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Blackboard Ally Workshop

Join our workshop at Glasgow Caledonian University to explore Blackboard Ally - a tool that improves course content accessibility. Learn from experts and case studies. Session includes practical demonstrations and insightful reflections.

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Blackboard Ally Workshop

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  1. Blackboard Ally Workshop Glasgow Caledonian University 17th October 2018

  2. Session Overview Welcome and Introductions What is Blackboard Ally? Ally from a student’s perspective How does Ally help students? Ally from an academic’s perspective Reflections for academics Case studies Blackboard Ally support Close We will be recording the session. Can we take some photographs to share on social media and in our slides?

  3. Welcome and Introductions

  4. Gillian Fielding • Client Success Advocate, Blackboard, 2015-date • Digital Skills Manager, University of Salford • Responsible for staff skills in digital/learning technology • Key player in a large transformation project involving eLearning, eSubmission, eMarking and eFeedback across the University • Module Lead – “Flexible, Distance and Online Learning” module, Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) • Web Development and ILT Champion Manager for the largest college in the UK (40 000 students) with the second largest number of distance in the UK. 1998-2004. Lecturer in Further Education for 10 years • Special needs trainer 1988-1990 • Gillian Fielding, BA (Hons), Msc, PGCE, SFHEA, FIITT • https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-fielding-8410088/

  5. Emma Thompson-Chesters • Client Success Advocate with Blackboard since September 2014. • Previously at University College Birmingham as their Learn System Administrator and ConnectTxt Admin for 1.5 years. Before that I worked in conservation for The National Trust. • Emma predominately works with Ally, ConnectTxt and Collaborate, and dabble with Learn

  6. What is Blackboard Ally?

  7. What is Blackboard Ally? Alternative Accessible Versions Instructor feedback Course and Institutional report Automatically checks for accessibility issues and generates alternative accessible formats Provides detailed data and insights to help further improve course content accessibility at the institution Guides instructors on how to improve the accessibility of their course content and alters future behavior

  8. Ally from a student’s perspective

  9. Blackboard Ally from a student’s perspective • Demo • Hands-on

  10. Blackboard Ally from a student’s perspective • Go to https://intlsaas.blackboard.com/ • Enter the User Name and password (on the paper) • Download and try the alternative formats • ePub – change background colour, alter text size, highlight, make notes, read • Translation • Audio • HTML • Note how you think these will benefit students. We will feedback back.

  11. The benefits for students are….

  12. The benefits for students are…. • HTML • Accessing from a mobile device • Utilizing time doing other things, waiting in queues (bus, supermarket,) • Commuters, bus/drive • At different times/places/scenarios/disciplines • Epub version • coloured background (dyslexia, colour blindness) • font size (partially sighted, older, different screens/devices) • Highlighting and electronic note-taking (Digital residents, commuters, cost reductions) • Search facility • Speak (hearing impaired, dyspraxia, dyslexia, ADHD, concentration/tired/focused)

  13. The benefits for students are…. • Audio • Walking the dog, exercising, cooking, concentrating, different learning preferences • Translation • Non-native English speakers check their understanding • (Thoughts on the quality) • Learning preferences/styles • Listening • Reading • Both (tired, difficulty concentrating, eg mental health conditions) • At different times/places/scenarios/disciplines

  14. Ally from an academic’s perspective

  15. Blackboard Ally from an academic’s perspective • Demonstration? Maybe not - we think it’s intuitive • Go to: https://intlsaas.blackboard.com/ • Enter your INSTRUCTOR log-in details (on the print-out)

  16. What do/will academics think of Ally? ?

  17. What others have said of Blackboard Ally • Un-intrusive • Panic – at the thought of students seeing the indicator • Panic – at the thought of being policed on this • Easy to use • Just in time • Makes accessibility achievable • Gamified • ….

  18. Case studies

  19. Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges • Impact of Ally • People are more proactive “Accessibility is in the air” • Fewer people coming in with emergencies, fewer inaccessible PDFs • DSS staff and student workers are using Ally to create alt format for students • Kindled a conversation about accessibility • 33/34 Community & Technical Colleges have opted in

  20. Case Study:University of Derby Results Improving Accessibility and Inclusion 55% Now at 55%, 25% above average • Challenge • Lack of awareness of accessibility amongst • academic staff • TEL team • Lack of awareness of universal design • The solution has: • Led to more conversations about inclusive design • Raised awareness of the value of accessibility • Increased attendance in “Using Technology for Inclusive Learning” workshop • More accurate benchmarking content accessibility progress 3% Gain in overall accessibility in first 2 months 4% Gain in 3 months Cultural change

  21. Blackboard Ally support

  22. Need help? HELP https://help.blackboard.com/Ally

  23. Find out what others are doing with Ally Ally Community aka Ally User Group https://usergroup.ally.ac European Ally User Group https://usergroup.ally.ac/s/ally-european-user-group Case Studies Heroic-Ally Minded series Ally Research Group Accessibility for everyone Creating a Culture of Inclusive Learning Five dimensions to an inclusive classroom Round-table Accessibility Pro-Tips Panel…

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