A number of schools around the world have temporarily closed because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and will need to rely on remote technology to continue learning.
Luckily, there are lots of edtech tools out there to help with that, and with Book Creator online you can bring creativity to your homes (not just your classrooms!).
So, we’re supporting you in numerous ways.
- Free collaboration upgrade
- Guidance for setting up home learning (teachers/parents)
- Daily webinars
- Remote learning ideas
- Inspiration from homes around the world
Firstly, we’d like to offer everyone the ability to collaborate together on books in real-time. This is a premium feature that is usually only available with a paid subscription, but we’re offering 90 days free use of this tool, to help keep students and teachers connected.
Free collaboration upgrade
To claim your free collaboration upgrade, you’ll need to:
- Sign into your Book Creator account. If you don’t have an account yet, create one and we’ll give you 1 library and 40 books for free.
- Start your collaboration trial on your account – you’ll automatically get 90 days free.
How Book Creator can help with remote learning
NEW: We now have a dedicated Remote Learning hub.
Read this Guidance for home learning – how teachers can help parents to get their children signed into Book Creator at home.
Daily webinars – join Jon Smith for daily webinars on using Book Creator for home learning, and simple getting started with Book Creator sessions. These are informal – drop in and ask Jon anything.
Use the calendar below to find a time that suits you. Make sure to register using the link for each event.
If you’re unable to make any of the dates above, you can view a recording of the Home Learning with Book Creator webinar from 26th March.
Book Creator can be used in any subject, with any grade level. So you should focus on assignments that allow the student to get creative and demonstrate their understanding. This could literally be anything you’ve been working on in class!
If you’re looking for a range of lesson ideas – start with our Resources hub:
You may also want to look at example books that other students have made:
- Elementary (age 5 to 9) examples
- Middle School (age 10 to 12) examples
- High School (age 13 to 18) examples
Focus on taking current projects that students have been working on and getting them to create a book – a digital version of what they may have done in an exercise book had they been in school! This could be a journal, a report, a story retell, poetry – you name it. Have students write but also record their voice, add video and images to their books and be as creative as possible.
Work collaboratively
Take advantage of your free real-time collaboration upgrade by setting tasks that involve students working on the same book at the same time. This could be a class book that you’ve been working on already, or if you’re looking for ideas, why not compose a daily journal so students can keep tabs on what everyone else has been doing each day? Or you could take part in the latest #TWIMA (The World is My Audience) project with Jon Smith. The current project is ‘Traditions’, and details can be found in this Google Doc.
Keep good communication
Student books will appear directly on your bookshelf, so there’s no need for students to go through a complicated turn-in procedure. (Tip: you can decide whether or not students can see each other’s books).
Communicate with your students by recording audio hotspots with feedback on their work to correct and guide them.
Boost motivation by sharing work
As kids work on their books from the comfort of their home, help them feel even more motivated and engaged by sharing their books beyond your library. You can publish individual books (or even a whole library) online with ease – showcase great work on your class blog or school website, on social media and beyond. Students will be even more engaged if they know the books they are creating will be seen by a wide audience. Everyone loves to be a published author!
Share your ideas
Do you have any other ideas for activities or lesson plans that work well for remote learners? Please share your ideas in the comments below so the whole community can benefit. Thanks!
Dan Kemp is Tools for School’s Marketing & Community Manager. He spends his time spreading the word about Book Creator and supporting people who use it.
28 Comments on “Support for schools affected by Coronavirus”
such a pity that all the local schools and international schools in China cannot access Book Creator without a vpn, since it is hosted by Google. I can only create a book with the vpn on, but then students in China cannot view the book without a vpn, which means they can”t create as well.
Very disappointed 😔
That’s true, it’s a shame. You can however use Book Creator for iPad (which is also in Chinese). You can use this app offline.
Just wanted to send an enormous thank you for this generous move. We anticipate long school closures here in Seattle, and online learning will not be offered by the district. So a big thanks for this show of support and solidarity as we all get through this together.
