How to Add Alt Text Using Blackboard Content Editor

Question

How do I add alt text using Blackboard Content Editor? 

Environment

• Blackboard

Information

Image alternative text (“alt text”) is an important accessibility measure in our learning materials and in Blackboard. Alt text isn’t only for learners with visual impairments; learners with other disabilities or even those with limited internet connectivity can benefit from helpful alt text.

Answer

1. Log in to Blackboard.
2. Locate an area of the course where you want to add content.
3. Click Build Content and choose Item. 
4. From the content editor above, click the plus sign 
5. Click Insert Local Files, locate the image, and upload it to the content area. 
6. Right-click on the image and then click Image.
7. In the Insert/edit image window, add text describing the image under the Alternative description field. 
8. Click Save.
9. Click Submit. 

Additional Information

These are some resources for creating alt text in common applications here at GRCC:

• This interactive tutorial shows the process of adding alt text to an image in the Blackboard content editor.
• Faculty can also use the Blackboard Accessibility Checker to add alt text to all images in their courses (scroll down to Course Tools > Accessibility Report and find the “The image does not have a description” message to get started).
• This document from Google outlines the steps to add alt text in Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
• Microsoft also provides instructions on adding alt text in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.