Why Learn iBooks Author?

Why write your own text with iBooks Author? According to Burt Lo and Joe Wood in the T|H|E Journal article, 7 Reasons to Learn Apple iBook Author Now, the January announcement of iBook Author was a “big day” for educators making use of digital devices, especially mobile devices, in classrooms. California CUE (Computer Using Educators) has been hosting tech events to encourage educators to put this new software to work.  During these workshops and the CUE convention in Palm Springs, Lo and Wood along with the educators and administrators in the sessions, came up with the “WHYS” Mac users running OSX Lion  (10.7) should start preparing their own book with the Author. These include the ability to organize and integrate interactive materials, Weblinks, video clips, presentations, 3-D objects, photo galleries, text, spreadsheets, presentations—materials you’ve probably already collected, directly into your text. Students can use Author, as well, for publishing, writing, and creating portfolios and reports, and schools can develop professional materials with them.  The created work can be shared free or for a fee at the iBooks Store or shared within a school or district. Educators looking for resources for their iBooks may turn to a library of “interactive objects”.  iBooks are easy to create, publish, update, and share. I’ve started making an iBook, and find that Lo and Wood are right: the iBook Author is a winner.