Class 12: Publishing our DBQs with iBooks Author

Typesetters working  linotype machines Waterford NewsOver the next few classes we will devote time to editing / formatting our DBQs for iTunes publication of a class DBQ collection. Peter will provide instruction in using iBooks Author. Students will use  material from their DBQ Design project as the foundation for their contribution to one chapter of the class iBook. Peter will arrange for publication on iTunes with all student work credited. DBQ assignment here.

Project Reflection at Ed Methods
Students willing write a reflection on their DBQ design project. That will be done in the form of a blog post to Ed Methods – due by class time 11/25. Students should be sure to go back and quote their original DBQ post and note how their project evolved over time by answering three questions:

  1. What were the learning goals of this DBQ – what skills or content did you want students to master?
  2. To what extent did your final project achieve those goals?
  3. What did you learn about the DBQ lesson design process? (Note: do not discuss the merits of Learnist. It’s about the teaching not the technology.)

The DBQ design blog post should include an image from their DBQ and a link back to their DBQ on Learnist. This post will introduce their DBQ to the world. Peter will also re-publish their post as a guest blogger at Copy / Paste to broaden the audience for their work.

Class DBQ iBook
As a group, the class will review each other’s work before inclusion in the iBook collection of DBQs. Each student (or team) will contribute one DBQ in the form of a book chapter. It will include the project reflection as a way of introducing the DBQ. Students will collaborate on book design decisions and Peter will include a sample chapter and an introduction to the book.

Technical aspects
The iBooks will be designed using iBooks Author in the Mac lab. Students will bring digital versions of their DBQs to the lab – including all image and sound files, text files, citations and URLs. Note: YouTube videos will be inserted into the iBooks using ibooksgenerator.

For more see:

Image credit: Typesetters working on linotype machines at the Waterford News. Date: Friday, 29 July 1938.
This newspaper was set up in 1848, and is still going strong as the Waterford News and Star in print and online.
National Library of Ireland Ref.: P_WP_4269

11 Replies to “Class 12: Publishing our DBQs with iBooks Author”

  1. Starting the DBQs was fun. I was definitely a little nervous considering I am not great with new technology, but iBook was fairly easy to navigate. We got a good start on the project, inputting the information. I’m looking forward to formatting next week, making it look more presentable.
    I hope students really do get the chance to use our iBook!

  2. Starting the iBook was fun and I think they are going to end up great. I spent most of the class trying to figure out how to use the technology and find all the functions the iBook has. That’s mostly because I’m not good with technology but the iBook makes things relatively simple. I’m starting to understand what I can do with the iBook and how it works. My question is, if I have a mac at home, can I work on the iBook at home (Assuming I download the app)?

  3. I really enjoyed working with iBooks. It was a much more fluid, interactive, and engaging format than what we worked with on Learnist. As I discussed with classmates, the 1:1 iPad to student movement will require us to have a solid knowledge of burgeoning educational technology. The iBooks author app offers a fantastic tool I can begin to use as an educator (once I actually get an iPad.) The format seems particularly helpful for DBQ’s and humanities studies.

    1. I agree with you, Peter. iBooks Author is easy to use and the end product looks fantastic. I’m sure students would feel a real sense of accomplishment and pride after creating something with this program. It’s a shame iBooks are limited to iPads right now. I hope that changes in the future. It’s a shame to think some students won’t have an opportunity to use this technology because their school cannot afford the devices.

      1. Apple just updated the iBooks app on the Mac desktop. So if you’re using the newest Mavericks Mac OS, these multi-touch iBooks also can be viewed there. That expands the viewing market by millions.

        Even so, you’re correct that the eBook market is fragmented.

    2. Yeah, between Learning Catalytics and this, I’m starting to see the potential of having iPads available to all students… though, as Peter points out, laptops would work for these iBooks as well. Also, presumably the well of available resources (and peers combing through the available resources for the good stuff) will only get deeper, so I don’t think we’ll need to author everything ourselves.

  4. It was very interesting to learn how to make an iBook. Even though I was late to class, I really enjoyed the time I spent there, working. I found the format relatively easy to use and interesting to work with. I say “relatively” easy because of the difficulty of working with any new technology, particularly using a type of computer you are not used to using (I am a PC person, in case anyone was wondering). It was a good learning experience to be able to experience making an iBook and I look forward to the results.

  5. I’ve never encountered an iBook maker before, so this class session was very informative in terms of broadening my technological horizons. I liked how simple and hands-on the process was. I’ll get more apt with the app the more I play with it.

  6. I’m not a mac person, so I’m really glad that I had a partner who knew how to use macs. But, just from watching the iBook come together, it looked like a relatively easy program to master. It might be fun to have a future class publish their own iBooks – perhaps over a research project in a senior class, for example. I’m excited to see what the final products look like for this class.

  7. Working on the iBook was a lot of fun. There were some parts of the program that were rather… obtuse to work around, even for a mac person, but as a whole I’m really looking forward to seeing what each and everyone of us can come up with. I’m looking forward to seeing the completed book, as well as possibly having students do a lesson such as this in the future.

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