New Google Slides Beautify this slide feature comes with digital accessibility issues
As generative AI tools become integrated into our technologies, it’s important to consider their impact on digital accessibility. A recent example is Google Slides Beautify this slide feature from Gemini, which appears beneath presentations and in the Slide drop-down menu.
Although the AI feature may make a visually attractive slide at the surface level, there are many accessibility issues that enter the slide deck when using this feature:
- The tool works by taking all of the content on a slide and flattening it into a single image with no distinct alt text for that image.
- With the beautified slide being output as an image, all slide titles and reading order of slide elements disappear.
- All individual images on the slide are merged into a single overall slide image, so any existing images with alt text are no longer available.
- Typing all the existing text on the slide into the single alt text box for the slide does not comply with alt text guidelines.
- All linked text to resources in the slide deck is no longer clickable for the audience. The URLs to those resources are essentially gone from the presentation.
There are times when the use of this tool may be helpful:
- If you made a complex image using the lines, arrows, and shapes within Google Slides, use Beautify this slide to combine all of the parts of the image into one image. Be sure to adjust the alt text field for the image.
- For slides used for visual presentations only but not shared with the audience, use Beautify this slide for a more modern, visually appealing slide deck. Be sure to accompany it with an accessible version for distribution.
With these current constraints that come with using the tool, we recommend that you not use the Beautify this slide feature for any slide presentations that you intend to use for public consumption. The output is inaccessible to people who use assistive technologies, and it disables the links in your slide presentation.
Canvas updates
SpeedGrader enhancements made over the past month
In February, Canvas released some updates to SpeedGrader meant to enhance the use of the tool for instructors. SpeedGrader is updated for faster load times, enhanced stability, and the following features:
- A streamlined interface for the Section drop-down menu.
- A clearer and more prominent No Submission alert.
- The Submission Status is updated to a drop-down menu.
- Rubrics are automatically displayed in the traditional view.
- Media attachments and submission comments are moved and the delete icon is changed.
- A Comment Library filter.
- Support for moderated grading
- The Assignment Comment Editor supports images, math, and course links.
- A Multi-Select Sections filter.
See How do I use SpeedGrader with the New Performance and Usability Upgrades? for more details on how to use these enhanced features.
FeedbackFruits updates
New rubric import option available
You can now upload existing rubric files—whether PDFs, Word documents, images, or spreadsheets—and let AI transform them into a ready-to-use FeedbackFruits rubric.
Here’s how it works:
- Drag and drop your file.
- AI extracts criteria, performance levels, points, and descriptions.
- Review and revise in the edit screen.
- Save and start using it immediately.
You’ll find the new Rubric import option available for use in three places:
- In your template library.
- Inside rubric folders.
- When configuring criteria within an activity.
This new import feature makes bringing your existing assessment design into FeedbackFruits very easy.
Correcting and ordering captions in Kaltura
Prepare your course videos for the April 2026 digital accessibility deadline with Creating Accessible Video Content: Editing and Ordering Captions in Kaltura. This guide explains why accurate captions are essential for equitable access and policy compliance, and outlines the steps required to review and improve auto-generated captions.
You will learn best practices for editing captions efficiently, correcting common AI errors, adjusting timing, identifying speakers, and noting meaningful sounds. The post also provides guidance on requesting professional captioning services when needed.