Instructional Technology/Dr. Mariann Hawken's shared about creating accessible course content via myUMBC for National Distance Learning Week. That informative post is shared via ADS here:
Providing accessible images is a crucial step to ensure inclusivity and equal access to learning. When images are properly described, students using screen readers are able to access an equitable educational environment. We use the alternative text field when placing images in documents, presentations, and in our Blackboard courses.
There are several tools available to help faculty with accessible images.
What if your course uses complex images, bursting with intricate details? How can you ensure that every student, regardless of visual ability, fully grasps their significance?
ChatGPT 4* offers powerful image input functionality, allowing you to upload an image and generate complex descriptions. With its advanced language capabilities, ChatGPT can analyze an image, identify key elements, and produce informative alternative text that conveys the essence of the image. For example, we uploaded three complex images to generate extended descriptions of 100 words or less.
It's important to note that ChatGPT might not always perfectly interpret every image, especially if it's highly abstract or intricate, and it might take a more cautious approach to its interpretation if it doesn't have sufficient context or guidance from the prompt provided with the image upload. As such, it's always a good practice to review the generated description to ensure its accuracy and appropriateness for your students. Follow-up questions can refine the output produced by ChatGPT, or instructors can revise the description.
For more information about accessibility or using AI tools, please contact Instructional Technology. To discover more about the impact of AI on distance education and training, the U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is hosting virtual webinars during the sixteenth annual National Distance Learning Week (Nov 6-10, 2023). All sessions are free to attend, but require registration via USDLA.
UMBC resources for campus members with disabilities include: Student Disability Services, Accessibility and Disability Services (Employees and Visitors), and UMBC's online form for reporting accessibility concerns.
There is an unplanned outage of 25live affecting the platform not only at UMBC, but across their entire network. At the moment we do not have information on causes or an expected timeline for a return to service, but we will post any new information here on the myUMBC page.
We will proceed with all scheduled events, but please have some patience while we find ways to access your event information without 25live. If you have issues with your scheduled events please contact the ECS office at schedule@umbc.edu or by phone at 410-455-3615. Again, we thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.
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