Zoom meetings have become an integral part of our daily routine, providing us the opportunity to stay connected with co-workers, friends, and family while staying within the comforts of our homes. However, if you wish to personalize your Zoom meetings by adding captions, how can you do so? In this article, I will walk you through the steps of captioning your meetings on Zoom, sharing my personal tips and insights along the way.
Step 1: Enabling Closed Captioning
The first step to captioning your Zoom meetings is to ensure that closed captioning is enabled. To do this, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Zoom application on your computer.
- Click on the “Settings” gear icon in the top-right corner of the window.
- In the Settings menu, click on the “Accessibility” tab.
- Under the “Closed Captioning” section, check the box that says “Enable Closed Captioning.”
Step 2: Assigning a Captioner
Now that you have enabled closed captioning, it’s time to assign someone to act as the captioner during your Zoom meeting. This can be yourself or someone else in the meeting who has a good command of the language being spoken. To assign a captioner, follow these steps:
- Once you are in a Zoom meeting, click on the “…” button at the bottom of the Zoom window to open the More options menu.
- In the More options menu, click on the “Assign a participant to type Closed Captions” option.
- A list of participants will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. Click on the participant’s name whom you want to assign as the captioner.
- The assigned captioner will now have the ability to type closed captions during the meeting.
Step 3: Typing Closed Captions
Now that you have assigned a captioner, it’s time to start typing closed captions during your Zoom meeting. The captioner should follow these guidelines:
- Pay attention to the speaker and type what they say accurately and in real-time.
- Use proper punctuation and formatting to make the captions clear and easy to read.
- Try to be as concise as possible while still capturing the essence of what is being said.
- If multiple people are speaking at once, try your best to differentiate their voices in the captions.
It’s worth mentioning that being a captioner can be challenging, as it requires quick thinking and accurate typing. However, with practice, anyone can become proficient in this important role.
Step 4: Sharing Captions with Participants
Now that your meeting is being captioned, it’s important to make the captions accessible to all participants. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on the “…” button at the bottom of the Zoom window to open the More options menu.
- In the More options menu, click on the “Show Subtitle” option.
- The closed captions will now be visible to all participants on their Zoom screens.
Personal Touch: My Experience as a Captioner
I have personally acted as a captioner in several Zoom meetings, and it has been a rewarding experience. Not only does it help individuals with hearing impairments to fully participate in the meeting, but it also benefits non-native English speakers and those who may have difficulty understanding certain accents. It’s a small but impactful way to ensure inclusivity in our virtual meetings.
Conclusion
Captioning your Zoom meetings is a valuable skill that adds a personal touch and enhances inclusivity. By following these steps and assigning a captioner, you can ensure that all participants have access to accurate and real-time captions. So, the next time you host a Zoom meeting, don’t forget to enable closed captioning and make everyone feel included.