Beyond Text: Elevating Learning with Interactive Activities in eBooks

The eBook of today looks significantly different from the static PDF eBooks that were designed as digital replicas of physical textbooks. Advances in technology have changed the way consumers engage with eBooks; they have made the experience interactive. 

Hence, contemporary interactive eBooks are a suitable tool to support learners in absorbing and retaining knowledge effectively. For instance, by introducing more interactive features in eBooks, higher education publishers can pave the way for learners to engage in learning activities that enable them to learn, practice, and revise their learning in an engaging manner. 

As interactive eBooks capture learner imagination, higher education publishers need to upgrade the way they conceptualize and publish eBooks to keep pace with learner expectations. For instance, the use of a cloud-based digital textbook publishing platform such as KITABOO enables publishers to introduce interactive features, at scale, into their content and business strategy.  

In this blog, we outline how higher education publishers can transform their eBooks vertical to achieve this goal. 

Table of Contents:

I. What are Learning Activities? 

II. Learning Activities in the Context of eBooks 

III. Examples of eBook Learning Activities 

• Watching and Learning 
• AI-Powered Comprehension Activity
• Building Original Content 
• Playing With Diagrams and Images
• Conducting Pre-Lesson Research 
• Hosting Pronunciation Exercises 
• Learning with 3D Models 
• Taking Engaging Quizzes 
• Taking Personalized Assessments 
• Interacting with Useful Widgets

IV. The Conclusion

Learning activities refer to an interactive experience that nudges students to use their knowledge, imagination, and cognitive abilities meaningfully.

In the process, students also build additional skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills. They can apply knowledge to real-world situations and strengthen their understanding of theoretical concepts. 

Some traditional learning activities include debates, quizzes, and comprehension. The arrival of multimedia, gamification, and interactive learning is now nudging higher education publishers to weave learning activities into interactive eBooks.

The engagement model for physical textbooks tends to be static and passive. This approach, unfortunately, comes with several limitations. For instance, there is no scope for interactivity, which reduces motivation for self-learning. Learners with reading and visual challenges, among others, also face learning barriers. 

By introducing multimedia and interactive elements to eBooks, higher education publishers can open up many doors of opportunity for enhanced learning. They can offer engaging, accessible, and inclusive content which is relevant to a wider range of learners. 

Digital textbook publishing platform KITABOO, for instance, enables eBook to audiobook conversion in languages like Chinese, Arabic, and Indian regional languages. This can proactively address language barriers and address the needs of underserved learners. 

Here’s an example of related learning activities: students can access a mix of text and audio that enables them to enhance pronunciation skills and re-listen to retain knowledge. They can right-click on specific words to look up meanings and synonyms and enhance language proficiency.

By introducing interactive elements via smart interactive eBook design, higher learning publishers can facilitate a wide range of learning activities, such as:

eBooks published in the ePUB format support video content. Publishers can make video a key component of eBooks, breaking down challenging concepts with attractive visuals, sound, and animation. Learners can watch short videos on demand and enhance their knowledge, especially the fundamentals.

Interactive eBooks come with an audio component. While learners can listen to the books, thus upgrading the comprehension experience.

For instance, a student can listen to additional commentary on specific chapters. Students can also record their interpretation of the content and receive instant AI-generated feedback.

eBooks can come with worksheets, where students can write their thoughts, or interpret their learnings. In turn, teachers can review their work and provide relevant feedback.

Diagrams play an important role in subjects like Physics and Maths. Unlike physical textbooks, learners can enlarge diagrams on demand. Diagrams can also be hyperlinked with related information, facts, and explanations for quick understanding and retention.

Educators can design pre-lesson research assignments in the tradition of the flipped classroom, where students engage in self-study and build knowledge on a concept before it is taught.

The search feature of eBooks comes in handy, as students can find relevant information seamlessly and conduct thorough research before attending class. Hyperlinks to synonyms and additional commentary add value.

The audio feature of eBooks in multiple languages helps reduce language barriers while also helping learners enhance pronunciation skills. Advanced use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology helps learners record their pronunciations and receive instant feedback on their attempts.

Interactive eBooks today enable learners to view an image in 3D, giving it depth and spatial definition, which enhances the learning process. For instance, the solar system viewed in 3D helps in better retention of the planets, moons, and other aspects.

Creatively designed interactive quizzes at various junctures in an eBook can help learners test their knowledge and learn new facts. Quizzes can have multiple formats and be accompanied by videos, audio, and images to make them more engaging.

A dynamic assessment model is where the content and format of assessments keep changing to enable improved testing of knowledge. For instance, by leveraging a digital textbook publishing platform such as KITABOO, educators can design and add new assessments to eBooks seamlessly and quickly as learners progress in their studies.

Higher education publishers can embed a wide range of useful widgets to enhance the learning experience. A popular example is an image carousel, which allows learners to view images as a slideshow.

An interactive calculator is another example, which comes with embedded advanced calculators that can be leveraged in subjects such as Mathematics and accounting.

Interactive eBooks that facilitate learning activities will become a go-to for students pursuing higher education in the coming year. Hence, publishers must prepare to make a shift to interactive eTextbooks to stay relevant and competitive in a business landscape where multiple players are vying for market share.

Early investments in eBooks and digital publishing technology can help businesses get ahead of the curve in the higher education domain and offer more value to learners across all subjects and programs. 

Suppose your publishing company aims to create, publish, and distribute superior and effective higher education content. In that case, the digital textbook publishing platform KITABOO is geared with the right technology solutions to support your needs.

Leverage our cloud-based digital publishing platform, which is available as a licensed version (one-time buy) as well as a subscription model.

Get in touch with us to start a conversation.