You may be familiar with Blackboard Ally, the tool that helps generate alternative file formats for accessibility using machine learning algorithms. Now, Blackboard Learn is the first LMS to introduce an AI Design Assistant, a tool to help you with the course creation process using generative artificial intelligence (AI). This page introduces Blackboard assistive features and access concerns.
Table of Contents
Accessibility
Blackboard is invested in the usability and accessibility and is designed and developed using internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as well as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Blackboard strives to meet the globally recognized WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria and conducts regular third-party accessibility testing of its products to assess conformance with industry standards.
Alternative File Formats
Personalize the learning experience to fit learning preferences and devices.
- Blackboard Ally creates alternative formats of the original content
Transform files to a format that work best for you and point students to the Blackboard File Format Converter available in Blackboard.
File Formats:
Institution Page
Immersive Reader
Aid reading comprehension and grammar skills. Internet required.
Beeline Reader
Enhanced version for faster and more focused on-screen reading.
OCRed PDF
Makes scanned documents searchable and more readable. Reduces file size.
Tagged PDF
Structured PDF for improved use with assistive technology.
Audio
MP3 version for listening on personal devices and in more contexts.
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.
HTML
For viewing in the browser and on mobile devices.
Translated version
A machine translated version of the original document.
Ultra Accessibility Checker
Create more accessible course content, the Ultra Accessibility Checker automatically scans your content in the Ultra Documents editor to make it more accessible. The Score Gauge provides a live score and flags accessibility issues during content creation and editing.
Select the Score Gauge to view the Instructor Feedback panel for suggestions to fix accessibility issues.
Auto-Captioning
Auto-Captioning for audio and video recorded in Blackboard Learn including Announcements and Feedback recordings.
Coming Soon: Core Accessibility Improvements
AI Design Assistant
The AI Design Assistant can help create an engaging learning experience by suggesting a possible course structure, recommend related images, and help generate rubrics and assessments.
You can opt-in for design suggestions aligned with your syllabus and learning outcomes.
You are always in control of the content generated.
- Auto-Generate Learning Modules
- Description
- Topic, Unit, Week, Chapter, Module
- Images
- Complexity
- Generate or insert stock images from Unsplash*
- Auto-generate question bank from Ultra Documents
- Auto-generate questions for Assessments
- Generate rubrics for Assignments
*Alternative text is provided by Unsplash royalty free stock images. Generate or insert images for your Course Image and Learning Modules.
NEW: AI for Journal, Discussion, and AI Authentic Assessments
Course Content
Course Banner The Course Banner is displayed at the top of the course using the Course Image. You can turn the Course Banner on or off.
The Course Image is always displayed on the course card when in grid mode on your Courses page.
Learning Modules
Learning Modules provide a way to organize and structure content. You can add images to Learning Modules.
To add an image to an existing Learning Module, edit the module.
Ultra Documents
For Ultra Documents, you can provide Description including an overview about what the documents contain. This reduces unnecessary clicks for students and provides a better understanding of what's expected of them.
Assessments
Accommodations
You can set accommodations for individual students from the gradebook and roster.
- Due dates
- Time limits
Once you’ve created accommodations for a student, a purple mark will appear in front of the student's name to indicate the student has accommodations.
Exceptions
You can give an individual student an exception on a specific test or assignment.
- Additional attempts
- Extended access
Course Section Merge
Instructors wishing to have two or more course sections merged should contact the Office of the Registrar at reg@vwu.edu and provide them with the term and course section numbers.
Items to Consider Before Requesting Sections to be Merged:
- Active courses—courses with student submissions, grades, and discussions—should never be merged as student submissions would be lost.
- Understand how FERPA applies to situations with multiple sections and either choose not to merge your sections or ensure your course is designed to meet student privacy and compliance requirements.
Blackboard Access and FERPA
In the United States, many institutions interpret FERPA to mean that merging cross-listed sections is acceptable because in a face-to-face context, these students would meet and interact with one another. Most of these same institutions have determined that FERPA restricts merging sections that aren’t cross-listed unless interactive tools are configured so students can't see the information of students outside their section. This could mean requiring that tools like the Roster are turned off, and interactions are limited to groups where memberships can't span sections.
FERPA Concerns | 🚩Learn Original | 🏴Learn Ultra |
Roster | Tools > Hide Link | ON by default: Toggle OFF
Course Settings (gear icon)
Students can view class roster > OFF* |
Messages | Tools > Hide Link | ON by default: Toggle OFF
Course Settings (gear icon)
When turned off, messages will be sent via email only > OFF* |
Send Email | Tools > Hide Link | Not available (see Messages) |
Groups | Course Tool - (Tools > Hide Link) or Manually enroll only members from the same section. | Manage Groups - DO NOT USE or Custom enroll only members from the same section. |
Discussions | Tool Availability - (Tools > Hide Link) or Assign to Groups with only members of the same section. | Group Discussions - DO NOT USE or Assign Discussions to Groups with only members of the same section. |
Conversations | N/A | OFF by default:
Content Setting (…icon) Allow class conversations > UNCHECK |
Journals | Course Tool - (Tools > Hide Link) or DO NOT select the checkbox to Permit Course Users to View Journal | Ultra Journals provide a personal space for students to communicate privately with the instructor. |
Blogs/Wikis | Course Tool - (Tools > Hide Link) or Assign to Groups with only members of the same section.
| Group Spaces list assignments for a specific group. DO NOT USE or use Collaborative assignments with only members of the same section. You can create and Assign groups to assessments. For Cloud Collaboration, use Release Conditions to limit to Specific member or groups. |
🏴Learn Ultra
*The Class Roster and Course Messages should not be available in merged courses:
