Downloading Alternative Formats

Have you ever found content in your course that was difficult to read, or you wish came in a different format? With Blackboard Ally, you can download alternative formats of instructor content directly from your course.

Access the information you need, the way you need it.

Alternative formats provide greater opportunity for everyone to access the information they need in the way they need or want it. For example, Blackboard Ally creates audio and electronic braille alternatives for students with visual impairments. Maybe you have a lot of course material to read and get eye strain, or maybe you have a long drive to commute to work or campus - listen to an audio format of the learning materials instead!

 Choose the format, or formats, that best suit your learning needs.

Find the available alternative formats

Ally creates alternative formats of the original content instructors add to their courses. These formats are made available with the original file so everything is in one convenient location.

The alternative formats created depend on the original content. If you don't see an option to download alternative formats, Ally isn't enabled for that course or the file is not a supported content type.

Select the Download Alternative Formats icon wherever you see it to download the content in a different format. 

Alternative Format Icon in Original Course View

in original course view, the alternative formats icon is placed next to the title of the content

In the Original Course View, the Alternative Format icon is placed next to the title of the content.

Alternative Format Icon in Ultra Course View

on the ultra course view content tab, the alternative format icon appears to the far right of the file name

In the Ultra Course View, the Alternative Format icons appears to the far right of the file, when you are on the Course Content tab of the course. 

on a document in ultra course view, the alternative format icon appears at the top of the document and allows you to select which files in the document you wish to download as alternative formats

If the content is in a document (which opens as a separate panel that slides from the right), the Alternative Format icon appears at the top of the page and allows you to download an alternative format for any content on that page.

Alternative Format Icon in the Blackboard Mobile App

to download alternative formats in the Blackboard mobile app, click the three dots menu in the upper right to access the content menu

In the Blackboard mobile app, the Ally Alternative Formats icon is not visible. Instead, click the three dots (...) in the upper right corner of the app to open the content menu and find the option to download alternative formats.

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Technical Support and Student Help

Division of IT Service Desk

815-753-8100
servicedesk@niu.edu

Teaching Support and Faculty Help

Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

815-753-0595
citl@niu.edu

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