Minnesota eLearning Summit - Publish Amazing Interactive Books With iBooks Author & Book Creator

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Looking for creative ways to create a textbook tailored for your students’ needs or with up-to-date information to supplement your textbook, to distribute in your classroom or school, to make available through your learning management system, or even to publish commercially or to share globally? iBooks Author for the Mac computer and the Book Creator app for iPad, Android, and Windows are the answer! Come learn how to create interactive books with this amazing easy-to-use Mac software and widgets and multi-platform app that make creating an eye-catching, engaging, interactive book as easy as 1-2-3.

Resources
Apps featured:
iBooks Author (runs on Mac computer)
Book Creator (available for iOS, Android, and Windows)
iBooks (runs on Mac computer and iOS devices)
Reflector 2 (runs on computer)

iBooks Author
This application allows you to easily create your own textbooks, long or short, by dragging and dropping content into templates. Built-in and third party widgets allow you to create interactive elements that help students to engage with your content as they read.

Content that you can drag into your iBook:
Images (png, jpeg, jpg)
Word documents
Pages documents

Widgets:

• Keynote - Keynotes, Powerpoints
• Gallery - multiple images
• Review - self-check quizzes
• Media - video
• Interactive Image - drag labels to appropriate location on image
• 3D - add 3D images to can be rotated and manipulated
• Scrolling Sidebar - add long text to a page
• Pop-Over - pop up boxes with additional information about parts of images and diagrams
• HTML - add all sorts of content from the Internet that can be linked to or embedded

Third Party Widgets:
Bookry
This website service allows you to create interactive widgets that you can customize with content from the internet or from your own files. Widgets can be downloaded and dropped into iBooks Author to add the interactive feature to your book.

• Library of free widgets

BookWidgets
This subscription website service allows you to create interactive widgets that you can customize with content from the internet or from your own files. Widgets can be downloaded and dropped into iBooks Author to add the interactive feature to your book.

• Widget library

iBooks Author Getting Started Guide
The iBooks Author Getting Started Guide is a great iBook available from Apple iBooks Store that guide you step by step through the process of learning to use iBooks Author by having you create an iBook. Sample media files are included in the book to help you get started without needing to gather all of your own files.

Example Textbooks
E.O. Wilson's Life on Earth Textbooks
Unit 1: Unity & Diversity of Life on Earth
Unit 2: Guided Tour of the Living Cell
Unit 3: Genetics
Unit 4: Animal Physiology
Unit 5: Plant Physiology
Unit 6: Guided Tour of Biodiversity
Unit 7: Guided Tour of Ecosystems


Book Creator
This simple-to-use but powerful app allows you to easily create your own books or textbooks with your own content to customize for student needs. Books can be collaboratively created or exported in ePub format and read in iBooks or as PDFs.

Content that you can add to your book:
Images
Text
Video
Pen tool allows for handwriting
Audio narration

Sample Books
Pinterest Library of Books Made In Book Creator

Getting Started with Book Creator
Tutorials and Support

iBooks
This app for iOS and Mac computers allows for the creation of libraries of ibooks, ePubs, ebooks, and PDFs so that students can take books with them on the go and open up books that were previously read. Depending on the format of the books, students may be able to highlight and take notes while reading, sync notes across devices, and automatically create study cards from highlights and notes.


Reflector 2
This Mac and Windows computer application allows iOS users to mirror their device screens to the computer to allow for projection for the whole class via an LCD projector connected to the computer. Teachers/instructors can mirror their own iPad content or have students share for the whole class as well.

EdCamp Global - iBook and eBook Creation

Are you interested in Creating iBooks and eBooks to Personalize and Publish Student Learning? If you are thinking "Yes!," then click the link below to join the Google Hangout for this EdCamp Global session.

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Session Description: August 1, 12:00 P.M. CDT

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There are lots of reasons to create iBooks/eBooks for your students. Maybe the textbook for the content area that you teach is out-dated and you want your students to have up-to-date information. Perhaps it is difficult to find or expensive to purchase leveled reading books or books with a controlled set of vocabulary for your students. Maybe you are creating supplemental materials to go along with your content area text and you want to nicely package text and multimedia together. Or maybe you want to  provide a more authentic, project-based, and shareable method for students to show what they learned in your class or during Genius Time. Whatever the reason, it is easy to create and publish iBooks/eBooks and distribute them. Join the conversation and share your knowledge as part of EdCamp Global.

Click here to participate in the Hangouts On Air Event Page

Shared Resources:
Join the conversation and chime in during the hangout and add resources to the shared Google Doc.

Resources:
Several resources are listed below, but please add more resources in the shared Doc or in the comments at the end of the blog post.

iBook and eBook Creation Tools
Book Creator - iPad app and PC computer app
iBooks Author - app for Mac computers
iBooks - iPad and Mac computer app for reading iBooks


Creative Commons Licensed Images
Morgue File
Wylie Image Search
World Images
Animal Photos
The Noun Project
Google Images Advanced Search - Free to Use and Share

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Book Creator For iPad
Great app that allows you to easily create iBooks featuring images, great fonts, narration, music, and video right on the iPad. Simple enough for young students to use but capable of creating beautiful books loaded with interactive elements.

Video
Imports video from Photos/Camera Roll.

Audio
Built-in recording tool or import audio from iTunes library.

Distribution
Dropbox
Website
Google Drive
iTunes - with iTunes Producer
iTunes U
Learning Management System

Sample Books
Book Creator has many sample books pinned on the Book Creator Pinterest page.

Student-created books: (You may need to tap on the image below and wait a few seconds for the dots to appear. Tap on the dots to see student-created books from @MathyCathy.)


Support
There are lots of helpful articles in the Support section of the Book Creator Red Jumper website.

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iBooks Author
iBooks Author is an app that runs on Mac computers and allows you to create multimedia-rich books loaded with swappable and tappable interactive elements in addition to a myriad of fonts, images, slideshows, video, and audio. Built-in and third party widgets allow for self-check reviews, slideshows, image galleries, and 3D objects that can be manipulated.

Video
Format - .mp4 file extension

Audio
Format - AAC  - .m4a file extension

Other Widget Creation Tools
Bookry - sign up for free account
BookWidgets
iAD Producer - free
Tumult Hype

File Types

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iba - editable iBooks Author file
ibooks - finished book - cannot be edited

Distribution
Dropbox
Website
Google Drive
iTunes - with iTunes Producer
iTunes U
Learning Management System

Interactive iBook Example
Sample book showing some of the interactivity that you can quickly create with iBooks Author, the standard iBooks Author widgets, and some of the Bookry widgets.
11.9MB
Downloading on an iPad:
Tap on the link above > Download > Direct download > No thanks, continue to download (at the bottom of the pop up window) > Open in "iBooks" (This won't appear until the book has downloaded to your iPad so there may be a short pause depending on your Internet connection.)

Many free books created with iBooks Author are available for download from the iTunes Store.


Mirroring iPad to Computer

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You can mirror the screen of your iPad onto your computer, which can then be projected or recorded by using the Reflector app on your computer. This makes it easy to project your iPad for your
students or for a presentation while still allowing you to move around the room and to make videos or screencast tutorials of your iPad screen.


Other Apps or Resources?
Are there other apps or resources that I did not mention that you use for creating and publishing books? If yes, please share them in a comment below.

Minnesota eLearning Summit: Publish Amazing Interactive Books With iBooks Author

Attend my session today at the Minnesota eLearning Summit if you are interested in creating textbooks, long or short, for students using classroom content you have created or curated from Creative Commons licensed resources.

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Session Description:
Looking for creative ways to publish student writing or to create a textbook tailored for your students to distribute in your classroom, school, college, or university or even to share globally? iBooks Author is the answer! Come learn how to create interactive books with this amazing easy-to-use Mac software and widgets.

Presentation
The presentation is embedded below:

Why iBooks Author?
Are you interested in creating your own curriculum materials and developing an interactive textbook that combines flipped classroom content and creative commons licensed materials to create a personalized learning experience that students can take on the go with them and access on their iPads with or without wifi access? This session explores how to create interactive content with a variety of free and low-cost tools that can then be easily imported into the free iBooks Author program to create and publish your own iBooks that can be downloaded onto the iPad or onto a Mac computer running the iBooks app. A variety of ways to use widgets, video, and interactive elements to enrich your text and make the learning experience more personalized, engaging, and interactive will be shared and demonstrated.

iBook and eBook Creation Tools
iBooks Author - app for Mac computers
iBooks - iPad and Mac computer app for reading iBooks
Book Creator - iPad app and PC computer app

Creative Commons Licensed Images
Morgue File
Wylie Image Search
World Images
Animal Photos
The Noun Project
Google Images Advanced Search - Free to Use and Share

Video
Format - .mp4 file extension

Audio
Format - AAC  - .m4a file extension

Other Widget Creation Tools
Bookry - sign up for free account
BookWidgets
iAD Producer - free
Tumult Hype

File Types
iba - editable iBooks Author file
ibooks - finished book - cannot be edited

Distribution
Dropbox
Website
Google Drive
iTunes - with iTunes Producer
iTunes U

eLearning Summit Interactive Book Example
Sample book showing some of the interactivity that you can quickly create with iBooks Author, the standard iBooks Author widgets, and some of the Bookry widgets.
11.9MB
Downloading on an iPad:
Tap on the link above > Download > Direct download > No thanks, continue to download (at the bottom of the pop up window) > Open in "iBooks" (This won't appear until the book has downloaded to your iPad so there may be a short pause depending on your Internet connection.)

Mirroring iPad to Computer
You can mirror the screen of your iPad onto your computer, which can then be projected by using the Reflector app on your computer. This makes it easy to project your iPad for your students or for a presentation while still allowing you to move around the room.

EdCamp Global - iBook and eBook Creation: Personalizing and Publishing Student Learning

Are you interested in Creating iBooks and eBooks to Personalize and Publish Student Learning? If you are thinking "Yes!," then you will want to join the Google Hangout for this EdCamp Global session on Saturday, August 1 at 12:00 P.M. CST.

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Session Description: 

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There are lots of reasons to create iBooks/eBooks for your students. Maybe the textbook for the content area that you teach is out dated and you want your students to have up-to-date information. Perhaps it is difficult to find or expensive to purchase leveled reading books or books with a controlled set of vocabulary for your students. Maybe you are creating supplemental materials to go along with your content area text and you want to nicely package text and multimedia together. Or
maybe you want to  provide a more authentic, project-based, and shareable method for students to show what they learned in your class or during Genius Time. Whatever the reason, it is easy to publish iBooks/eBooks and distribute them. Join the conversation and share your knowledge as part of EdCamp Global.

Session Link:
The link to join the Google Hangout will be posted on this blog on Saturday, August 1 shortly before 12:00 P.M. CST.

FlipCon15 - Flipped Classroom Learning On The Go With iBooks

Thanks to everyone who attended my session at the 8th Annual Flipped Learning Conference held in East Lansing, Michigan on creating textbooks, long or short, for students using flipped classroom content created by yourself or curated from Creative Commons licensed resources.

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Session Description:
Are you interested in creating your own curriculum materials and developing an interactive textbook that combines flipped classroom content and creative commons licensed materials to create a personalized learning experience that students can take on the go with them and access on their iPads with or without wifi access? This session explores how to create interactive flipped content with a variety of free and low-cost tools that can then be easily imported into the free iBooks Author program to create and publish your own iBooks that can be downloaded onto the iPad. A variety of ways to use widgets, video, and interactive elements to enrich your text and make the learning experience more personalized, engaging, and interactive will be shared and demonstrated.


Shared Notes
Please contribute to the shared notes doc if you know of resources not included in this blog post.

iBook and eBook Creation Tools
iBooks Author - app for Mac computers
iBooks - iPad and Mac app for reading iBooks
Book Creator - iPad app and PC app

Creative Commons Licensed Images
Morgue File
Wylie Image Search
World Images
Animal Photos
The Noun Project
Google Images Advanced Search - Free to Use and Share

Video
Format - .mp4 file extension

Audio
Format - AAC  - .m4a file extension

Other Widget Creation Tools
Bookry - sign up for free account
BookWidgets
iAD Producer - free
Tumult Hype


File Types
iba - editable iBooks Author file
ibooks - finished book - cannot be edited

Distribution
Dropbox
Website
iTunes - with iTunes Producer
iTunes U

FlipCon15 Interactive Book Example
Sample book showing some of the interactivity that you can quickly create with iBooks Author, the standard iBooks Author widgets, and some of the Bookry widgets.
11.9MB
Tap on the link above > Download > Direct download > No thanks, continue to download (at the bottom of the pop up window) > Open in "iBooks" (This won't appear until the book has downloaded to your iPad so there may be a short pause depending on your Internet connection.)

Great Example Available in iTunes iBooks Store
Uses iBooks Author widgets and widgets created with iAD Producer and Tumult Hype
Writing Tune-Ups: Adjectives & Opening Adjectives by Shawn Jacob, East Zeeland East High School

Mirroring iPad to Computer
You can mirror the screen of your iPad onto your computer, which can then be projected by using the Reflector app on your computer. This makes it easy to project your iPad for your students or for a presentation while still allowing you to move around the room.

ISTE2015 Workshop - Publish Amazing Interactive Books With iBooks Author

iBooks Author is free software from Apple for creating interactive multi-touch books for the iPad or iBooks on the Mac.

Required:
Mac computer
iBooks Author
iBooks (on Mac) - optional
iPad  - optional
iBooks (on iPad) - optional

Resources:
In addition to the sample Philadelphia book and the workshop instructional packet, the following resources may be helpful.

