Ourboox provides the world’s simplest platform for uploading and sharing digital picture books of any genre, in any language, for free. Our digital e-books are easy to self-publish, easier to share. They are highly searchable and promote one another. The books can incorporate text, images, video, maps, games, puzzles and many other features. Authors can keep track of the number of readers and can read their comments.
Type of Material:
Presentation
Recommended Uses:
Individual, team, in-class, and homework
Technical Requirements:
Internet connection
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal of Ourboox is to provide a simple and free web platform where authors of picture books can share their work with one another and the world.
User can create own electronic book and/or learn about a multitude of subjects in a variety of langauages from ebooks publicly shared on the site.
Target Student Population:
Grade School, Middle School, High School, College General Ed
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
basic digital computing skills
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The site provides a sample book for getting started along with many Ourboox book examples from authors using the tool. The content is varied and offers many different ideas for how users might create their own Ourboox book. The directions for creating a book are clear. The information for creating a book is not overwhelming so it is not confusing.
Concerns:
It would be helpful to offer helpful use guides to users new to the notion of creating an electronic book.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
With basic editing and image-importing skills, users can create books that address any content and several languages. Users are able to embed video, sound, pictures, games, etc. in their books. Books can be any length. Books are created using a basic editor and uploading images. The interface is simple so created materials can easily integrated into curriculum content. Books are shared via URLs. FAQs do remind users about copyright.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The site has buttons across the top that are clearly labeled for Home, About, Featured Books, FAQ and Create. Users create a free account to get started. The Create button is highlighted in blue. The FAQ section provides clear and specific information for users. Once the create button is selected, users add a title and then either move to the text editor section or upload an image section. When searching the books that have been public users can search by language OR by category.
After setting up free account, user can begin creating own book. Books can be worked on collaborativley but as noted in FAQs work cannot be done simutaneously as last user's work will be version saved. FAQs provide insight into embedding items such as video, audio, and pictures.
Concerns:
It would be great to be able to search the public Ourboox books by language AND category.
Creative Commons:
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