{"id":9432,"date":"2021-05-18T10:31:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T09:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitaldevelopment\/?p=9432"},"modified":"2025-01-07T15:06:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T15:06:01","slug":"blackboard-ally-and-canvas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/digitallearning\/blog\/blackboard-ally-and-canvas\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackboard Ally and Canvas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What is Blackboard Ally?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Blackboard Ally<\/span>\u00a0is a tool that integrates seamlessly with Canvas to make\u00a0<\/span>your<\/span> digital content more accessible. It has been available in all Canvas courses from January 2021.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

  1. It automatically checks course materials against WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  2. It gauges the accessibility of your course content and delivers guidance<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to improve the accessibility of\u00a0<\/span>your<\/span>\u00a0content.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
  3. It has the ability to provide students with accessible alternative formats of the original document provided by the instructor. This feature became available in Canvas from 14th June 2021.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    Why is Blackboard Ally being implemented at Queen\u2019s?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Accessibility promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. Not only is it morally and ethically the right thing to do, it is required by law.\u00a0 The<\/span>\u00a0new\u00a0<\/span>UK Digital Accessibility R<\/strong>egulations<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0came into force on September 2018<\/span>, and effect all public sector bodies including Higher Education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>From 24 Sept 2020, th<\/span>ese new r<\/span>egulations mean we have a legal obligation to make any material presented online fully accessible. As a public sector organisation, we must remove any obstacles or barriers to accessing content and services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    What are the Benefits for Staff & Students?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Benefits to Staff:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    1. Gauges the accessibility of your content with indicators & scores.<\/li>
    2. Receive feedback & improve content accessibility with\u00a0<\/span>step-by-step instructions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
    3. Blackboard Ally automatically creates \u2018alternative versions\u2019 of your original files for your students.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

      Benefits to Students:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

      1. Blackboard<\/span> Ally creates multiple \u2018alternative formats\u2019 of your original documents so students can choose the best option to suit their learning needs.<\/span><\/li>
      2. Alternative formats include: HTML, Tagged PDF,\u00a0ePub, Electronic Braille, Audio, Beeline Reader or a Translated Version.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
      3. Alternative formats can be downloaded anywhere that files are used<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        <\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        For a brief overview of Alternative Formats for students, watch this short video:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

        \n\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        What will this look like for staff?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        The\u00a0Course Accessibility Report:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        You will find your Course Accessibility Report in the left-hand navigation menu of your course. (<\/span>e.g.<\/span> Ally Course Accessibility Report<\/span>.<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The report will show you this information:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>