According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 95% of students with disabilities are enrolled in regular schools. Inclusivity is still a significant challenge for numerous educational institutions here and worldwide. Academic transcription companies offer fast and cost-efficient solutions to these accessibility challenges, yet it and other similar strategies and techniques are often underutilized. So today, let’s talk about the critical role of transcription in inclusive education – and why Ditto offers the best option for all.
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- Transcription makes education more inclusive by providing students, especially those with unique learning requirements, equal access to learning materials.
- Transcription can be used for various educational needs, such as lectures, research, note-taking, video content accessibility, content repurposing, or anything to improve the learning experience.
- Automated transcription is fast; however, it’s only 61.92% accurate. This makes professional transcription services (with over 99% rates) a better choice for education-related content.
Importance of Transcription in Education
Transcription means turning spoken words into written text, which is great for schools and colleges because it prevents lectures and other education-related recordings from disappearing into thin air.
Several educational institutions have also recognized the importance of transcription as part of their commitment to accessibility and inclusive learning environments. You could say that transcription fits with modern teaching methods, which recognize that not everyone learns the same way.
Moreover, transcription helps create equal opportunities so everyone can access the same information regardless of how they learn best.
Use Cases of Transcription in the Education Landscape
All sorts of transcription can significantly benefit learning environments. Below are some of the most common scenarios where transcription services would be helpful.
| Use Case | Description |
| Lecture Capture | To convert spoken lectures into text format for student review. |
| Accessibility Accommodations | Text versions of audio content are more accessible for those with hearing issues. |
| Language Learning | Supports non-native speakers with written transcripts to follow along with spoken content |
| Research Interviews | Can be used to convert recorded qualitative research interviews into analyzable text data. |
| Student Note-Taking Support | Accurate transcripts can supplement manual note-taking. |
| Video Content Accessibility | Educational videos are more accessible through transcripts and captions. |
| Collaborative Learning | Helps document group discussion sessions for later reference. |
Role Of Transcription In Inclusive Education
In every learning environment, inclusivity is essential. And, in most cases, required by the law. Below are some of the most significant roles of transcription in inclusive education.
Enhance Access for Students with Hearing Impairments
Transcription is a great way to remove barriers for kids with hearing issues. Turning lectures into text lets these students participate in class without needing a sign language interpreter or lip reading – both can be exhausting over extended periods.
Transcripts show EXACTLY what was said in class – all the technical words, who said what, and other essential lectures that might get missed. In a biology class, for example, transcription helps students with hearing issues know what scientific words are spelled out or what they mean.
More importantly, since transcripts have better longevity than audio or video recordings, these students don’t have to do the impossible by paying attention to the interpreter AND watching whatever the teacher is showing simultaneously.
Support for Processing and Attention Difficulties
Transcription also aids students with processing issues. Generally, these students can work better through materials and at their own pace – they can review difficult sections without repeatedly asking the lecturer for clarification. It may not be a big deal for regular students, but it’s a lifesaver for those with such difficulties.
Also, for those with auditory processing struggles, the transcripts’ visual nature lets them engage with content through visual processing, which is more effective for many learners.
Learners with attention difficulties, or even those with comprehension issues, can benefit the most from transcription since it divides information into manageable segments. You see, comprehension and attention problems mainly stem from cognitive overload, and dividing the lecture into bits creates natural breaking points.
Language Support for Non-Native Speakers
For non-native English speakers, reading can be easier than listening – especially when learning a new language. So, I’d argue that having written versions of lectures can significantly help non-native students learn through their more familiar skills or learning preferences.
For example, when the lecturer uses a technical word, international students can look it up if it’s written instead of missing the concept entirely. One who struggles with rapid economic lectures can simply review the transcripts later – they can circle back to unfamiliar terms at their own pace.
That said, not all transcripts are equal – or helpful for students. The most helpful ones include natural speech patterns or common expressions that fluent speakers use. And, of course, inaccurate transcripts are next to useless and may hinder progress rather than help it.
