Zoom adds accessibility features for video meetings, time-limit waiver ends with 2020
Zoom, a video conference tool used by many Purdue instructors, has added new features to make its platform more accessible for users who might find video meetings more of a struggle, including those who are hearing impaired or deaf. Zoom conferencing tool includes a feature that uses automatic transcription to turn the spoken word into text in real-time. Purdue has created a new guide to help instructors enable the automatic transcription feature.
Students and instructors can now opt to use live closed captioning in their Zoom sessions. The automatic captioning is not a default feature; meeting hosts must click on the button in their toolbar to allow participants to view the dialogue as subtitles, a running transcript, or both. The automatic transcription feature does not work with breakout rooms.
Please note that auto-generated transcripts are not a replacement for accommodations (changes to an environment based on a person’s needs in that environment). If students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have an auditory processing disorder, have an accommodation letter from their respective service office (the Disability Resource Center – DRC for PWL, Services for Students with Disabilities – SSD for PFW, Disability Access Center – DAC for PNW) then they are eligible for accommodations beyond automatic transcription. When an instructor receives such an accommodation letter from a student, or when notified by the DRC, SSD, or DAC the instructor should work with the that office, which will arrange for either a live captionist to attend a scheduled Zoom session(s) or captioning to be added to recording(s). It is the instructor’s responsibility to coordinate necessary access to Zoom with the DRC, SSD, or DAC.
Zoom COVID-19 time-limit waiver ending
The Zoom time-limit waiver ends Dec. 31, 2020; starting Jan. 1, users of its “Basic” (free) plan will be limited to 40 minutes for meetings with more than three participants.
- Instructors who use Zoom inside of Brightspace will be able to continue using a free license but will be subject to the 40-minute time limit.
- Meetings with only two or three participants can still be hosted for up to 24 hours.
Anyone who wants to use Zoom to host a meeting (with three or more participants) lasting longer than 40 minutes should purchase a user license through Purdue before the end of the fall semester. Users who purchase a Zoom “educational” license will be able to host meetings for up to 24 hours.
Purdue has an agreement with Zoom that allows users on the West Lafayette, Northwest, and Fort Wayne campuses to purchase individual licenses at a discounted rate. Purdue Global does not use Zoom in the classroom.
To learn more about purchasing a Zoom license:
- West Lafayette and Northwest campuses can learn more about how to purchase a Zoom license by visiting pnw.edu/zoom. Staff at Purdue Northwest handles account information for the West Lafayette campus.
- Faculty and staff at Purdue Fort Wayne should contact Shannon Sauro at sauros@pfw.edu to request a paid Zoom license.
Requests for new licenses should be made by Dec. 5, 2020, to ensure that licenses are in place for the start of the spring semester.