MyBeckett News - Blackboard Ally

As mentioned in August’s newsletter, we are very pleased to announce that the web accessibility tool Ally, is now enabled and available for all modules and course groups, in MyBeckett.

What is Ally?

Ally is a tool within Blackboard (MyBeckett) that can help you create accessible content within your module. Like the way a Spellchecker can highlight spelling or grammatical mistakes in your typing, Ally does the same but highlights potential accessibility issues with documents you add or have added to your module. It also provides students (and yourself) different ways to access the same files, catering to different learning styles and accessibility needs.

• A quick preview of what Ally will look like in MyBeckett

What will change?

Two new symbols next to compatible content (files/images/hyperlinks/text):

1) Accessibility Rating - signified by the 'speedometer' rating symbol:

Please do not worry, as it is not a measure of content quality and is not visible for students; it determines if there are potential accessibility issues, and helps you quickly fix them.  You can click on the speedometer icon for guidance.

2) Alternative Formats – students and instructors alike will be able to see the 'A' icon:

When clicked, this button will instantly provide students with module content in a choice of alternative formats, eg Audio, Electronic Braille.  Student FAQ - Alternative Formats

How to use Ally?

Ally can be used via clicking on each rating symbol as above, or you can run an Accessibility Report for the entire module/course group. For full guidance on Ally, including running a report, please see our TeachLearn page:

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