SLAV Conference October 22 nd 2012 eBooks Teaching and Learning

How do eBooks impact upon teaching and learning for educators and students?

eBooks An electronic book (also e-book, E-book, EBook, eBook, digital book) is a text and image-based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable on computers or other digital devices.

eBooks The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as “an electronic version of a printed book,” but e-books can and do exist without any printed equivalent.

eBooks The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as …. E-books are usually read on dedicated hardware devices known as eReaders or e-book devices.

eBooks The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the e-book as … Personal computers and some mobile phones can also be used to read e-books.”

eBooks Computer based eBooks – Text only – HTML – PDF – ePub – Proprietary formats – Other open source formats

eBooks Devices – PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) – Mobile and Smart Phones Mobile and Smart Phones – Tablets (Android, Windows, iOS) – Dedicated eBook readers – eBook devices (Sony, Kindle) – Computers

eBooks Content – Commercial publishers – eBook websites and services – PDF websites – Free online eBook sources – Open Source content – Children’s books – iTunes, Amazon, Kindle etc

Publishing eBooks Using - eBook publishing software (Stanza, Blio)Stanza eBook publishing websites eBook Apps (e.g. Creative Book Builder) Using PDF creation tools Conversion sites

Electronic Texts Provision to Students For electronic access – To online content – To study materials – To Novels and texts – Revision and study notes – Other text based materials and resources

Electronic Texts Free eBooks Weally Wonderful Websites (pp 5-9) Project Gutenberg

Benefits eBooks are  Portable  Negate the need for large, heavy, cumbersome books  Are electronic in format and design  Contain text, sound speech and other rich media  Are accessible to the majority users  Can be accessed on multiple technologies

Benefits eBooks are Can be use with dictionary and thesaurus tools Background and foreground colour options Text font, size and colour options Tex to speech access Text to audio saving Can be acquired as audio books Can be created and published by students Are freely available

Differentiation Encouraging students to participate at their level of understanding using their:  Skills, strengths and abilities  Reading skills and capabilities  Capacity to read for meaning and context  Preferred learning style(s)  Prior knowledge and experiences

Students Students’ reading and literacy needs:  Meet individual needs  Cater to different abilities and individual differences  Promote reading and comprehension skills  Provide opportunities to explore and engage with text  Provide a range of genres  Provide literature that is contemporary and challenging

Access to Text Provide equitable access to text:  In traditional formats  Provide texts and novels on Intranets  Using ICTS and technologies  Computers, eBook Readers and Tablets e.g. iPads

Access to Text Provide equitable access to text:  Provide alternate formats  Differentiate texts  Promote life-long skills  Inculcate a love of reading

Literacy

Alternate Formats

Reading Tools Scanners – desktop and handheld using OCR School photocopiers Reading Pens (Oxford ReadingPen V2)Oxford ReadingPen V2 Digital Voice Recorders OCR = Optical Character Recognition

Text to Speech  Built in to MS Windows OS (narrator)  Built in to MAC OS  Free and commercial software  (e.g. Orato, Balabolka, SpeakComputer) As featured in literacy support tools: e.g. MyStudyBar and AccessApps (both free)MyStudyBar AccessApps

Research & Study  Note taking tools (MS One Note, Evernote)MS One NoteEvernote  Online data storage (Dropbox, SpiderOak)DropboxSpiderOak

Empower

Engage

Enlighten

Encourage

Participate

Online Resources Gerry Kennedy’s articles: Google Gerry Kennedy Spectronics Blog Articles and resources:  Weally Wonderful Apps V3  Weally Wonderful Websites V8  Nineteen articles on “Universal Access”  Universal Access to eBooks  Reviews of MyStudyBar and AccessApps  book_Reader_Matrix

Online Resources Gerry Kennedy’s Blog at Spectronics Gerry Kennedy’s articles on the NDCO website Other articles and resources: Weally Wonderful Websites V8 Nineteen articles on “Universal Access” Universal Access to eBooks Reviews of MyStudyBar and AccessApps

Do at least ONE new thing … Act upon at least ONE new software program or device … soon. Gerry Kennedy IT Consultancies (c) May 2012 P: M: E: Twitter: