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Return: http://ly.tcea.org/gbooks | Facilitator: Miguel Guhlin (@mguhlin)
Get your students more engaged with your content by having them become authors. Join us for tips, tricks, and the how-to's of creating eBooks with G Suite for Education.
Get your students more engaged with your content by having them become authors. Join us for tips, tricks, and the how-to's of creating eBooks with G Suite for Education.
In This Session, we'll discuss:
In This Session, we'll discuss:
- Locating eBooks
- eBook formats
- Converting eBooks
- Creating eBooks: Three Fun Approaches
- Copyright-Friendly Media
Locating eBooks
Locating eBooks
Below, you will find some sites I have used in the past to find non-DRM (Digital Rights Management) formatted ePubs. Finding non-Digital Rights Management (a.k.a. non-DRM) books can be a challenge for schools.
Below, you will find some sites I have used in the past to find non-DRM (Digital Rights Management) formatted ePubs. Finding non-Digital Rights Management (a.k.a. non-DRM) books can be a challenge for schools.
This may be why OverDrive is heavily used in many libraries, and solutions like BiblioTech are quite popular.
This may be why OverDrive is heavily used in many libraries, and solutions like BiblioTech are quite popular.
Note: As in any library or book store, there exists content that may be inappropriate for younger readers. Have learning conversations with students and parents when counseling that they “find free stuff” to read on the web. With that caveat in mind, I have tried to link to the Children’s/Juvenile section of each ebook distributor above.
You can get free audio versions of traditional books via LibriVox. Why not use a QR Code to link directly to a story's audio version? Have students make their own!
You can get free audio versions of traditional books via LibriVox. Why not use a QR Code to link directly to a story's audio version? Have students make their own!
A Quick Word About EBook Formats
A Quick Word About EBook Formats
eBooks come in a wide variety of formats. Let's review them, shall we?
eBooks come in a wide variety of formats. Let's review them, shall we?
eBook Readers: Aldiko, Lithium, iBooks, Google Play Books, Freda, Kindle
Web-based?
Web-based?
Chrome Browser? Use Readium or ePub Reader
Firefox Browser? Get ePUBReader
EPUB is an e-book file format with the extension .epub that can be downloaded and read on devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, or e-readers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum. Wikipedia
EPUB is an e-book file format with the extension .epub that can be downloaded and read on devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, or e-readers. It is a technical standard published by the International Digital Publishing Forum. Wikipedia
It is the standard format for these book publishers/sellers:
- Amazon Kindle Fire (not previous versions of Kindle, though)
- Apple iBooks
- Barnes and Noble
- Kobo
It is easy to make ePub formatted documents. In fact, many word processors like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, OpenOffice/LibreOffice support export of documents to ePub format. Read about how Jonathan Moeller, one of my favorite authors, uses Sigil (a free cross-platform tool) to create/edit his ebooks.
ePubs come in two formats:
- Standard (without media like sound/videos) (text/images are included)
- Multimedia ebooks which feature sound/videos/text/images
MOBI is an e-book file format with the extension .mobi that can be downloaded and read on devices that support Amazon Kindle app. The format, customized by Amazon, is often used by Amazon's ebooks and on little else.
MOBI is an e-book file format with the extension .mobi that can be downloaded and read on devices that support Amazon Kindle app. The format, customized by Amazon, is often used by Amazon's ebooks and on little else.
There are various programs for making a .mobi ebook file. Amazon provides some tools you can take advantage of. "You can upload and convert your eBook manuscript file from several supported formats. Before you publish, browse the topics below to learn more."
PDF is not an ebook format. Rather, it is a format that seeks to capture the printed version of a document, capturing the look-n-feel of the printed item as if it had appeared on the author's printer. A large percentage of documents presented as ebooks appear as Adobe Portable Document Formats (PDFs).
PDF is not an ebook format. Rather, it is a format that seeks to capture the printed version of a document, capturing the look-n-feel of the printed item as if it had appeared on the author's printer. A large percentage of documents presented as ebooks appear as Adobe Portable Document Formats (PDFs).
