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Pressbooks

Introduction to Pressbooks

Pressbooks is an open source, web-based authoring platform. “Press” because the platform is built on the WordPress web content creation platform, and “books” because the platform was originally developed, and largely is used for, publishing open online books. Although the platform divides the organizational structure of a resource into Parts and Chapters, Pressbooks can be used for so much more. For the purposes of this module, we will focus on open textbook publishing, but keep in mind that some wonderful examples of open online learning materials developed via Pressbooks tap into its flexible and easy-to-use interface.

You don’t need to know anything about book design or ebook development–Pressbooks lets you focus on creation! Pressbooks is supported by eCampusOntario, who has made the platform freely available for all Ontario post-secondary educators, learners, and staff to create and adapt open textbooks.

Let’s look at some of the key features of Pressbooks:

  1. Write once, publish many: Pressbooks makes it easy to export well-formatted publications in multiple outputs (PDF, EPUB, and more)
  2. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor: Document creation is similar to editing in Microsoft Word, but with added features
  3. Adaptable: Easily clone other openly licensed content created in Pressbooks and adapt for your teaching
  4. Accessible: Web-based resources built in Pressbooks are by default more accessible and compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies than many platforms.
  5. Easily add collaborators: and assign roles and permissions to build a resource
  6. As easy to use as a textbook: but with the ability to turn your textbook into an interactive learning environment

Let’s take a look at two recent publications that were recognized as favourites by the Pressbooks community. Navigate each to familiarize yourself with the user experience:

  • Liberated Learners: How to Learn with Style – A institutional collaboration resource which offers readers 4 modules on digital learning. Notice the design aesthetic, integration of H5P, use of multimedia, and distinct voices of the authors.
  • Pulling Together: Indigenization Guides – A series of guidebooks aimed at educating educators, researchers, and staff across post-secondary institutions in British Columbia. An important and highly collaborative project supporting systemic change through Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.

Now that you have seen Pressbooks in action, let’s learn how to use it. This module will guide you through a series of steps to assist you in creating your first (simple!) book.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Navigate the Pressbooks platform to create, export and publish a simple digital book.

  2. Add multimedia elements, including videos, images, hyperlinks, and H5P interactive activities.

  3. Navigating collaborative tools within Pressbooks.

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

McMaster - Mastering Open Ed: Licensing, Accessibility, Creation, and Publishing OER Copyright © 2023 by eCampusOntario is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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