App of the Week

iBooks App

Although the iBooks App is important the real star is iBooks Author, the software program which allows you or in our case, students to create interactive digital books.

iBooks App

Educational Value of iBooks

By giving students the opportunity to create their own iBooks it does not only encourage them to learn about the topic in question at a deeper level but to question their understanding and teach other.

Our students have created wonderfully interactive multi touch digital books, that allow readers to enjoy content that has been created incorporating many other applications such as Keynotes, Numbers, iMovie, Explain Everything, Google Earth and many more. They have even created their own Google Maps which transport the readers to a specific part of the world relating to the topic or subject identified, for instance the topic Child Labour, where the markers on the map created by the students, highlight the places or countries where child labour is most prominent. When these markers are pressed, either a gallery of images appear or YouTube clips reference to child labour, instantaneously allowing the reader to delve deeper if they wish to do so.

iBooks Author App

The books contain questions created by the students allowing readers to review what they have learnt. Once complete the books are shared with peers, teachers and parents, who can evidence the learning taken place and enjoy the content too. Students are also learning to engage with their readers on a new level, by embedding the Feedback widget, which enables them to receive 'real time', feedback on their book and offers the student an opportunity to self-reflect and make changes where necessary.

I believe that iBooks offer all kinds of learning opportunities for students and I would urge teachers to be risk takers and have a go.

Google Map with Markers and YouTube clip

Google Map - UOI Where we come from

Example of a Review Question