Super excited to check these resources out during this time! FYI the science resources link takes you to the mathematics page.
Thanks Jill! Fixed now.
I teach an ed technology course to pre-service teachers at the University of Portland. Will your generous “Free collaboration upgrade” apply to higher ed?
Yes – have them sign in as teachers and follow the procedure above.
I have a 3rd grader that needs grade level reading material.
Our school is already using Book Creator and we love it! Thank you so much for the access to this premium feature! However, we have already maxed the number of books in our class library (limited to 40 books) in order to create more. Is there a way that extra books can be added to the library especially during this time?
That’s a good question. Perhaps in future. For now, please realise that you can delete books, combine them, or even archive the whole library and start again.
Is a credit card needed for the free trial? We are sharing with our school families, many don’t have the ability to add a card.
Hi Nicola – no credit card needed. You can just sign in and then start the free collaboration trial using the guidance above.
My son is trying to sign up but it says he needs a teacher code to join. Is there a code we should use for access? Thanks!
Hi Courtney – yes, you’ll need his teacher to sign in and create a library first. Full guidance here: https://intercom.help/bookcreator/en/articles/3803412-guidance-for-home-learning
This is awesome! How do you do it if you have to create an account? It asks for a code from your teacher.
Hi, we do need a teacher to sign in first – you can’t create your own accounts for home use. The alternative we offer here is our Book Creator for iPad app, which can be used offline and doesn’t require sign-in.
Hi Dan
Last week I already wrote to you about the 3 file templates, in terms of format. Got a clear answer there. I have purchased the BookCreator app and have read a lot on your site.
Lots of info. Also read the Rosey McQuillian ebook and put it on my iPad via embedding.
I also wrote to her and compliments about this clear book.
My question. I have now written and illustrated a children’s book. It is available via publish on MY library.
I am very proud of that. I want to offer it for free on the net. Because here in the Netherlands all schools are also closed. Children work at home.
My 7-year-old grandson would also like to read this booklet.
Tried how that goes with the Google Drive video, but it doesn’t work. Also very different for me. Dan, can you help me what I can do.
I am on Facebook, have a weekly blog http://www.friendsonwings.nl
Unfortunately a very old Mac G5 where I don’t have access to login to iTunes. I do everything on my iPad Air, version 12.5.3
If you can help me very much. Because I would like to continue with this.
With best regards
Volkert Waalkens
Hi Vokert – you’ll need to export it as an ePub file. Here’s how you do that: https://support.bookcreator.com/hc/en-us/sections/200703001-Sharing-your-book-as-an-ePub
I created this book to help students with appropriate etiquette when in a video chat.
https://read.bookcreator.com/rsMJQJBTc1M0HnPZmNVWmV4eud23/uxmKx9OSQfupq18-KuVu2Q
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Dan,
It’s very difficult to find out how to register or sign up on you website for the free trial, Please direct me
Jo
Hi Jo – if you’re a teacher, first you need to create a free account at app.bookcreator.com. Then you can activate the free trial inside the app.
Hi,
I have a student that is getting a message the her device is not supported by Book Creator, but she is on her Chromebook like the rest of my students. I teach writing to 100 students and she is the only one that has had this problem. Can you offer any suggestions? Thanks!
Madeline
Hi Madeline. It may be that she needs to change the zoom setting in Chrome, or remove the Bookmark toolbar.
Hi,
Maybe I am wrong but some days ago I saw a special offer due to the coronavirus situation:
During 90 days I could have 3 libraries with 40 or 60 books on it, but I cannot find it anymore.
Is it no longer available? The important thing for me is having 3 libraries, not the number of books.
Thanks.
Hi Mary, the offer is for real-time collaboration, not for more books or libraries. If you need more, you can upgrade your subscription for $5 per month, and cancel at any time.
Hello!
My 3rd graders and I love Book Creator! I see that you are offering a free trial so that I can access the collaboration tools. Can you help me activate my free trial and unlock the collaboration tools?
Hi Nichole – here’s how you do it.