Transcript Software Apps and Devices to Engage and Empower Students

eBooks
Teaching and Learning
SLAV Conference
October 22nd 2012
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
– 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)
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
eBooks@Adelaide
Benefits
eBooks are
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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
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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:
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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
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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:
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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)
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)
Research & Study
 Note taking tools (MS One Note, Evernote)
 Online data storage (Dropbox, SpiderOak)
Empower
Engage
Enlighten
Encourage
Participate
Online Resources
Gerry Kennedy’s articles:
Google Gerry Kennedy Spectronics Blog
Articles and resources:

Weally Wonderful Apps V3
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Weally Wonderful Websites V8
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Nineteen articles on “Universal Access”
 Universal Access to eBooks
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Reviews of MyStudyBar and AccessApps
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ebook_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
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Nineteen articles on “Universal Access”
 Universal Access to eBooks
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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: 03 9894 4826 M: 0411 569 840 E: [email protected] Twitter: @gkict