EDQS TEL Design Accessibility in LearnJCU

Accessibility in LearnJCU

Inclusive design with Anthology Ally

Anthology Ally (formerly known as Blackboard Ally) is a tool available in LearnJCU that contributes to making subject content inclusive and flexible.

  • For students, it provides flexible learning options by enabling alternative formats on digital learning materials.
  • For educators, it provides accessibility scores against files and advice on how to improve those scores.

Ally checks subject materials against WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.

How to work with Ally

Accessibility scoring works on the following file types that are uploaded to your LearnJCU subject site:

  • PDFs
  • MS Word
  • MS Powerpoint
  • HTML files (not links)
  • Images (JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BPM, TIFF)
  • Ultra documents
  • Tests

Accessibility indicator from subject content
Image: Accessibility indicator from subject content

Please note: Students do not see the accessibility indicator, it is only available on the teaching side.

The common types of accessibility issues include:

  • contrast issues
  • missing alternative text
  • untagged PDFs
  • images without descriptions
  • missing titles
  • tables missing headings
  • missing language set

When clicking on the indicator you are shown an accessibility score gauge and provided with guidance on improving the score (note: students do not see this).

Scored files give a measure of overall accessibility.

Each issue has an indication of its impact and by clicking on the 'how to guide' you can roughly estimate the time it will take to fix the issue.  Use this information to prioritise your time and improve the accessibility of your files.

Bb Ally guidance on improving accessibility
Image: Bb Ally guidance on improving accessibility

Engage with your subject Bb Ally report to identify the main areas to prioritise your efforts.

You can access your subject report via the 'Books and Tools' tab in your subject site.  The course level report will provide you with an 'at-a-glance' impression and highlights the content that is easiest to fix and content that has the most significant accessibility issues.

Sample course accessibility report
Image: Sample course accessibility report

There are four accessibility indicators. These range from low to perfect.

Accessibility indicators
Image: Accessibility indicators

  • Low (0-33%): Needs help.  There are severe accessibility issues.

  • Medium (34-66%): A little better. The file is somewhat accessible and needs improvement.

  • High (67-99%): Almost there. The file is accessible but more improvements are possible.

  • Perfect (100%): Perfect.  Ally didn't identify any accessibility issues but further improvements may still be possible.

Students can access the alternative formats by clicking the 'alternative formats' indicator next to the file.  Students can also access alternative formats for Ultra Document pages (this is a new feature released on 27.10.20).

Student access to alternative content types for files
Image: Student access to alternative content types for files

Student access to alternative content types for Ultra document pages
Image: Student access to alternative content types for Ultra Document pages

The file can be converted into seven (7) different formats:

  • HTML
    For viewing in the browser and on mobile device.

  • Tagged PDF
    Aids screen reader tools by using tagged content structure. Also good for viewing on the browser.

  • ePub
    For reading as an e-book on an iPad and other e-book readers.

  • Electronic braille
    BRF version for consumption on electronic braille displays.

  • Audio
    MP3 version for listening.

  • BeeLine Reader
    Enhanced version for easier and faster on-screen reading.

  • Immersive Reader *NEW*
    Reads text aloud by a more natural sounding voice, along with aiding reading comprehension and grammar skills. Internet required.

Student experience of Alternative Formats

Try the Immersive Reader

One of the Alternative Formats is Immersive Reader, which we have found particularly useful. Give it a go.

Immersive reader enhances the readability of text by providing letter and line spacing, it reads aloud in a natural sounding voice and it focusses on the part that is being read.

Go to this YouTube video (17min) to find out more.

Any text or audio-visual material that was not created specifically for the subject should be placed into the Readings list. The system includes copyright management functions to manage the University’s use of third party materials.

Scanned PDFs uploaded directly to LearnJCU subject sites will likely be inaccessible for students.  An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) conversion is necessary in making scanned PDFs accessible for students.

If you want students to access a scanned document (e.g. a page from a text book), please ensure you upload this to the Readings portal and request digitisation from the Library team.

Video screencasts

Accessibility of equations

Ally’s document conversion now supports Office Math in Word documents. Students using the HTML and BeeLine Reader formats will see math equations properly rendered as MathML via MathJax, ensuring that key maths content is no longer missing from these alternative formats.

Note:  Math content must be inserted as an equation in Word. Otherwise, Ally will not recognise this as math.

The  WIRS Math Editor in LearnJCU will show students the equation as a rendered SVG file (high-quality image).  You can also enlarge this image by increasing the font size in the Math Editor.

Inclusive Content Design Tips (PDF)

Ally Instructor Package (PDF)

Bb Ally Help

Further information and resources