{"id":141088,"date":"2022-08-24T16:06:30","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T20:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/?page_id=141088"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:33:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T19:33:42","slug":"ally-for-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/services\/teaching\/lms\/blackboard\/ally-for-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Ally For Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blackboard Ally for Courses<\/h1>\n

Your instructor has many different pieces of content in your course. Blackboard Ally creates alternative formats for those content items that are easier to use for all students. You can download the alternative formats anywhere you see Ally’s alternative formats download icon on your course’s Blackboard site.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to tell if Ally is enabled<\/h2>\n

When you log in to a Blackboard course, look for the\u00a0<\/span>Download Alternative Formats<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>icon (pictured below) next to any content in the course. You’ll be able to view and download a format that suits your learning needs.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Download<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Alternative Formats<\/h2>\n
\n
\n

Select the\u00a0<\/span>Download Alternative Formats<\/span><\/strong> icon wherever you see it to download the content in a different format.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternative files include readable text for screen readers, pictures with captions, and easy-to-navigate content. Ally creates multiple alternatives from the original documents in your course. You can download these alternative formats anywhere that files are used.<\/p>\n

To explore the full list of supported alternative formats generated by Ally, visit this page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"List<\/div>\n

Types of Alternative Formats<\/h3>

\nThe alternative formats created depend on the original content. If you don’t see an option to download alternative formats, Ally isn\u2019t enabled for that course or the file is not a supported content type.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Your needs<\/strong><\/td>\nElectronic braille<\/strong><\/td>\nAudio<\/strong><\/td>\nImmersive Reader<\/strong><\/td>\nPDF, OCR<\/strong><\/td>\nPDF, Tagged<\/strong><\/td>\nHTML, Semantic<\/strong><\/td>\nePub<\/strong><\/td>\nBeeLine Reader<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adjust text, font, and background color<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adjust audio playback speed<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Commuting<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n\"BeeLine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Commuting, driving<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Copy, paste, and search<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Format adapts to device, responsive<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n\"BeeLine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highlighting, note taking, and bookmarking<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mobile device<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n\"BeeLine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Offline<\/td>\n\"Electronic<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n\"BeeLine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prefer listening<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Audio<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prefer reading<\/td>\n\"Electronic<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n\"BeeLine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Print<\/td>\n\"Electronic<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Text to speech with speed adjustment<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"Immersive<\/td>\n\"OCR<\/td>\n\"Tagged<\/td>\n\"Semantic<\/td>\n\"ePub<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

Audio<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The audio alternative reads aloud the text in the original content. This also includes alternative descriptions for images, if they are provided.<\/p>\n

The audio format is saved as an MP3. MP3s are compressed, high-quality sound files that can be played on any computer or mobile device.<\/p>\n

Audio formats fail if the original document contains more than 100,000 characters.<\/p>\n

Audio formats are also available in alternative languages.<\/p>\n

Why use audio?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not only does audio benefit individuals with visual impairments, research has also proven that audio can increase learning (Boyle et al., 2003<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Do you agree with any of these statements? If so, audio is a good option.<\/p>\n