Otter for Education is a specialized tool designed to enhance the learning experience for both students and faculty by providing real-time captions and notes for in-person and virtual lectures, classes, or meetings. This technology is particularly beneficial in environments where traditional note-taking might be challenging, such as for students with learning disabilities or in situations where remote learning is necessary. Otter.ai has been recognized for its utility in academic settings, including by institutions like UCLA and Southern Utah University, for its ability to offer more control over academic accommodations and improve accessibility, especially under the constraints posed by COVID-19 and mask mandates.
The service integrates seamlessly with popular virtual meeting platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, automatically joining and recording meetings scheduled in Google or Microsoft calendars. It enhances the learning experience by providing automated summaries of lectures, enabling students to focus on the discussion rather than note-taking. Otter’s technology also supports embedded educational material in transcripts, such as slides and images, making it easier for students to recall lecture details with full context