The reason PDF is not an ebook format is that it was never designed to appear in eReaders or reshape itself into a format viewable in such a device. It CAN be viewed on most modern devices, however.
So, What?
So, What?
The short version of this is that ePub is the best format to create ebooks in. You can convert most documents into the ePub format and it will work on almost all devices using an eReader piece of software.
Converting eBooks from One Format to Another
Converting eBooks from One Format to Another
Need to convert ebooks from one format to another? Use Calibre, the free open source software that works on any computer (not Chromebooks, though).
Here's how it's described:
Using Calibre to convert is very easy.
- Plug in your e-book reader.
- Open Calibre and click the "Add books" button on the top left. Select your book.
- Click open. Select your book in the library list. By now Calibe should have detected your e-book reader.
- Click "Send to device" in middle of the top toolbar.
- Calibre is smart enough to know if the book is in a format supported by your reader. If it's not, it will ask you if you want to auto convert it. Say yes, and it will take care of the conversion and put the book on your reader.
Calibre worries about the formats and converting for you. Auto conversion is the easiest way to go and in most cases will be all you need to do.
Creating eBooks: Three fun approaches
Creating eBooks: Three fun approaches
Approach #1: Book Creator
Approach #1: Book Creator
If you haven’t used Book Creator, it is an excellent, collaborative ($) ePub creation tool boasting over 15 million ebooks. It works on Chromebooks, iOS, Android and Windows devices.
If you haven’t used Book Creator, it is an excellent, collaborative ($) ePub creation tool boasting over 15 million ebooks. It works on Chromebooks, iOS, Android and Windows devices.
Book Creator allows you to create a simple ePub without media or an enhanced ePub with video, audio, and more embedded. Read their blog for TONS of ideas.
This versatility means you can create content on an iPad/iOS device and share it with a wide variety of audiences. You can also share it to cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive, or iCloud).
It also supports the creation of digital comic books, something your students will love. That's amazing!
Approach #2: Google Docs To EPub
Approach #2: Google Docs To EPub
EPUB is the most widely supported file format for publishing accessible documents and digital books, allowing people to consume long-form content in their preferred apps on a diverse range of screen sizes and devices, including smartphones, tablets, and eReaders.
To make it easier for authors, publishers, and academic institutions to create works that can be consumed digitally, today we’re launching the ability to export Google Docs files as EPUB publications. Simply go to the File menu > Download as > EPUB Publication (.epub). (Source)
Here are two ebooks created in Google Docs using the ePub export.
Here are two ebooks created in Google Docs using the ePub export.
What documents could you take and export to ePub format to make them easier to read on mobile devices?
What documents could you take and export to ePub format to make them easier to read on mobile devices?
Approach #3: Google Slides To PDF
Approach #3: Google Slides To PDF
- Customize the Slides
- Add Content
- Download as a PDF (or publish online as a Google Slides)
- Share the eBook
Here's another guide to ebook creation from Texas' Kasey "Shake Up Learning" Bell.
Use one of the many available ebook templates available in Powerpoint to create your own Google Slides eBook. It's pretty easy.
Use one of the many available ebook templates available in Powerpoint to create your own Google Slides eBook. It's pretty easy.
While most PDF ebooks being shared are usually short, beautifully designed, you can use Google Slides as a collaborative eBook development tool.
Creating ebooks is a wonderful project to tackle in the new year with students. Use Google Slides to make it even easier and more powerful.
By charging students with tasks that require creativity, analysis, and applications, teachers move the focus away from themselves to an emphasis upon their learners.
By charging students with tasks that require creativity, analysis, and applications, teachers move the focus away from themselves to an emphasis upon their learners.
Student-centered products enable learners to showcase their new knowledge and skills in relation to a particular topic in an infinite variety of ways.
