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Launching Ally’s WYSIWYG Instructor Feedback tool at UC Berkeley

Handouts

Presented at 3:30pm in Matchless on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

#38155

Speaker(s)

  • Joseph Feria-Galicia, Accessibility Team Lead, UC Berkeley
  • Ivan Herrera, Product Manager, Anthology

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format: Lecture
  • Expertise Level: Beginner
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

UC Berkeley’s Canvas integration of the Ally WYSIWYG instructor feedback tool was highly anticipated. This feature allows supported Learning Management System (LMS) content producers to receive an immediate accessibility score and an intuitive interface to identify and fix accessibility errors. In this presentation, you will learn about the steps UC Berkeley took to integrate this groundbreaking tool into its LMS production instance.

Abstract

UC Berkeley’s Canvas integration of the Ally WYSIWYG instructor feedback tool was highly anticipated. This feature allows supported Learning Management System (LMS) content producers using the Rich Content Editor to receive an immediate accessibility score and an intuitive interface to identify and fix accessibility errors. In this presentation, you will learn about the steps UC Berkeley took to integrate this groundbreaking tool into its LMS production instance. This process includes testing the tool for accessibility (keyboard only, automated, and screen reader), communicating with the vendor to remediate accessibility bugs, creating user tutorials, crafting campus messaging, delivering workshops, and soliciting user feedback.

During this presentation, the facilitators share Ally’s rationale for launching this feature, change management strategies, and roadmap. Also included are some of Berkeley’s challenges experienced prior to roll out and the approaches used to ensure a successful implementation. Focus is placed on the institute/vendor relationships that developed and strengthened as part of the integration process. Additional insights into institutional decision-making processes and collaborations will be highlighted. The presenters will also share informational materials such as sample multimedia tutorials, and communications.

By the end of this presentation, participants will:

  • Recall the steps UC Berkeley took to activate the Ally WYSIWYG instructor feedback tool
  • Select relevant strategies that can be integrated into their own educational institute’s WYSIWYG tool rollout process
  • Recognize messaging and tutorials created by the presenters to inform UC Berkeley instructors and staff of the new Ally functionality. (Participants are welcome to use and modify these materials.)
  • Identify the importance of WYSIWYG content for instructors and the ability they have to apply quick fixes using Ally

Keypoints

  1. The Ally WYSIWYG instructor feedback tool was highly anticipated at UC Berkeley
  2. Planning, communication and coordination are required to integrate a third-party LMS tool
  3. Good relationships between educational institutions and vendors are required for successful implementation

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Accessible Course Design, Accessible Educational Materials, Faculty Development & Support, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Joseph Feria-Galicia

In 1995, my older brother lost his eyesight. It was a frightening time that deeply affected our entire family. Hope arrived in the form of computer software that could read aloud the words he could no longer see. Screen reader technology became his lifeline, reconnecting him to the world. This restored not only his ability to communicate, but also his sense of purpose and will to live. Because of this experience, I am deeply passionate about my work as a Digital Accessibility Team Lead at UC Berkeley. I take great pride in contributing to the development of accessible course materials that support all learners. This work is grounded in sound pedagogy and rooted in the civil rights struggles of historically excluded communities. I am proud to champion UC Berkeley’s longstanding commitment to these principles and remain dedicated to advancing inclusion across our campus.

Ivan Herrera

Ivan is part of the Anthology Ally Product development team as the product manager. He is looking to work closely with Ally clients to help them to understand their needs and pain points, and make them part of the development lifecycle and improve the relationship between institutions and vendors. He is very passionate about music, plays guitar, and loves to make music covers.

Handout(s)