The professor is
talking. Questions and answers are flying. Pencils are scribbling. Wait – what
did she say? Can you repeat that? I think I missed that last part. And, my
pencil broke. Okay, that’s it. I definitely need more coffee.
More and more university students have decided to skip the unreadable
scrawls and inevitable hand cramps. Not only that, but they’re
getting better grades. How?
What are academic transcription services?
Academic
transcription services are making lives simpler, one transcript at a time.
Instead of missing important points and information, students are using the
digital age to their advantage. It’s easier than ever to use the record mode on
phones, tablets and other digital recorders to catch every word. Then, academic
transcription services convert those audio or video files to text, giving the
student a hard copy they can refer to whenever they need.
Transcriptionists must provide quality work with a high
accuracy rate. Once they receive the project, they must also meet a tight
deadline. These trained professionals know the importance of accurately
converting materials to text for their customers.
Why are academic transcription services beneficial?
Transcription services for university students improve grades
Besides being easier, transcriptions often contribute to
better grades, too. Students don’t run the risk of omitting or misremembering
information or discussion, as they would when taking notes by hand. They don’t
have to focus more on trying to keep up than what is actually said.
With a transcription, they have a hard copy of exactly what
transpired. Additionally, several studies have shown that the majority of
students are visual learners – those who learn primarily through visual aids.
By contrast, a much smaller portion is considered “auditory learners” – those
who retain more from what they hear. Yet, classroom presentations are often
delivered by lecture alone. Reason follows that using visual materials as
additional learning aids will help a larger percentage of the classroom.
Many education experts also believe students are not
exclusive to auditory, visual or kinetic styles. By using a blend of styles, such
as combining what they’ve heard with something to read, additional studies have
shown students can double memory retention and improve comprehension.
This is partly why best practice study guides often recommend
a variety of techniques. Listen to the presentation (auditory), read the
information (visual), and practice what was learned (kinetic). By combining
these styles, students have a true understanding of the subject matter rather
than just rote memorization.
Student transcription services save time
University students already face a pile of responsibilities.
Besides intensive school workloads, many also work extra jobs to help pay for
college. Others volunteer with organizations, play sports, join clubs, assist
their families, help their communities and more. Finding the time to sift
through hours of recorded interviews and lectures is not only tedious – it’s
unrealistic. With transcription services, students can better manage their
time.
Academic transcription services help professors improve the classroom experience
Students aren’t the only ones who have discovered this
useful tool. University professors are also using academic transcription
services to transcribe their lectures. Their students can receive a hard copy
of the lecture and classroom discussion for later reference. For students with
legitimate reasons for missing a class, professors know they won’t miss
important information and resulting discussions. To combat students skipping altogether,
professors often place conditions on distributing hard copies. They can choose
who receives the transcriptions and when.
By reviewing their own transcriptions, professors can also
self-evaluate their performance to decide where to improve their lectures and
interactions, enhancing and bettering the classroom experience for their
students. It helps them improve their teaching style and more effectively share
the curriculum their pupils need.
Student transcription services are a useful alternative to other aids
As an alternative to American Sign Language or assistive
listening devices, some deaf or hard-of-hearing students choose to use academic transcription services instead. It provides a more inclusive learning
environment by offering the same benefits other students receive.
Academic transcription services help with primary research
Many students use primary research for their papers, theses
and dissertations. By nature, secondary research is typically already written
by authors or other researchers. Primary research, on the other hand, is direct
information gathered by the student, in such forms as interviews, observations,
surveys, etc. If a student is busy transcribing hours of interviews,
particularly one who is untrained in transcribing, it can take away from the
time they would spend on analysis and creating a strong case.
Are academic transcription services expensive?
College students are notoriously broke and busy. The last
thing they need is to mess with something that’s going to take money and time –
two things they just don’t have.
The good news is that prices are increasingly affordable and
the process is easier than ever. In most cases, you can simply upload your
audio or video files. Once your request is filled, you’ll receive your
proofread transcription, usually in your email.
How do I request academic transcription services?
Academic transcription
services can be used for lectures, presentations, seminars, research work,
interviews, focus groups, dissertations, group discussions, conferences – the
possibilities are limitless. Whether you need audio-to-text, text-to-text or
language translation cum transcription, those services are available.
The future of academia is one that is easier, but also more
effective. Professors benefit from self-evaluation, resulting in improved
lectures and classroom experiences. Students get better grades and retain what
they’ve learned. It lies within using the tools at our fingertips – and is
hopefully free of writer’s cramp.
