A Picture is Worth...
The use of visual assets is probably second only to text, when it comes to use in learning content. We use visual elements in just about everything, from the way a student navigates Blackboard to the PPT presentations we rely on in our lectures. And we use images to support an idea, to illustrate a concept and communicate information within the learning content we create for our learners.
This section is in the form short presentations covering key topics for using images and graphics in your learning content. Included are recommendations for next steps as well as links to further training and additional resources.
There are many ways instructors and students procure images from the net. Some of these methods might not be as great as others.
In this module we examine some considerations when using someone else's intellectual property in education materials, and we provide direction to learn more.
Creative Commons, recognized as CC, is often confused with Fair Use. However, the two are very different.
In this module we explore some of those differences, provide a brief on Creative Commons, and list the 3 key reasons why CC is important to understand better. We also provide direction for further learning and CC resources.
This module provides a brief overview of the online options for securing images and highlights the top resources online for finding images safely and legally.
There are a surprisingly high number of online image libraries where images are not only free to use but high quality and professionally made.
In this module we highlight 10 online image libraries that are worth a look, along with suggestions for specialized image resources.
You might not know that there are images available for you to use that are WSU-identity focused. These images include WSU students, faculty & staff, building and grounds beauty shots, WSU Proud collections, as well as collections focused on the city of Wichita.
This module provides a brief on Strat-Comm's photo-banks, how to access those, and links to Strategic Communication's image-based resources.
Quick Training
What you need to complete this project:
- An image
- PowerPoint
- Create a new PowerPoint presentation
- Open Design options
- Open Slide Size
- Click Page Setup
- Input 1200 px for your width
- Input 240 px for your height
- Create a new, blank slide & delete the title slide
- Insert your image & scale to fit using the corner handles
- Center your image to taste
- Click File and select Export
- Under File Format, select JPEG and click Save Current Slide Only if you didn't delete the title slide
- Confirm width and height and then click Export
- Done! Now insert your new custom banner into your Blackboard course!
What you need to complete this project:
- A course in the Ultra format
- An image
- Log into Blackboard
- Display Options: Your course page has two display options. One is a “list” format. In order to add or change your course banner, you will need to be in the second display format by clicking on the “grid” icon found in the upper left next to your “search your courses” bar.
- Find Your Course: Go to your courses page and find your course. If you don’t see your course, make sure you are in the right term by opening the term option at the top of the course page.
- Confirm Ultra: For this tutorial, make sure your course is Ultra and not Classic.
- Open Image Options: Open the course image options by clicking on the three small dots (more options icon) found in the upper right corner of the course image.
- Select, Edit course image
- Course Image: There is a toggle here that you can turn on or off. By leaving it off the image you are adding for your courses home page will not be seen within your course shell. By clicking it on, the image will also be seen in your course shell, by you and by your students.
- Clear Image: Wish to go back to a default BB image? This is where you clear your current image selection.
- Upload new image: This is where you upload your new banner image.
- Display: Your accessibility options for your new course banner are the following:
- Mark as decorative: This option means that you cannot have any elements in your banner that convey needed information.
- Add Image description for screen readers.: Uncheck the Mark as decorative option and add an image description in the box provided below.
- Fit to Need: Once you’ve uploaded your image for your new banner, you will be given the option to scale and to position. This tool is straight-forward, so if you wish to experiment, feel free to do so. You can always change it again if you wish.: Image Preview
- You should now see your image in the Course Image preview window. Be sure to click the Course Image option to ON, so that the banner is also now seen in the course shell, itself.
- Image Description: Now that BB has updated the image editor, you can add an image description, if you wish. Or you can mark the image as “decorative”.
- Done!: You should now see your new banner in your courses home page and within the course shell.
What you need to complete this project:
- An image
- PowerPoint
- Create a new PowerPoint presentation
- If given the option, select Widescreen (16:9)
- Open Design options
- Open Slide Size
- Click Page Setup
- Select Widescreen (16:9) if not already in this format
- Create a new, blank slide & delete the title slide
- Insert your image & scale to fit using the corner handles
- Center your image to taste
- Click File and select Export
- Under File Format, select JPEG and click Save Current Slide Only if you didn't delete the title slide
- Confirm width and height and then click Export
- Done! Now import your new Zoom background into your Zoom virtual background library!
There are free online contrast checkers that are easy to use and can provide you the information you need to ensure your content is accessible to all. For this training we will be using the WebAIM (web accessibility in mind) website.
To access the color contrast tool:
- Go to webaim.org
- Click on Resources
- Scroll down to Tools and select Color Contrast Checker
- Enter the hex number for your foreground and background colors
- If unsure what the color hex number is, click on the sample color in the Foreground Color tool
- This will open a wide range of colors. However, you need your specific color, so
- Select Show Colors. This will open a color menu with an eyedrop tool. You can use this tool to "pick up" the color in your design or document.
- Do the same for your Background Color
- Your results will be listed below
- Be sure to review the instructions on the Contrast Checker page to ensure proper use of the tool
