Friday, August 20, 2010

EBooks



I have just created my first EBook.

This was a little tricky to figure out at first, but once I worked out how to use all the functions, it was surprisingly easy.

The MyEBook web site can be used to view a range of 'books' in the library that have been created by other users or you can create your own.

This would be a highly engaging tool to use with older students or students with high levels of digital literacy. The functions are similar to those used when creating a website or a wiki so if students have done these tasks it would require less scaffolding to create an Ebook.

From the Ebooks viewed on this site, I think that this digital tool may not be as useful for Information Seeking or Locating and Accessing as the level of the content doesn't appear to be very credible (unless students are accessing a teacher created book). However this would be a very interesting tool to use for Synthesis or Evaluation of information (Eisenberg & Berkowiz, 2010). Creating an Ebook to demonstrate students knowledge and understanding would provide an assessment piece that is student centred, fun, motivating and engaging.

EBooks, if scaffolded well, could be a very useful digital tool to use in the classroom.

The journey continues,

Lynn


References
Eisenberg, M. & Berkowiz, B. (2010). The big 6. Retrieved from
http://www.big6.com/

2 comments:

  1. Hi Lynn,
    I have never engaged with E.Books, however I can see what you mean by their relation to the Big6. I do think that they would be great to use in the Synthesis phase, however, the students may not be able to reflect on the learning process and provide feedback as well as they could using other tools such as a Reflecive Blog or a Voki.
    Synthesis of information allows the learners to organise and present the information that they have collaborated. I think that E.Books would mould into this phase perfectly. The students could create an E.Book to demonstrate their learning and even to add to a class profile page or a showcase portfolio.
    Let me know what you think!
    Amy

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  2. Hi Amy,
    Great points. The Ebook I made was very easy and I think with support my year 2 students would be very capable of creating an ebook. It is very engaging tool that I know I will be using in the class.
    It could be used for reflecting - as in a journal style book or in the synthesis phase to present work. It is a very flexable tool.
    Lynn

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