A day focused on practical improvements
Fix Your Content Day takes place on Tuesday, 10 November. Now in its seventh year, the 24-hour event asks institutions around the world to improve digital course content using Blackboard Ally, a tool that identifies accessibility issues and helps staff address them. Institutions can follow their progress on a global leaderboard.
The organisers highlight image descriptions, heading structure and colour contrast as useful starting points. These are specific aspects of learning materials that staff can review and change during the event.
Hands-on support in Wales
Aberystwyth University has announced that it will take part. Its Digital Education Team is organising a drop-in session from 2pm to 4pm local time on 10 November in room B23, Llandinam. Staff will be able to review their Blackboard materials and ask for help with Ally.
The university encourages teaching staff to look for course items flagged in red or orange, add image descriptions and improve Word documents. It also asks them to continue this work beyond the day itself.
What counts as a fix?
William & Mary in the United States is also participating. Its event guidance explains that a fix is recorded when a file's accessibility score improves through Ally. Adding an image description or uploading an improved version of a document can count. A file does not need to reach a score of 100 per cent for an improvement to be recorded.
The university is planning a Fix It Lab on 10 November, offering staff a place to work on their course content.
Building accessibility into everyday teaching
At the University of North Dakota, the Teaching Transformation & Development Academy has scheduled training on accessible Blackboard documents and course accessibility, alongside virtual office hours. Sessions on document accessibility are planned for 9 and 12 November, with Ally training and office hours on the event day.
The activities also introduce a continuing digital accessibility series. The academy is working with Student Disability Resources and the Civil Rights & Title IX Office to provide guidance every other week. The series will cover practical starting points, accessibility principles, available resources and questions from faculty and staff.