Even before
the pandemic, the eLearning industry has been expanding at a regular pace. But
the closure of most workplaces and schools led to a significant boom as more
individuals and organizations invest in virtual learning, and more e-learning
websites emerge. A new study by Global Market Insights even reveals that the eLearning
market will reach $375 billion by 2026. 

Many course
providers now make use of subtitles and closed captioning in their eLearning
materials. Apart from bridging the language barrier and making learning easier
to understand, these features offer many other benefits. Before diving any
further, though, what are closed captions? Are subtitles the same as closed
captions?

Although
subtitles and captions may overlap in many ways, they are very distinct
entities, each having its purpose.

Captions are
the text versions of the audio part of a video or presentation. They are
usually in the language of the video and maybe open or closed. Closed captions
differ from open captions in that they can be disabled at will. Captions are
geared towards the deaf or hard of hearing and often include details like sound
effects, music, and the speaker’s identity.

Subtitles, on the other hand, are on-screen translations of dialogue meant to accompany the audio track.  They are geared towards people who do not understand the language of the medium. For example, an Italian person wanting to learn a course delivered in English will need translated subtitles to follow and understand the course.

Present
Trends In eLearning

The
eLearning industry, like any other, has experienced its fair share of evolution
and change since its inception. Several new trends aimed at making the
eLearning experience more effective are springing up. These trends include
mobile learning, adaptive learning, gamification, microlearning, artificial
intelligence, etc. While some are very much recognized, others are still in the
early stages and are yet to gain popularity.

Benefits
Of Subtitling And Captions In eLearning

There are
several benefits of subtitles and closed captioning to both eLearning
professionals and their audience. Some of them are;

• It
  offers greater accessibility.

Using subtitles and closed captions for your videos allows
those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or can’t effectively speak English to
access your course.

• It
  appeals to a broader range of learning needs.

Using closed captioning and subtitles in eLearning adds an
all-important visual element to the lecture. The availability of texts helps
learners who are more inclined to visual or text-based eLearning materials
better understand the ideas and concepts being communicated. This way, learners
can read and listen to every presentation, making it a more complete and
effective eLearning process.

• It
  boosts memory retention.

When learners can read and hear the eLearning course
content, the information provided is more likely to end up in their long-term
memory bank. This makes for better knowledge retention and comprehension. With
closed captions, learners also can look up terms and words they find difficult
to comprehend since they’re spelt out right on their screens.

• It
  meets compliance standards.

In 2012, The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
won a lawsuit filed against Netflix. As a result, anyone who uploads any
eLearning material on platforms like iTunes Store or Amazon Instant Video must
include captions to meet compliance standards.

Why
Hire A Language Service Provider

Quality
subtitling and closed captioning require the work of trained professionals who
have mastered both translation and intricacies of subtitling to ensure the
viewing experience is not hampered in any form.

Hiring a
language service provider grants you access to a pool of experts and saves you
the financial stress of investing in the specialized tools that make for
excellent delivery. You benefit from their experience, expertise, and extensive
knowledge of the niche in question.

Although
technology continues to evolve, computer programs can not capture the nuances
of a language like a language service provider can. Hiring a language service
professional ensures that the message you’re trying to pass in your learning
material is not altered in any way.

Bottom Line

The numerous
benefits of closed captions and subtitles in virtual learning have made its
implementation necessary. Not only does it help you bridge the language barrier
with subtitles, but eLearning stakeholders can also be sure that the closed
captioning and subtitles will be meeting the government regulations for virtual
learning experiences. Therefore, it’s crucial that the job not only be done but
be done well. That said, hiring a language provider like Translationsinlondon is by far the best bet.