Prepare Text.Formatting text in preparation for adding timings
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Introduction
As you see in the image below, closed captions are presented on screen as a line or two of text. So the first step in creating a closed captions file is to break a video transcript into individual lines.
There are multiple style guidelines on exactly how to break up the text and add descriptions for music and sounds. That can be a course in itself. As you are learning the basics mechanics, for now, focus on these two guidelines:
You could manually make these changes on a program, like Notepad. However, for long transcripts, that can be a lengthy process. There are free online tools to help break up text in video transcripts.
- New sentences start in a new line.
- No more than 32 characters per line.
You could manually make these changes on a program, like Notepad. However, for long transcripts, that can be a lengthy process. There are free online tools to help break up text in video transcripts.
Activity
Gillmeister-Software.com offers a free text tool to change line lengths. Watch the video below to learn how to use the free online tool to break up a transcript for a closed captions file.
Assignment
Using the online tool mentioned above, break up the transcript below, which ends with a sound effect, so there are no more than 32 characters per line and new sentences start on new lines. (If you prefer, you can download the sample text as .txt file.) Submit the completed work in the form below the transcript.
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Transcript:
With the impact an educational technologist can have on your organization, you want to make sure that person is well trained. The UTRGV educational technology program is doing just that. When students complete the accelerated master's degree program, they have an online portfolio demonstrating their skills and knowledge, and how those align, with standards developed, by The Association for Educational Communications and Technology. In our program our students in every single class will build something so that by the time they graduate from the masters they'll be able to jump into the their career track, you know, running with experience already on how to do the work. The UTRGV program also offers master's certificates specifically in technology leadership, online instructional design, and e-learning. In fact, the e-learning certificate was one of the first certificate programs in the country that The Association for Educational Communications and Technology gave its seal of approval. So when you're looking for skilled and experienced educational technologists, hire UTRGV. [soft swoosh] |
Evaluation
The work you submit in the form below will be reviewed with the following checklist:
| Criteria | ✔ |
|---|---|
| Is the text broken into lines of 32 characters or less? | |
| Does each new sentence start on a new line? |
Summary
Captions on a video usually take a small amount of space, so as not to block too much of the video image. In addition to that, they are only on screen for a short amount of time, so captions should be short enough for people to read quickly. This means a video transcript needs to be broken into small segments.
There are different guidelines on how to break up text for captions, how to format text, how to present non-speech audio, and more. And outside of educational videos, there are different guidelines for closed captions in industries like the legal field and broadcast. If you're interested in learning more about closed captions best practices for educational videos, the Described and Captioned Media Program offers guidelines on its website. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administrated by the National Association of the Deaf.
There are different guidelines on how to break up text for captions, how to format text, how to present non-speech audio, and more. And outside of educational videos, there are different guidelines for closed captions in industries like the legal field and broadcast. If you're interested in learning more about closed captions best practices for educational videos, the Described and Captioned Media Program offers guidelines on its website. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administrated by the National Association of the Deaf.