Student-centered products enable learners to showcase their new knowledge and skills in relation to a particular topic in an infinite variety of ways.
tips from amazing educators
tips from amazing educators
Meet Erifili Davis and Jennifer Gonzales
Meet Erifili Davis and Jennifer Gonzales
Check out Erifili Davis' blog entry on the topic of ebooks with Google Slides. She's created some great video tutorials and a free template packet (click link to make a copy) you can start with.
Check out Erifili Davis' blog entry on the topic of ebooks with Google Slides. She's created some great video tutorials and a free template packet (click link to make a copy) you can start with.
Read Erifili's 6 tips to help you (or your class) create your first ebook using Google Apps for Education. As she points out, "These techniques are just as useful to anyone looking to self-publish an ebook, including general users of the free Google Drive and Google Apps for Work users."
Read Erifili's 6 tips to help you (or your class) create your first ebook using Google Apps for Education. As she points out, "These techniques are just as useful to anyone looking to self-publish an ebook, including general users of the free Google Drive and Google Apps for Work users."
You can have multiple page layouts within your ebook. Some include:
- 1 large picture, 1 large column text,
- 2 smaller pictures with 2 even columns of text,
- 1 smaller picture with 2 uneven columns of text
Be sure to use the same basic elements throughout:
- 1 font style for page headings
- 1 font style for subheadings
- 1 font style for your body text
- 3 to 5 colours for your colour scheme
- Make sure your inside covers are blank and you have the ‘half page title‘ to make your book look authentic.
You can easily make page layouts in Google Slides that reflect ebook formats. The video shown right guides you through that process.
You can easily make page layouts in Google Slides that reflect ebook formats. The video shown right guides you through that process.
"With Google Slides, students can create a simple ebook that includes text, photos, videos, and links," says Diana Benner in this TCEA TechNotes blog entry. "They can even create or select themes, templates, and layouts for their book. Once created, the ebooks can be shared with other students, both locally and around the world, for feedback."
Ideas for Creating PDF eBooks
Ideas for Creating PDF eBooks
Jennifer Gonzales (@cultofpedagogy) shares great ideas at her blog, Cult of Pedagogy in the form of a podcast and blog entry:
Jennifer Gonzales (@cultofpedagogy) shares great ideas at her blog, Cult of Pedagogy in the form of a podcast and blog entry:
- Mini-Textbooks that teach a single concept or group of ideas from your course material.
- Book Reports or analyses that take the reader through the most significant moments of a book, compare several books to one another, introduce a selection of works from one author, or look at a central theme (e.g., “Images of Fatherhood”) as it is depicted in a collection of books.
- Portfolios of a student’s art, photography, writing, or poetry.
- Year-in-Review Books that explore concepts from the school year like lessons learned, best moments, special people, turning points, or important challenges throughout the year.
- Children’s Books that explore a concept learned in class or simply tell a good story.
- Guidebooks offering advice and instructions for next year’s students.
- How-To Books that teach the reader something about which a student has some level of expertise (think informational writing!)
- Collections where students curate their favorite books, movies, quotes, video games, apps, memories, or even photos of meaningful places, objects, or people.
- Reflective Journals students keep and build throughout the year to document their growth or thinking on a particular topic.
- Memoir-Style Books that document a student’s journey through a Genius Hour or 20% Time project.
- Club or Activity Books that chronicle the accomplishments of members of a sports team or club.
- Professional Portfolios that could eventually be used as part of a job search. Teachers could also build their own professional portfolios in this same way.
Students Write for Others
Students Write for Others
"If you are in the primary grades, student-created eBooks can be a great source of grade-level-appropriate reading materials...publishing the content for other students and classrooms to use as a resource addresses a definite need.
Student-created material can be much more approachable than resources students may encounter when researching a topic in the library or online" (Source: Creative Educator)
Copyright-Friendly Media
Copyright-Friendly Media
Free Fonts
Free Fonts
Not sure how to add new fonts?
Not sure how to add new fonts?
Video Sources
Video Sources
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