Abstract
This article explains how one teacher used iBooks Author, a free digital textbook creation tool that makes iBooks for iPads, in an upper elementary classroom to improve students’ expository writing skills and understanding of science content. The classroom teacher taught students pre-requisite writing and technology skills for two weeks, and then helped these students design, develop, and publish their own iBook. Students planned and developed content using Thinking Maps, storyboards, Google Docs, iMovie and other technology tools to create their iBook. A comparison of students’ work in the iBook to previous written work revealed an improvement in expository writing in multiple ways: better organization and connection of ideas; increased use of academic vocabulary; and an increased use of clarifying details and analogies. Students also gained a deeper understanding of science concepts as reported through their comments after the project was finished. Students became more proficient users of the technology, and also reported an increased sense of self-efficacy and confidence because they published a book in the iBookstore
Similar content being viewed by others
References
California Department of Education (1998). English Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools. Retrieved from http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/elacontentstnds.pdf
Herrington, J., Oliver R., & Reeves, T. C. (2003). Patterns of engagement in authentic online learning environments. Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 19(1), 59–71.
Herrington, J., Reeves, T., Oliver R., & Woo, Y. (2002). Designing authentic activities for Web-based courses. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2001, (pp. 18–27). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
iBooks Author (2011). Apple Inc. (Version 3.1.1) [Apple software]. Retrieved July 10, from http://itunes.apple.com/
International Society for Technology in Education (2007). ISTE NETS for students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007
Popplet Lite. 2010. Notion Inc. (Version 1.5.1) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/
Rule, A (2006).Editorial: The components of authentic learning. Journal of Authentic Learning, 3(1), 1–10.
Thinking Maps (2004). Thinking Maps Inc. (Version 3) [Graphic organizer templates and program].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Encheff, D. Creating a Science E-book with Fifth Grade Students. TECHTRENDS TECH TRENDS 57, 61–72 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-013-0703-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-013-0703-8