Strategy
The Basics of Book Creator for the Web
How does the web based version of Book Creator work with Chrome Books?
The Basics
In the past I have completed several blogs about the Book Creator app. However, about six months ago the developers created a web based version for Chrome.
- The creation of the books follows the same flow shared on the App
- The web based version offers two account options: A student account and a teacher account that can be linked together with a shareable code:
- The web version of book creator is free.
- There is a paid version that you can choose to purchase that includes collaboration tools for teachers and team members
- It runs on all devices in the Chrome Web Browser.
In the teacher account the following features exist:
- Import a PDF from another storage space
- Combine separate books into one without impacting the individual books (if you are creating a collective classroom book of individual student’s work, for example)
- Export as E-books or online with a private shareable link
- Collaborate among other team members (for the paid version)
YouTube Video Features of the Teacher Account can viewed at the link below:
In the student account, the following features exist:
- Student accounts can see the same books that teachers have shared with them using the share code the teacher sends to them.
- Students can combine books, copy books and import books from different
- They can download the book as an e-Book
- Read the Book from the desk top as well.
YouTube Video Features of the Student Account can viewed at the link below:
Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments:
This is where we are going to need more experimentation (and more blogs).
I experimented using the the accessibility features on my Chrome Book. I was able to do the following:
- Magnify the screen to 2x-3x. However, I would like to use this with my students that use ZoomText to see how they work together with that software.
- Change the Contrast to White On Black
- With ChromeVox, I was able to navigate the website of the Book Creator website only. It didn’t actually read the text in the book itself (which is a common accessibility problem for web based digital books). On the app Voice Over reads the text in the book to the student.
Current Barriers for Web Version:
- Not having an accessible way for book text to be read by screen reader (Chrome Vox).
My Two Cents:
The web version of Book Creator is ideal for individuals with low vision who can use the embedded accessibility features on a computer or low vision software such as ZoomText. For students who require screen reading features, I would say the app version on iOS is a much better option.
By Julie Johnson
