Content organization
Because Pressbooks is an ebook authoring tool, it helps to think in terms of chapters with regard to the organization of content, the amount of content in each section and the presentation style. Follow a regular pattern in your chapters, with elements (such as introductions, learning objectives, key takeaways, practice questions, and summaries) in the same order for each chapter. Include learning objectives or bulleted lists of topics at the beginning of a chapter. Choose specific formatting for specific types of content and apply this consistently across chapters. This will make it easier for the reader to navigate your content, and provides context which supports learning.
Want help? Contact Ceradwen Tokheim tokheim@uw.edu for help designing your Pressbook
Themes, page design and text
Pressbook fonts, colors and page spacing are determined by built-in themes, which contain pre-sets for page design. For consistency and legibility of page design, use the standard Pressbook themes and customize themes only if necessary. It’s recommended that SOM authors use one of the following themes: McLuhan (the default choice and SOM preferred), Jacobs, or Malala. All of these themes work well for textbook style content.
Content can be created directly in Pressbooks or in Word and then imported into Pressbooks. Pressbooks uses applied styles (such as Headings) in Word as directions on how to import the text. For example, text with the Heading1 style will start a new chapter with that text as the chapter title. Using headers (in Word, Pressbooks, and other platforms) will make your content more screen reader friendly and thus more accessible. Further directions importing from Word
If starting in Word, you can designate chapters, chapter titles, and subsections using Headings (also called Styles in Word). Apply the Heading 1 style to text you wish to be chapter titles. All following content will be included in the chapter until the next Heading 1. Text with Heading 2 applied will be treated as subsections of the chapter. Most simple formatting (Italics, bold, and hyperlinks) will be the same in Pressbooks. More advanced formatting (spacing, alternative text in images, tables, images) may be different or not come over in the conversion to Pressbooks. Always check over your work after importing.
Add interactivity with H5P
H5P is an outside tool integrated into Pressbooks. With H5P, Pressbooks authors can add quizzes, puzzles and other interactive exercises to their books. In evaluations from SOM students, H5P was one of the most popular features of Pressbooks. SOM students frequently request practice problems and exercises. And, providing low stakes formative assessment is recognized as an important instructional practice. The H5P tool is found in the dashboard of a Pressbook when the H5P plugin is activated.
*Student scores of H5P exercises are currently not recorded. We may be able to add this feature in the future, depending on licensing fee. Contact us at SOMALT@uw.edu if this is something you would like the school to acquire.
Combine text, visuals and media
Pressbooks are a great way to assemble a variety of materials and media into a cohesive, easy to navigate unit. As noted above, Pressbooks themes will take care of chapter navigation. Authors can embed videos on book pages, placing videos in the context of text and interactive exercises. Illustrations, like statistical graphics or anatomical images, can be added as well. Combining materials in a Pressbook might help unclutter your Canvas pages. The Health Sciences Library can help authors find visuals from services licensed by the school.
Think about how and when to deliver the Pressbook for greatest impact
Don’t let your Pressbook become lost in the shuffle. Integrate the Pressbook with other course materials and add Pressbook links where they are most relevant. Consider adding a link on the Home page of your Canvas course, as well on pages of daily content. Explain to students how the Pressbook fits into the course, and your expectations for student use. Work with your course administrator to make sure it is appropriately linked on Canvas for all relevant days.
Make Pressbook Downloadable as a PDF
You can make your Pressbook available as a PDF. Students often request this as they use PDFs to annotate a text as they read. Follow the steps in this video to make your Pressbook PDF.
Want help? Contact Ceradwen Tokheim tokheim@uw.edu for help designing your Pressbook