Creative Commons Licensed Images
Morgue File
Wylie Image Search
World Images
Animal Photos
The Noun Project
Google Images Advanced Search - Free to Use and Share

Video
Format - MP4

Other Widget Creation Tools
Bookry
BookWidgets
iAD Producer
Tumult Hype


File Types
iba - editable iBooks Author file
ibooks - finished book - cannot be edited

Distribution
Dropbox
Website
iTunes - with iTunes Producer
iTunes U

Other Book Creation Tools
Book Creator App - Easily create multimedia ebooks on the iPad.

FlipCon15 PreSession Work - Creating Flipped Lessons On and For the iPad

I will be presenting a poster session at the 8th Annual Flipped Learning Conference this summer on Creating Flipped Lessons On and For the iPad.

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Please share your expertise and help me crowd source some ideas about iOS apps, applications, and Web 2.0 tools that teachers use to create instructional lessons and materials for use on the students' iPads as well as iOS apps and Web 2.0 tools that students can use on the iPad to demonstrate their learning!

I don't know how many times I have been at a conference and heard that no one is smarter than the room.  Too often I think we try to recreate the wheel rather than tapping into the collective knowledge that already exists.

For one of my sessions at the upcoming FlipCon15 Conference, I would like to put the crowd sourcing concept into practice. Whether you will be going to FlipCon15 or not, if you have any experience with flipped learning or using iPads with students in the classroom, please take the short survey below and share your expertise.


FlipCon15 PreSession Work:
Please complete the following PreSession Work:
1. Complete the short survey below.
2. Think about which Web 2.0 tools, and applications teachers can use to create flipped instructional lessons and resources and which apps and Web 2.0 tools students can use to demonstrate their learning.

Crowd-sourced results from survey and tutorial videos will be shared during session at FlipCon15. Bring an iPad and come prepared to discuss apps and share ideas! 

If you are not attending FlipCon15, you can check back on this blog later for links to results spreadsheet and tutorial videos.

Presenting At Minnesota eLearning Summit

I will be presenting at the Minnesota eLearning Summit July 29 - 30 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. 

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I will be presenting a session on Publishing Amazing Interactive Books With iBooks Author and will focus on how to get started using this powerful self-publishing application as well as highlighting some amazing widgets that can be used to make iBooks into a more interactive experience for students.

The Minnesota eLearning Summit is being held at Minneapolis Community and Technical College this year. The theme is Open. Online. Opportunity.

I'm looking forward to networking and connecting with colleagues creating great eLearning resources and opportunities for students and staff.

FlipCon15 PreSession Work - Flipped Learning On The Go With iBooks

I will be presenting at the 8th Annual Flipped Learning Conference this summer on Flipped Learning On The Go With iBooks.

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PreSession Work:
If you will be joining me for my session, please complete the following PreSession Work:
1. Complete the short survey below
2. Read the articles linked below
3. Gather resources for iBook creation





2. Read the article "Paper Books vs. iBooks -- An Overhyped Debate? - https://edtechdigest.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/paper-books-vs-ibooks-an-overhyped-debate/
and
Read the article "Paper Books vs. iBooks & Kindle Books" - http://www.imore.com/paper-books-ibooks-kindle-books

3. Gather resources to get started creating an iBook:

• 10-12 copyright-friendly images
• Text you authored or copyright-friendly text
• Copyright-friendly video

Looking forward to meeting you at FlipCon15!

I'm Presenting At FlipCon15

I am honored to have been selected to present both a session and a poster session at FlipCon15!

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The 8th Annual Flipped Learning Conference will be held in East Lansing, Michigan this year on the campus of Michigan State University.

I will be presenting on Flipped Learning On The Go With iBooks and my poster presentation will be Creating Flipped Lessons On And For The iPad.

Apple Academy in Cupertino

I will be attending Apple Foundations Academy in Cupertino, California this upcoming February!

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The Academy will cover train-the-trainer training on all of the Apple apps for the MacBook and iPad. Following the training, I will be an authorized Apple Foundations Trainer for my school district.

ISTE2015 Speaker

Proposal selections for ISTE2015 were announced today, and I'm honored to be able to say that I will be a speaker at the next ISTE conference in Philadelphia this June.

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In fact, I received a triple honor of having three proposals selected and a fourth selected but on a waiting list for now!

I will be presenting on:

• 30 Plus Ways To Use Your iPad For Personalized Professional Development
• Bridging The Digital Divide With A Racial Equity Lens

I will also be doing a three hour workshop on:

• Publishing Amazing Interactive Books With iBooks Author

The fourth session that is currently waitlisted until space becomes available is a BYOD session:

• Easy Formative Assessment Options For Mobile Devices