Education · Advice & Questions · Oct 18

How can I ask the school to check video captions that seem to change the lesson's meaning?

Education

The caption said the interviewee "did agree." The worksheet asked why she refused. When the class replayed the sentence, a friend told me the audio included "not."

I rely on captions to follow videos in history class. The teacher pointed out that this one had captions switched on, but the words on screen still left me answering a different question. I haven't checked the rest of the clip.

How can I explain the problem without being asked to identify every error in a video I cannot reliably hear? I'd like a checked version or another accurate way to access the interview before completing the worksheet. Being told the captions exist doesn't tell me whether I can use them.

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3 community replies

@softfocus

W3C's [caption guidance](https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/captions/) says automatic captions need their accuracy confirmed; errors can change meaning. Your example is a request to check the actual words, not a complaint that you couldn't find the caption button.

@JulesAfterDark

Take the timestamp, caption and worksheet question to the teacher. You don't need to certify the audio yourself. Ask someone responsible for the lesson to verify that passage and arrange accurate access to the material.

@MorganSays

The friend's account gives you a reason to check the line, but it shouldn't become a system where you ask a classmate to reconstruct every video. The access arrangement needs to work when that friend is absent too.

How can I ask the school to check video captions that seem to change the lesson's meaning?

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