VCSU One Stop

701-845-7340
Login

Blackboard Collaborate Live Captioning Alternative

Modified on: Thu, Feb 27 2025 11:09 AM

Blackboard Collaborate does not currently have built-in live captioning. However, you can enable Google Chrome’s captioning tool to see captions for both live and recorded Collaborate sessions.


Important Note: Google has stated that captions are processed locally on the device and are not retained by the company. 



How to Enable Live Captions in Google Chrome

(If you don’t have Chrome, you can download it here: https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/chrome/)


  1. On your computer, open Google Chrome browser:
    • At the top right, select the ellipsis button > Settings > Accessibility.

      A screenshot of the Google Chrome browser with the settings menu open. The three-dot menu in the top-right corner is highlighted with a red box and arrow, indicating where to click. Another red box and arrow highlight the “Settings” option in the dropdown menu.

      A screenshot of the Google Chrome settings page, specifically the “Accessibility” section. The “Accessibility” menu on the left sidebar is highlighted with a red box and arrow. The “Live Caption” option, which automatically creates captions for supported languages, is also highlighted with a red box and arrow, indicating where users can enable or disable it.

    • Turn Live Caption on or off.
      • If you want to get Live Captions in a language other than English:
        1. Next to 'Manage languages', select Add languages.
          • This will automatically download language packs.
        2. Next to 'Preferred caption language', select the Down arrow Down arrow and then your preferred language.

  2. (Optional) Click Caption preferences to customize how the captions appear, including color and transparency.
  3. Restart Chrome for the changes to take effect.
  4. Open Blackboard Collaborate in Chrome and join your session. Captions should now appear automatically.


Additional Notes:

  • You can move the caption box by clicking and dragging it to a different position on your screen.
  • Captions may misinterpret similar-sounding words but will attempt to correct themselves. Always verify accuracy if using captions for assignments.
  • The captioning tool does not differentiate between speakers, so keeping the Attendees Panel open in Collaborate can help identify who is speaking.



Resources: 




Do you have technical questions or concerns? 


You can now submit a ticket to VCSU Technology Services Help Desk through any of the following options:

  ✓ MyVCSU app or web portal at   https://my.vcsu.edu/

  ✓ Direct link to submit a new ticket:   https://onestop.vcsu.edu/support/tickets/new

  ✓ Email tsticket@vcsu.edu to automatically create a ticket.

  ✓ You can also give us a call at 1-701-845-7340. 


VCSU Technology Services Office Hours: 

7:45 am – 4:30 pm CST Monday through Friday (Fall and Spring semesters, closed on holidays)

7:30 am – 4:00 pm CST Monday through Friday (Summer semester)


After Hours: 

Please submit a One Stop ticket or contact the NDUS Help Desk 24/7 support for assistance.


Was this answer helpful?