Day Two: iBooks Author

Day Two unveiled the power of Apple iBooks Author.  What a fantastic tool that allows you to create books that people can touch, interact with and and treat like a real media experience.  iBooks author has a number of fantastic features that go way beyond the printed page.  These include:

• 3D images that readers can manipulate with a touch - so instead of seeing a cross section of a brain, they can see all sections. 

• Interactive images that allow the reader to pan and zoom.

• Interactive galleries where readers can swipe through an entire collection of interactive photos and captions with their fingertips.

• Highlighting and note taking that allow the reader to use their finger as a highlighter, and add a note to a page instantly. 

• Study cards that show all of the readers notes and highlights. 

• Built in accessibility that allows the reader to use VoiceOver technology, and access accessibility descriptions to any widget or media - including movies - for those with vision impairments.   

Ten Ways that iBooks Author Can be Used in the Classroom

• Portfolios – Students can use iBooks to create an interactive portfolio, showing their best work in an effective and engaging way.

• How to Books – Students can use iBooks to create how to books for cooking, baking, making things, using technology, etc.

• School Reports – Students can use iBooks to create reports about vacations, or school trips.

• Social Stories – Teachers can use iBooks to create social stories for their students.

• Rulebooks – Students can use iBooks to create rulebooks on the rules of hockey, soccer, chess, etc.

• Brochures – Students can use iBooks to create interactive brochures.

• Class Newsletters – Teachers can use iBooks to create a class newsletter.

• Professional Development – Teachers can use iBooks to create informational resources for teachers on topics such as assessment, literacy, and technology to enhance their understandings.

• Reference Manuals – Teachers can use iBooks to create a reference manual for students (e.g., reminders on complex sentences, or capitalization).