This guide pertains to Ultra Course View.
If your course is in Original Course View, see the Original Course View tutorial collection.
Overview of Course Images
Adding images or graphics can increase visual appeal within a course and enhance comprehension of and engagement with content. There are several ways images can be added to an Ultra course, which are outlined below. Images should be added sparingly and with an understanding of the best practices that should be followed.
Best Practices for Adding Images
It is important to understand these principles that should be adhered to when adding images to a course:
- Images should be added purposefully to course content. Consider the reason for adding an image and if it will enhance the message or distract from it. If it serves as a distraction to student focus and learning, forgo adding it.
- Be sure the image is proportional to the content and doesn't overpower the message or the screen (keeping in mind the screen size of mobile device users).
- Images should be added with appropriate attributions included, modeling the behavior expected of our students when using another's work.
- Images should be set to "View Only" when being added unless there is a specific need for students to be able to download the image.
See Also: Resizing an Image
Methods for Adding Images
There are four ways an image can be added to an Ultra course. Regardless of the specific method, all images are added via the purple plus icon > Create > Document. Once within a document, an image can be added in one of the following manners below. Regardless of the method used, it results in the image being added to the course. Images are always centered within the content area and cannot be left or right-justified.
Adding Images from the Unsplash Image Repository
Images Attached as a File
Adding Images via a URL
Images Added from the Content Collection
To help instructors more easily identify high-quality images, an image button appears in the content editor in the following places:
- Announcements
- Assessment Questions and student answers on questions (only for a local file upload)
- Ultra Documents
- Journal prompts, entries & comments
- Discussions
- Course Messages
- Submission feedback
When selected, the instructor has the following options:
- Upload an image through selection or drag and drop
- Select a royalty-free, high-quality image from Unsplash
Students can also access the new image button on the content editor in the following areas:
- Discussion responses
- Assessments and test question inputs
- Course Messages
After selecting the image, instructors and students can reposition the focus and zoom of the image. There's also an option to alter the aspect ratio of the image.
Users can rename the image. It is important always to consider the accessibility of course content. The user should mark the image as decorative or provide suitable alternative text.
Instructors can also set the view and download file options for the image. After the image is inserted, the user can resize the image.
This method requires the desired image to be saved on the user's computer. From within the document, click the purple plus > Add Content. Within the Content Editor menu, click the paperclip icon to open a window to locate the image stored on your computer. Select the image by double-clicking on it.
In the next menu, ensure the Display Name desired is added, and check the box if the image is only being added for decorative purposes. If image is being used as part of a learning activity, include Alternative Text describing the image for screen reading technologies. If the image is only for viewing, select View Only. If it's suitable for students to download the image, check the View and Download or Download button, based on your preferences.
The image will appear inserted into the content area, click Save.
Images can be added by means of a URL associated with the image. From within the document, click the purple plus > Add Content. Within the Content Editor menu, click the + icon > Image:
Next, locate the desired image and right-click on that image > Select Copy Image Address:
In the menu box in Blackboard, paste the copied image address into the Image URL field > provide an Alternative Text description > Insert:
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Images and graphics can be added to a course from those provided within the Content Collection. A repository of images is available University-wide through the Institution Content area. From within the document, click the purple plus > Add Content. Within the Content Editor menu, click the + icon > Content Collection:
Under Browse, select Institution Content:
Select CMU Institution Images folder:
Select the desired folder:
To preview what the image is of, double-click on the image to open it up. To select the desired image, check the box to the left of the name > Submit:
In the next menu, ensure the Display Name desired is added, and check the box if the image is only being added for decorative purposes. If image is being used as part of a learning activity, include Alternative Text describing the image for screen reading technologies. If the image is only for viewing, select View Only. If it's suitable for students to download the image, check the View and Download or Download button, based on your preferences.
You can resize items seamlessly by dragging a corner or via keyboard navigation. Supported media types include images, videos, and media inserted via URL.
