As of the Spring 2025 semester, College of DuPage has migrated to a new Alternative Formats tool in Blackboard called YuJa Panorama. This article provides and overview and frequently asked questions about the change and provides a comprehensive list of the Alternative Formats with descriptions.
Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
What are Alternative Formats?
Alternative Formats, or "Alt Formats," allow you to download your course materials as different file formats that are optimized for your device and designed to meet your unique learning preferences. Popular formats include ebook, audio, translated versions, and PDFs. With Panorama, you can also upload content from your devices to download in the formats of your choosing.
Why did the College switch to a new Alternative Formats tool?
The new tool provides more features for students with significantly more alternative format types, including enhanced support for math materials, 30 additional translation languages, and a personal content library. where you can generate formats from files you upload yourself.
How do I access YuJa Panorama?
You need to download a browser extension to connect to the new service. Go to the Tools tab in Blackboard and select "YuJa Panorama" to get started. Training is available in the "Blackboard Student Support" Organization (new tab) in Blackboard.
Who do I contact if I need training or support?
YuJa provides 24-7 training and support is by toll-free phone phone by calling
by toll-free phone at 1-888-257-2278. You can also open a Support Ticket (new tab) with YuJa online to receive support over email.
Alternative Formats
Alternative Formats, or "Alt Formats," allow you to transform text-based documents and course content from Blackboard into PDFs, ebooks, audiobooks, electronic Braille, mobile-friendly webpages, translated versions, and more.
Text Formats
- Source File: Download files and content in their original format. Web content items are downloaded as .HTML files for accessing with a web browser.
- Text File: A plain text document (.TXT) file without any formatting that can be opened in most text editing software and notes apps.
- PDF: Supports reading in the web browser, downloading, and annotation.
- EPUB: Download the document as an ebook, suitable for ebook reader apps and e-reader devices. Allows for customization including font style, size, and dark mode.
- Braille: Access the document in the braille grade 2 format, suitable for download access in BRF, or .UEB format (a braille reader is required).
Web Formats
Web formats are designed to adjust to the size of your device's screen and provide interactive formatting options and learning tools.
- Enhanced HTML: Display as a webpage in a dedicated browser tab to customize the document's appearance using the Website Accessibility tool.
- Gradient Reader (formerly Beeline Reader): Applies a customizable color gradient to text that can improve focus and reading speed. To download and read offline, save the webpage to your device.
- Immersive Reader: Allows for customization of text preferences, grammar options, and reading preferences while following along with audio playback.
- MathML: Extract mathematical equations from documents and convert them into HTML files.
Audio Formats
- Audio Podcast: Audio playback for documents, suitable for both online and download listening.
- Immersive Reader: Allows for customization to text preferences, grammar options, and reading preferences while following along with the audio playback.
- Math Audio: Convert documents containing math to MP3.
- OCR Audio: Extract text within images and GIFs into an MP3 text-to-speech audio player.
- OCR Semantic Audio: Transforms scanned text into audio with natural intonation and emphasis, enhancing listening comprehension.
OCR Formats
OCR, or Optical Character Recognition, turns images of text into actual text. OCR is especially helpful for transforming scanned PDFs into formats that you can customize and that can be interpreted by assistive technologies like screen reading or text-to-speech (TTS) software.
- OCR Overlaid Tagged PDF: Generate a tagged PDF that allows for selectable text overlaid on the original document
- OCR Reconstructed DOCX: Generate a new DOCX file from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Reconstructed Tagged PDF: Generate a new tagged PDF from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Reconstructed HTML: Generate a new HTML file from scanned documents or images.
- OCR Text: Recommended for those who prefer plain text, the OCR tool extracts and displays text within images and GIFs as a TXT file.
- OCR Immersive Reader: use the immersive reader for OCR content.
- OCR Audio: Extract text within images and GIFs into an MP3 text-to-speech audio player."
Language Translation Formats
Language translation formats transform course content and documents into over 100 languages and 6 file formats. Content is automatically translated using machine learning algorithms and will not be 100% accurate. Access the list of supported languages.
- Translated Source File: Download files and content in their original format in the language of your choosing. Web content items are downloaded as .HTML files for accessing with a web browser.
- Translated Text File: A translated plain text document (.TXT) file without any formatting that can be opened in most text editing software and notes apps, and is suitable for both online and download viewing.
- Translated EPUB: Access the document in the translated ebook format, suitable for any ebook reader application.
- Translated PDF: Access the document as a translated PDF, suitable for both online and download viewing.
- Translated Gradient Reader: Applies a customizable color gradient to translated text that can improve focus and reading speed. Provides the same functionality as the previous tool's BeeLine Reader format.
- Translated Enhanced HTML: Translated HTML documents can be displayed in a dedicated tab to customize the document's appearance using the Website Accessibility tool.
Math Formats
Convert documents containing math equations into LaTeX, Math Text, HTML, or MP3 files.
- Latex: Convert documents into LaTeX documents.
- Math Text: Convert math into printed English, including numbers and symbols.
- Math Audio: Listen to math content by converting documents to MP3.
- MathML: Extract mathematical equations from documents and convert them into HTML files.
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