This summer Connexions development team is hard at work developing a mobile version for all of the Connexions collections. These new mobile versions will significantly increase access to all content in the repository by providing an easy to use, standards-based, mobile-reader format, called EPUB. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation generously awarded us a specific grant to develop an EPUB export for Connexions content this summer. Students, teachers, and independent learners will have access to Connexions content on their mobile devices this fall.
EPUB is supported by the major mobile devices and e-book readers including Apple's iPad and iPhone, Sony’s eReader, and enTourage’s eDGe. EPUB books can also be read offline on notepads and laptops and the EPUB format is used by accessibility services that enhance content for use by individuals needing assistive technologies for reading. Creating a Connexions EPUB export will provide a complete and robust mobile reading experience for the growing collection of open textbooks and university press publications in Connexions. Students will be able to read their textbooks from anywhere, vastly increasing the marketing, awareness, availability, and use of open textbooks.
When the development is complete we will announce the mobile versions on this blog and at cnx.org.
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I think this will vastly increase the viability of the Connexions platform.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great idea for Connexions to jump right into the mobile arena with the popularity of e-books and the high usage of cell phones. The popularity of phones as mini-computers is all the rage. The Connexions’ content will increase access to many more users and especially those on the go. It will also appeal to a younger demographic such as the typical college student who is more than likely the perfect person to use the Connexions site. It will probably also help ease the weight of their backpacks as they can access their textbook on their phone rather than carry the big books around. As an educator, it will make my life easier as well so I can access the material to preview before a lesson. However, I would more than likely still access the material from a standard computer because although semi-tech savvy I don’t like reading things off my phone.
ReplyDelete