How to Record Lessons & Add Captions to Schoology Videos

Adding lines of text to Schoology videos will add value to your content, improve user experience, and enable you to reach a sizeable audience. The learning management system allows teachers to create lesson plans, organize curriculum, manage educational content delivery, and provide student assessment. So what are the steps to follow when looking to add captions and subtitles to these videos? Here is what to know.

How to record a video lesson in Schoology

The first thing you will need to do is to record the video lesson on Schoology. You can use the HTML5-based recorder for both video audio and video content. Below is how to go about the process on the virtual learning platform. 

Once you open the rich text editor window, click on the record feature. This will give you the option of recording either an audio or video and audio file. To record a video file, simply choose the audio and video option. However, you must make sure that the device you are using has a webcam or camera to record the video. 

In case you are using the recorder for the first time, you will get a prompt from the browser asking you to allow the microphone or camera. Click ‘allow’ so you can continue using the recorder. To start recording, click ‘start recording.’ Because the audio recorder detects sound, you will need to make a sound after clicking ‘record.’

When you are finished, click the ‘stop’ button to end the recording. If you want to preview your content before posting it, click the play button after you have stopped the recording. Lastly, save the recorded video file to your computer.

You should also make sure that your browser supports HTML5 audio and video recorder. Browsers that support the recorder are Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. 

Steps to adding captions or foreign subtitles to the video

Because Schoology does not accept caption files in the platform, you will need to add burned-in captions to the video lesson. Now that your content is in video form, the next step is to submit the recording file to Rev. 

Here is what to do:

To add captions or subtitles to your recorded video, upload the file on Rev.com. By simply clicking on the ‘upload file’ button and choosing the video file from your computer, the video will be uploaded to the platform in a secure and confidential manner.

At Rev, we have over 50,000 captioning & subtitling experts. The professionals will are available 24/7 and will ensure your videos are captioned or subtitled with great accuracy.

Once work has been completed, Rev will email you the file. When you receive your captioned file, you can view and edit the captions before publishing.

We normally send foreign-language subtitles within 24 hours. This is a different ordering process and translates your English videos to foreign languages (great if you have international students).

For Schoology, you’ll want to make sure you pick the “Burned-in captions” or “Burned in subtitles” option in the Rev checkout process (see image below). All you have to do is place your order and select the ‘Burned-in captions’ or ‘Burned-in subtitles’ add-on on the checkout pages, and you will receive your video file with hard-coded text. 

How to upload the captioned or subtitled video back to Schoology 

The main aim of adding captions or subtitles to the recorded video is to reach a bigger audience through Schoology and communicate more effectively. As such, you will have to upload the captioned or subtitled video back to the learning management system. Below is a guide to help you.

Before uploading the video, you should take time to establish that the message contained in the text lines is the same as that in the video. The easiest way to upload a video to any class material is to go into your group, write a post, and hit the file button. You will then browse to find your video file on your computer. Click it and say open to upload it and attach it to your post. The people in your group will be able to access the video. This is a great option that teachers can use for online courses. However, you will want to consider the length of the video because Schoology has a limit of 100MB per file. 

Benefits of closed captions and foreign subtitles

There are many good reasons why teachers should consider using closed captions in their videos. As an educator, you will want to share content that is both accessible and inclusive. Below are the benefits of captions for students.

• Increased accessibility: Closed captioning allows deaf and hard hearing students to access the videos and get the message, ensuring that nobody in the class is left behind.
• Improved user experience: Adding lines of text to videos ensures that your audience enjoys and benefits from the content even when in noisy environments, in a library, or when walking. This way, viewers will have more flexibility. 
• Improved average watch time: Captions have the ability to grab and hold the attention of your audience. Generally, people are more likely to watch videos for longer when captions are turned on. Giving viewers the option of turning captions on and off will help you keep your students engaged for longer. 
• Helping ESL and foreign language students: For students whose first language is not English, lines of text in videos can help them understand concepts better. This is particularly true when dealing with technical subjects. Educators can use captions to ensure effective communication. 
• Captions clarify video content: Regardless of whether you have regular, deaf, or international students, captions help clarify content. The text will be of great value when the speaker has an accent, and when technical terms are used. 

Key Takeaway 

To make the most of Schoology, you need to familiarize yourself with the learning management system’s features. This guide on how to add captions and subtitles will make it easy for you to reach a wider audience and communicate more effectively. Whether your videos require closed captions or open captions, Rev will be happy to offer the assistance you need. Our caption and subtitling experts are available 24/7 and will accurately add text lines while ensuring a quick turnaround. Submit your video today to enjoy our quality but affordable services.