2008 Woodie Awards
Writing for the disabled
Eastern makes learning easier through transcription
Megan McCreary
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Features
Imagine going to a lecture class, but not being able to hear one word the professor says. Some Eastern students face that challenge every day. Now Eastern is making learning better for students with disabilities.
One example of the university's efforts is transcription services, which is part of the Instructional Development Center.
IDC Director Fred Kolloff said, one job of the center is to make sure all audio and video resources meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. All files for courses must be handicap accessible to meet disability laws.
The transcription service department takes every audio and video file available on EKU's Web site and Blackboard site and makes a text version available to help students with disabilities.
The transcribed text is given to professors who make it available on Blackboard for all the students in the class.
Students without disabilities are also benefiting from the transcription service.
"We've seen students who are not disabled using the transcripts to review after watching or listening to an audio or video file," Kolloff said. "Many students find the transcription helpful as a reference for the file."
The transcription service started in December 2007 and is still growing. This semester the Chautauqua lecture series is also being transcribed.
Lectures will be made available on the Chautauqua web page for the entire semester.
Wonder who does all that typing? A team of Eastern students themselves.
"The student workers who transcribe files must type at least 60 words per minute and have 80 percent accuracy," said Becca Palmer, secretary for IDC.
Eastern currently has five students transcribing files.
"We have great students working for us," Kolloff said. "We are really proud of them."
The IDC offers many other services to enrich the learning experience. One of those services is instructional design. Faculty can meet with an instructional designer to decide if a course is being designed and developed correctly for students.
Instructional graphics services are also provided. An instructional graphic designer works on the layout and overall appearance of instructional presentations and presentations that represent EKU.
The IDC also offers instructional photography services that aid in the production of slides and files for instructional use.
"We are just doing what needs to be done," Palmer said. "The service is expanding and we are excited about its progress."
If you're a professor and want to request transcription of a course, or if you just want to find out more about the project, visit the IDC's Web site at http://www.idc.eku.edu/TranscriptionProject.htm or the IDC office in Crabbe Library.
One example of the university's efforts is transcription services, which is part of the Instructional Development Center.
IDC Director Fred Kolloff said, one job of the center is to make sure all audio and video resources meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. All files for courses must be handicap accessible to meet disability laws.
The transcription service department takes every audio and video file available on EKU's Web site and Blackboard site and makes a text version available to help students with disabilities.
The transcribed text is given to professors who make it available on Blackboard for all the students in the class.
Students without disabilities are also benefiting from the transcription service.
"We've seen students who are not disabled using the transcripts to review after watching or listening to an audio or video file," Kolloff said. "Many students find the transcription helpful as a reference for the file."
The transcription service started in December 2007 and is still growing. This semester the Chautauqua lecture series is also being transcribed.
Lectures will be made available on the Chautauqua web page for the entire semester.
Wonder who does all that typing? A team of Eastern students themselves.
"The student workers who transcribe files must type at least 60 words per minute and have 80 percent accuracy," said Becca Palmer, secretary for IDC.
Eastern currently has five students transcribing files.
"We have great students working for us," Kolloff said. "We are really proud of them."
The IDC offers many other services to enrich the learning experience. One of those services is instructional design. Faculty can meet with an instructional designer to decide if a course is being designed and developed correctly for students.
Instructional graphics services are also provided. An instructional graphic designer works on the layout and overall appearance of instructional presentations and presentations that represent EKU.
The IDC also offers instructional photography services that aid in the production of slides and files for instructional use.
"We are just doing what needs to be done," Palmer said. "The service is expanding and we are excited about its progress."
If you're a professor and want to request transcription of a course, or if you just want to find out more about the project, visit the IDC's Web site at http://www.idc.eku.edu/TranscriptionProject.htm or the IDC office in Crabbe Library.