This abstract was part of the 2026 UCSF AI and Education Symposium
As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into higher education, instructors and students alike are seeking practical, ethical, and effective ways to leverage these technologies to support learning. This session provides a hands-on training and live demonstration of Otter.ai as a learning and notetaking support tool used by students across a range of academic contexts.
Drawing from real student use cases, this presentation will demonstrate how Otter.ai can assist with lecture capture, real-time transcription, note organization, and review of complex material. The session will highlight how students are using Otter.ai to enhance comprehension, reduce cognitive load during lectures, and support diverse learning needs without replacing active engagement or critical thinking.
Participants will receive a guided walkthrough of Otter.ai’s core features, including recording options, transcription review, highlighting and summarization tools, and best practices for ethical and responsible use in academic settings. The presenter will also address common questions related to privacy, accessibility, classroom norms, and integration into existing learning workflows.
This session is designed as an interactive training and Q&A, offering attendees practical strategies they can immediately share with students or incorporate into their own teaching and support roles. No prior experience with Otter.ai is required.