As mentioned on an earlier page, YouTube automatically created closed captions for all videos uploaded onto its platform. Similarly, YouTube creates a transcript for every video as well, with accurate timestamps and text that can be copied, pasted into a word processing tool, shared, and printed for learners to support their understanding of video content. YouTube video transcripts are available for videos the user has personally uploaded but are also available for videos a user has not uploaded, such as an educational video a teacher may want to share as part of a lesson. YouTube transcripts often utilize automatic captions which are not entirely accurate, but can be edited as needed.

1. To access video transcripts, open YouTube and select a video. Below the video player, select the 3-dot button. This button is available on all YouTube videos, whether you are the owner of the video or a viewer of another user's video.

2. Select "Open Transcript".

3. At the right of the video player, a window will emerge showing a transcript of closed captions from the text with accurate time stamps.

4. To toggle off the timestamps, select the 3-dot button and select "Toggle Timestamps". Select the 3-dot button again to toggle timestamps back on.

5. The transcript will highlight and scroll line by line as the video plays. To copy the transcript and make available to students in another modality (such as a Google Doc for printing), hover your cursor over the transcript window and select all of text.

6. Right click and select "copy" or use the copy keyboard shortcut on your device to copy the text: Chrome OS or Windows is CTRL + c, Mac is ⌘ + c.

7. Open a Google Doc or the location where you would like to paste the transcript. Paste by right clicking in the Doc and selecting "Paste" or by using keyboard shortcuts: Chrome OS or Windows is CTRL + v, Mac is ⌘ + v.

8. Now, you can edit your transcript so it is accurate. Listen to the video and update the automatic captions to improve the learning experience. Share or print the transcript and distribute to students.

For additional tips with YouTube transcripts, visit CCM or the YouTube Help Center.

Sometimes, you may want to use an instructional video that is not housed on YouTube but still need a transcript. Using speech recognition software and voice typing, you can easily create transcripts for free. Again, because the transcripts are created by a computer, it is best to review and edit for any inaccuracies afterwards before distributing to students. Follow the video tutorial, written steps, and images below to learn how to create transcripts for videos.

1. Google tools (and other productivity tools) incorporate Voice Typing to provide assistive technology supports for someone who may not be able to type on a keyboard. You can use Voice Typing to play a video, and type a transcription for the video's audio. This process works best if you open a Google Doc and open the video you would like to transcribe audio for on another device-such as a cellphone.

2. In the blank Google Doc, click the "Tools" option from the navigation menu and select "Voice Typing". A microphone will appear in a small window on the screen. Google may ask for permission to use your microphone. If the prompt appears, select allow.

3. To begin voice typing, click the microphone. The microphone will turn red to signify it is "listening" for words to type. When the microphone is red, press play on the video on your cellphone device.

4. As the video plays, it will type the audio from the video in your Google Doc.

5. When finished transcribing, stop playing the video from your cellphone and then click the red voice typing microphone again to stop voice typing.

6. Review your voice-typed text and update for any inaccuracies. Speech recognition software, like that used in voice typing, is not 100% accurate and does not include punctuation. Carefully review your text so that it is ideal for your students.

7. When finished, print and share the resource with your students.