Captions are Appreciated in Classrooms and Studying by All

The Importance of Closed Captions for Learning and Information Retention

Closed Captions: More Than Accessibility

Closed captions often support accessibility for people with disabilities. But many students and viewers without disabilities also use captions to help with understanding information and learning new topics.

Research on Student Use of Closed Captions

In 2015, the Oregon State University Ecampus Research Unit led a national survey to learn how students use and view closed captions in their courses. The survey included students both with and without disabilities (2015).

• 54% of students sometimes use closed captions when they are available in course videos.
• 35% of students said they use captions always or often.

Keep in mind this data is from 2015, before most learning moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, online classes and video materials have grown, which means caption usage is likely even higher today.

Benefits of Closed Captions in Remote and Online Learning

During the COVID-19 pandemic, students spent more time at home and learning environments became limited. This change increased routine and repetition, which can make it hard to stay focused.

• 59% of survey respondents said closed captions in course videos were "extremely" or "very" helpful (2015).
• 29% found captions "moderately" beneficial.
• Overall, 80% of students saw real benefits in using closed captioning.

With virtual learning more common than ever, the utility of captioning has only increased. Closed captions help more students actively engage and better understand their material.

How Closed Captions Support Focus and Comprehension

The research revealed several ways that closed captions make learning easier for everyone:

• Better Focus: Two-thirds of students said captions helped them stay attentive during lessons.
• Higher Retention: Captions allow students to remember more from videos, leading to improved outcomes.
• Overcoming Audio Issues: Captions help when the audio is poor, includes unfamiliar accents, or has background noise.
• Accessibility in Any Environment: Students can still access information in both noisy places (like cafes) and very quiet ones (like libraries).

As people return to public spaces for learning and work, these features are still very important.

The Power of Closed Captions in Education

Improving Comprehension and Accuracy

Closed captions do more than repeat spoken words. They increase comprehension by helping viewers catch important details they may miss in audio alone. This added clarity benefits:

• Non-native speakers of English
• Students in large classes or noisy environments
• People with different learning preferences

Captions also support accuracy. When information is both heard and read, there is less chance of a misunderstanding. This dual input approach is supported by cognitive research on multisensory learning (Mayer, 2009).

Boosting Engagement and Retention

Studies show that using captions can increase engagement. According to a 2016 study, students who use captions are more likely to pay attention and complete video lessons.

• More interaction with course videos
• Improved test scores and memory retention
• Better overall learning outcomes

Addressing Common Challenges in E-Learning

Many online videos have audio challenges. These can include:

• Technical problems like low volume
• Instructors with strong accents
• Background noise in the recording

Closed captions let all viewers follow along, no matter the audio quality. They also help when viewers need to keep the volume low in libraries, dorms, or quiet workspaces.

Expanding Caption Use Beyond the Classroom

How Captions Benefit All Audiences

Closed captions are not just for students. People use them in:

• Work training sessions
• Public presentations
• Webinars and conferences

Captions make information clear and easy to follow. They also help reach a wider audience, including those who cannot use sound at the moment.

Getting Started with Closed Captioning

Adding captions to your videos is easy and effective. By using professional closed captioning services, you ensure high quality and accuracy for every video.

Choosing automated options, such as an AI transcription subscription, makes it even faster to add captions. These tools can handle large batches of educational or training videos with speed and precision.

Order Affordable and Professional Closed Captions

Ready to add captions to your course materials or online videos? Get started with GoTranscript’s closed captioning order page for a straightforward process and transparent captioning services pricing.

GoTranscript: Your Trusted Partner for Captions and More

Closed captions provide proven benefits for learning, focus, and retention. As research and real-world experience show, both students with and without disabilities rely on captions to understand and remember more from videos. The shift to online and remote learning has only increased the need for accurate captioning.

GoTranscript offers high-quality solutions for every captioning need. Our services include closed captioning, subtitling, and transcription for courses, training videos, and more. Reach out today to ensure all your educational content is clear, accessible, and engaging.