3. Playback/download.

What does this mean?

Options such as subtitles, DGS translation (German Sign Language), volume and video player settings can be switched on and off during playback. These various options allow users to customise the videos to suit their needs.

Why is this important? 

In digital learning, these options are particularly helpful for people who require personalised adjustments. For example, people with hearing impairments can switch on subtitles to read the text content, whilst deaf people benefit from sign language interpretation to understand the content in their preferred form of communication. Adjusting the volume is important for people with hearing difficulties or to compensate for background noise. By providing options for personalised adjustment, videos can be made accessible to a wider audience, including those with individual needs.

How can you put this into practice/check it?

Take the time to familiarise yourself with the programmes used by your university and choose the one that best suits your needs. If necessary, do not hesitate to contact support for further information.

What does this mean?

Metadata is additional information – such as the content of the video, the names of the authors, the file size and the duration – that can be associated with a video. This data should be included with videos and provide information to ensure access to the content.

Why is this important? 

It is important to provide metadata for videos in order to improve accessibility for people with different needs. A screen reader, for example, can use the metadata to read out the content of the video and convey key information about it. People using the video outside its original context can use the metadata to identify and search for the video.

How can you put this into practice/check it?

You can check manually whether the relevant metadata – such as content, authors, file size and duration – is accurate and complete. You can usually check the relevant metadata within the software or platform you used to create or upload the file or item. Here are some possible places where you can check this metadata:

• In the file manager: For example, if you have created a file on your computer, you can check the file properties to ensure that relevant metadata such as the file name, author, size and duration are correct.
• In media editing software: For multimedia content, such as videos or audio files, you can often check the metadata in the media editing software. There, you can edit information such as the title, author, description and duration.
• On online platforms: When you upload content online, such as to social media or video platforms, you can usually specify the metadata directly during the upload process or edit it afterwards via the options or settings.

What does this mean?

Providing a download option allows users to download videos.

Why is this important? 

The option to download the video is particularly useful for people who wish to personalise their viewing experience, for example because of a slow internet connection or so that they can watch the video at a time that suits them.

How can you put this into practice/check it?

Providing video downloads requires technical support. The platform or learning management system hosting the videos should offer a download function, such as a download button or equivalent option.