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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 a 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:
Methods for Adding Images
There are several ways an image can be added to a 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 adding the image to the course. I
Adding Via the Image Icon
Adding Images from the Unsplash Image Repository
Images Attached as a File
Adding Images via a URL
Images Added from the Content Collection
Instructors can use the image icon to upload their own images, use the AI Design Assistant to generate images, or select images from the Unsplash Repository. Once added, images can be moved throughout a Document, just like other content types. Instructors have the option to resize images, set height, and maintain aspect ratios in image blocks. A dedicated image block makes adding images more apparent. Adding images via the image block also reduces white space around images and provides greater control over content design.
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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Captions can be added above or below images in Documents. Captions provide context and support understanding, helping students engage more deeply with visual content.
Image 1. Instructors can go to Edit File Options to add image captions and set positions.
Image 2. The image caption appears above the image and provides more context.
An image description makes connecting the image to its context easier and allows people with visual impairments to perceive the image.
Writing Good Descriptions
Follow these best practices to write good alternative text descriptions for your images:
- Describe the image based on the page context. Convey the full meaning of the image.
- Avoid saying "image of" or "picture of". Screen readers automatically announce images as images.
- Be concise.
- Write narratives for complex images like infographics. Put this narrative on the page immediately following the infographic. Include an anchor link at the top of the page to view the text alternative. See an example of an infographic with a text alternative.
- Avoid images of text. If you can't avoid it, copy the text into the alternative description.
- Say something new. Don't repeat alternative descriptions on the same page. Don't repeat what is already said on the page.
- Identify images that don't represent relevant content as decorative.
What is a Decorative Image?
An image is decorative when it doesn't add to the information on the page. For example, artwork used to separate topics or a photo of someone on the phone when discussing communication skills.
They are valuable in their visual appeal but may not need to be read by screen readers.
Why are Alternative Image Descriptions Important?
There are many reasons to use alternative descriptions with your images.
- Alternative descriptions, or text, are in the WCAG 2.2 guidelines
- Students can search for an image
- Students with visual impairments have difficulty perceiving images
- Student with a poor network connection may have difficulty perceiving images
- Screen readers can't read images
- Some students learn better from descriptions than images
- Text scales better than most images when the screen or page is enlarged
You can resize items seamlessly by dragging a corner or via keyboard navigation. Supported media types include images, videos, and media inserted via URL.
