.
Step 2: Choose a Closed Captioning Provider
Once you’ve enabled closed captioning in Zoom, you’ll need to choose a provider. There are several options available, including Otter.ai and AI-Media. Each provider has its own set of features and pricing plans, so be sure to do your research before selecting one.
Step 3: Connect Your Closed Captioning Provider to Zoom
Once you’ve chosen a closed captioning provider, you’ll need to connect it to your Zoom account. This process will vary depending on the provider you choose, but typically involves entering an API key or token into your Zoom settings. Follow the instructions provided by your provider to complete this step.
Step 4: Test Your Closed Captioning Setup
Before using closed captioning in a live meeting, it’s important to test your setup to ensure that everything is working properly. Schedule a test meeting with a colleague or friend and have them speak while you observe the closed captions. Make any necessary adjustments to your settings before your next meeting.
Step 5: Use Closed Captioning in Your Meetings
Once you’ve enabled closed captioning and connected it to your Zoom account, you can use it in any of your meetings. Simply start a meeting as usual and select the “Closed Caption” option from the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Your participants will now be able to see the captions in real-time.
Conclusion
Adding closed captioning to your Zoom meetings is a simple and effective way to make them more accessible for everyone. By following these steps, you can ensure that all of your participants can follow along with the conversation, regardless of their hearing abilities.