Again, it may not be significant for regular students, but for language learners, it’ll increase their exposure to everyday language.
Improves Assistive Technology Integration
When spoken content becomes text, it also becomes compatible with screen readers. This is useful since visually impaired students can access materials through audio feedback on their devices. However, many educational institutions haven’t yet reached this point.
Moreover, students with mobility limitations benefit from searchable digital content. They won’t need to flip through paper notes; they can just search for what they need. Even those without mobility limitations can benefit from it. I wouldn’t like flipping through piles and pages of notes either, and I imagine many people don’t, either.
Combining hyperlinks, definitions, or videos with transcripts will give students more informative and engaging content than plain text.
Universal Design for Learning Implementation
Students with diverse learning styles can benefit from audio and text versions of the educational materials. They can choose what works best for them – even those without hearing or auditory issues sometimes prefer having text versions or captions on their educational content.
Let me give you an example. History professors – at least the ones I know – give lectures about constitutional development. Even regular students may find it challenging to comprehend the jargon or niche terms that professors might mention. And let’s be honest, not all students have the guts to ask for clarity.
Accompanying transcripts will allow students to search for unfamiliar terms, concepts, dates, names, or whatever the student needs. This is much better than rewinding a video or audio recording or repeatedly asking for clarification.
Also, when transcripts are available to everyone, the stigma associated with accommodation requests is reduced since the resource becomes normalized. It may not be obvious, but that kind of stigma exists in some educational environments.
Is It Better To Use Automated Transcription For School-Related Recordings?
The short answer is “No”.
Let me explain.
Although automated transcription has become quite common due to the popularity of AI, it’s not the perfect fit for every academic use.
Automated transcription can be an option for tasks where speed is more important than capturing every single detail – though I can’t think of many transcription tasks that require speed at the expense of accuracy.
Besides, automated transcription, with its 61.92% accuracy (at best), will only mess up the student’s learning process.
Automated systems are hugely impacted by heavy accents, technical jargon, background noise, multiple speakers, and other factors. In these scenarios, human transcriptionists are your best bet. Their ability to understand context, grasp unclear audio or video, and ensure terminology makes them the preferred choice for complicated academic recordings, especially those used for research or legal purposes.
That’s why using a manual academic transcription service like Ditto is the most efficient way to support learning.
Why Choose Ditto Transcripts As Your Transcription Service Partner?
Our exemplary transcription service plays a significant role in improving inclusivity. So, choose only the best service provider available. Take advantage of all the benefits of academic transcription while enjoying Ditto’s perks:
- Experience: There’s no substitute for experience; since 2010, we’ve perfected our processes and tools to give our customers the highest level of service every single time.
- Accuracy: Accuracy is non-negotiable for lectures and research discussions. That’s why we focus on delivering transcripts with 99% accuracy.
- Human Transcribers: At Ditto, we don’t use automated transcription tools. All projects are done by humans, for humans, to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
- Speed: We know deadlines are essential, so we offer flexible turnaround times. This way, you can get the transcripts whenever you need them.
- Foreign Language Translation: We offer transcription services in multiple languages. We can help make your academic content accessible to foreign students.
- Customer Service: We also believe in providing quality customer service. Our team is here to answer your questions or address any concerns.
- ADA-Compliant: Our transcripts can help you comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing access to educational materials for students with disabilities.
- Security Compliance: We understand the importance of securing your data. So, we implement security to keep it confidential. When we say security, we mean CJIS, HIPAA, and FINRA compliance.
Ditto’s Transcription Supports Inclusivity And Accessibility
We fully acknowledge the role of transcription in inclusive education. Our academic transcription services can promote inclusivity and student learning. So, stop wasting time and get a transcript with 99% accuracy at affordable rates and without any of the headaches.
Ditto Transcripts is a FINRA, HIPAA, and CJIS-compliant Denver, Colorado-based transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and institutions of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote and ask about our free five-day trial.