What Does Alternative Formats Do for Students?

Alternative Formats allows students to download materials from Canvas in various formats based on specific needs.

How to Use Alternative Formats

Students can download alternative formats of any resources on Canvas. A small symbol will appear next to the file title, it looks like the letter A with a download arrow. Select this symbol to access and choose an option from the menu. Only options suitable for that resource will display.

How Do I Know Which Format to Download?

The following list outlines the features of each conversion:

HTML

HTML is a markup language that allows you to view content in your browser. This is useful if you are using your phone to read content, as it will adjust to your screen size, making for faster reading. This also prevents issues such as text that flows off the screen and needs a scrollbar.

Tagged PDF

Tagged PDF gives each element of a document a tag. For example, paragraphs, headings, and images. This means that when viewing the PDF in Acrobat Reader or a browser, such as Microsoft Edge, you can navigate by headings. It also means you can magnify and reflow the text, and change the background colour. You can have a tagged PDF read aloud by the Edge text-to-speech tool. This would not be possible with an untagged or scanned document.

Electronic Braille

Electronic Braille creates a BRF file that can be read on a Refreshable Braille Display (RBD), or other Braille reading devices and software. This is useful for those with vision impairments, and it means more access to more content. An RBD is like a keyboard with bubbles that can refresh, one line at a time. They can connect to the internet and also read files aloud.

Audio

The MP3 conversion allows you to download documents or pages of content on Canvas as an audio file. This is useful if you want to study on-the-go, or you simply learn better through listening.

BeeLine Reader

BeeLine Reader adds a colour gradient to text to enhance focus and reading speed. A file downloaded as BeeLine will open in your browser and you can select the gradient that suits best. This is useful for those with dyslexia, ADHD, or low vision. It is also helpful if you are reading at night, or you have a lot to read and your eyes are tired. 

Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader is a Microsoft tool that can strengthen the readability of content. It can change the layout of content in terms of font, background colour, and line spacing. It highlights nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs and can split words into syllables. It can also translate the text to another language, read aloud content, or create a picture dictionary.

This is helpful for users with dyslexia, vision impairments, language learners, or those with learning disabilities that affect concentration. 

ePub

ePub is a digital publishing file, this means it can adapt to the device. It is helpful if you want to highlight content, bookmark pages, take notes or search text. Apps for reading ePub include Microsoft Edge, Thorium Reader, and Easyreader. 

OCR PDF

If a file has been saved as an image, such as a scanned PDF, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) will convert it to readable text. This makes it possible to copy, paste and search the text and also have it read aloud.