Pressbooks is an authoring tool for creating eBooks.  Pressbook eBooks can take many forms and functions just like print books.  To illustrate this, consider how different types of books and how their function is expressed in how they are formatted, for example: an English to Spanish dictionary, a novel, a user manual, and a textbook. Each of these is still a book, but has different features, structure, and intended use.  Just like a print book, Pressbooks can take many forms and functions.  As you make your Pressbook, consider how you can structure it and use the different features to support its intended use.

H5P is a tool you can use within Pressbooks to create interactive elements that students can use to test and enhance their learning.  Some examples are interactive videos, drag and drop, type in answer, and multiple choice questions.  Student response to H5P exercises has been overwhelmingly positive.

We are encouraging faculty to become familiar with Pressbooks and H5P, and consider whether these platforms support their goals for content organization and delivery. The best opportunities will be ones that take advantage of the interactive and integrative benefits of the platforms. At this time, we are not recommending conversion of standard course pack (aka “syllabus”) material to Pressbooks unless it would address specific goals faculty have set for curriculum improvement. Staff are available for consultation, design and training, but faculty would need to be responsible for most of the work of populating content.

Pressbooks currently in use at SOM

Pressbooks are currently used in many Blocks, Threads, and Themes.  Below is a partial list.  If a password is required, contact us (somalt@uw.edu) or the Pressbook author.

Human Form and Function Laboratory Manual: An Interactive Guide to Anatomy (password required)
by Zachary Gallaher
This guide was developed in part to give students a virtual lab experience if they could not attend in person.  Many students appreciated the manual and how it was structured when it came time to study for exams.  The interactive elements made with the tool H5P gives students a chance to test their knowledge and check to see how ready they are for the exam.

MBB Pressbook: Neuroanatomy Lab Simulations  (password required)
by Kate Mulligan
MBB’s Neuroanatomy Pressbook is composed of UW and curated external videos, text, and interactive exercises “aimed at creating online Neuroanatomy Lab simulations.” Videos are often annotated with bookmarks of anatomical features.

There are ample H5P interactive exercises for students to test their learning, practice, and engage in active learning.

Foundations in Clinical Medicine  
by WWAMI faculty (led by Karen McDonough)
Starting for Fall 2021, FCM is using Pressbooks for their text.  This is a collaborative text, with faculty from across WWAMI contributing chapters.  This resource will focus on content (text and multimedia) though they may use some interactive elements (H5P).

Physiology (FMR)  
by Charles Asbury, Fred Rieke, Bertil Hille, Mark Bothwell, and John Tuthill

Biochemistry (FMR)  
by Max Kullberg, Peter Fuerst

Molecular Biology (FMR)  
by Alexey Merz, Timothy Cherry, Pam Langer, and Max Kullberg

Genetics (FMR) 
by Marshall Horowitz