iBook Author

My culminating project this year for Anatomy was to have my students use iBooks Author to create class books on topics of their choice.  I figured I would need to teach myself how to use iBooks Author in case they had questions so I wrote a short book.  I wasn't planning on publishing it, but it was actually kind of fun so I finished it.  

I shared 7 projects that we did in class this year, the rubrics, and some student examples. You can download iPads in Life Science from iBooks .     

My students created books on topics from how to have a healthy pregnancy to how to not gain the freshman 15 when they go off to college next year.  They had 1-2 editors for the class book and other students were assigned jobs as page writers, illustrators, design and layout, etc.  Based on their reflections after publication, next year if I repeat this project, I will have smaller groups and more clearly defined job roles so the work is more evenly distributed.  

Here are some examples:

Gabby's Book - My Developing Baby
This book covers how babies develop during the three trimesters and how to make sure you have a healthy pregnancy.  They drew all the images in this book on their iPad.

Emma's Book - College 101
This book covers how to stay healthy your first year of college and avoid gaining the "freshman fifteen".

Stacey's book - How To Handle Your Pregnancy
Tips on a healthy pregnancy.

Coding in Science

One option for my final project in Anatomy and Physiology was to actually code for this App-E-Feat contest.  I had all students come up with ideas for this contest, but the coding was optional.   I was surprised at how many students chose coding for their project, as there were easier options.   I was actually more surprised by how many of them did not want to submit their final product to the contest because they wanted to continue working on it over the summer to try to develop it themselves. Watching them learn to code was really amazing and I was really impressed with how quickly they learned it.

I have not shared the apps for the students who are still working, as they wanted to keep them private until they are ready - but the ideas are so outstanding!  Others however, were fine to share their apps and enter the contest, so here are a few of their ideas in our class portfolio.

Class Portfolio - There is an App for That?

Special thanks to Gail Ross-McBride for sharing this contest!