Teaching Tip: Improve course accessibility with Blackboard Ally

October 9, 2018

Low accessibility score for sample assignment noting 'This presentation contains images that are missing an alternative description'

Over the weekend of Oct. 6-7, Blackboard Ally was added to UAF eLearning-supported courses (sections listed as UX, TX, KX, for example). Ally automatically scans your uploaded course files, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files, PDFs and images, then provides an accessibility score. Instructors and teaching assistants will now see score icons next to their content. If it needs help, Ally will guide you through the steps for improvement.

Your students have unique learning abilities. Accessible content allows them to choose a format that works best for them. Those could be HTML for improved reading on mobile phones, electronic Braille for the visually impaired or audio for learning on the go.

Blackboard has created a comprehensive instructor package (PDF) and UAF eLearning will provide an Ally training session at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11. Instructors are encouraged to attend the session or seek assistance during one of UAF eLearning’s regularly scheduled open labs.

Read more.

— Teaching Tip by Heidi Olson, learning design coordinator for UAF eLearning.