Getting the most from the Norfolk ELS eBook Lending Platform! Norfolk ELS, November 2016

How do we define eBooks? Noun: An electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a computer or a specifically designed handheld device

How it works - the basics

To access the eBook library, visit: https://norfolksls.wheelers.co/ Each school has been given logins to distribute to students and staff, as you see fit. Please keep a list of who has which login, for your own reference.

Devices eBooks can be read on: Tablets (android, apple, windows & kindle fire) Smartphones (android and apple) Laptops, PCs and Macs Dedicated eReaders (e.g. kobo/nook/sony ereader – NOT kindle ereader) Interactive whiteboards

Loans Like print, eBooks can be borrowed by one user at a time The loan expires automatically after 3 weeks You can return your eBook early if you wish Students can borrow 1 eBook at a time

How do I read the eBook? On a desktop/laptop computer, you can: stream the eBook through the browser. On a tablet or smartphone, you can: stream the eBook through the browser OR use the ePlatform app

Reading eBooks through the browser

Visit: http://norfolksls.wheelers.co

Browse for eBooks On the Library tab, you can: Quick search by author, title or keyword Explore titles by category using the links

Accelerated Reader search Search by: Quiz number Points level Book level (enter a range to search by ZPD e.g. 3.5- 4.5) Combine Book Level with LY/MY/UP

Double click on a book jacket if you are interested in it Double click on a book jacket if you are interested in it. This takes you through to the eBook’s record:

If it is available to loan, you can borrow the title by logging in: (If a book is greyed out, that means it is on loan to another user. You may be able to reserve the title )

You will enter your NSIX details here

Single sign-on: SKIP EXTERNAL AUTHENTICATION then enter your details here (your username and password)

Click ‘Borrow Now’:

Click ‘Read Now’ to start streaming the eBook:

The eBook streams automatically in the browser: n.b. you need Internet Explorer 10 or higher, Firefox, Chrome or Safari

Use the Menu bar options to enhance your reading experience: Bookmarks: insert place holders and notes in your text – available whenever you read that title online Chapters: navigate quickly to another point in the text Account: return to your shelf on ePlatform to return your loan early, or to read a different borrowed title

Settings enables you to adjust: - typeface - font size - letter, word & line spacing - text justification - columns

Settings also enables you to change text background colour:

There are suggestions for Dyslexic settings and night reading:

Click ‘continue reading’ to apply changes:

Click or highlight on a word to reveal options:

‘Define’ provides a dictionary definition, including useful synonyms:

‘Search’ finds other places the word is used in the text:

‘Highlight’ lets you add notes:

The ‘Bookmarks’ page lists your notes, along with all of the quotes from the text that you highlighted: Your notes are available to you whenever you borrow that title, or you can Print Screen into Word for reference in between loans

Click on ‘Library’ to return the eBook early or borrow more books: Click here to find more books to borrow Click here to read another book you have on loan or that you’ve borrowed before Click here to return the loan early

Reading the eBook on another device To read the eBook on another device, simply visit the site, login and visit your Shelf to reopen your eBook. It will remember your settings and place:

Using the ePlatform app to read online and offline on a tablet or smartphone

Download the ePlatform app by searching for ‘ePlatform’ within your device’s app store.

Once installed, open the app and search for the eBook library by clicking on ‘Find your library’:

Search for ‘Norfolk ELS’. Select ‘Norfolk ELS’ when it comes up: Education Library Service This sets it as your home library – you won’t need to search for this again On school tablets, your IT manager will likely have already installed the app and selected this as the home library

This takes you to the school eBook library, where you can borrow an eBook, as normal:

Once you have borrowed an eBook, click ‘Read Now’, as normal:

The eBook will then launch automatically within the app for instant reading: All the text adaption features are the same as before

Press ‘home’ to return to the app’s home page where your eBook has automatically been saved for offline reading: This makes it easy to retrieve your eBook for continued reading

Class sets Most eBooks can only be read by one person at a time, unless we have multiple copies However, this limitation does not apply to any work that is now out of copyright (e.g. Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte sisters, Charles Darwin etc) These titles can be read freely by all with no limitations:

Why eBooks for leisure reading? Provides 24/7 access to resources Text adaption features make it far easier for dyslexic or struggling readers to access text Research suggests digital reading is particularly appealing to boys and less engaged readers The app locates a great book at the heart of students’ lives – their smartphone! The app makes it really easy for students to continue reading their eBook, and to quickly browse and borrow more

Why eBooks for classroom support? Staff can borrow eBooks and then use on the whiteboard for group discussion Use the features to enhance lessons e.g. Use different coloured highlights on the text to pick out key points; use notes feature to ask or answer key questions and to create a list of quotations/key learning points

How can you ensure its success? Mind map ideas how for how you could encourage eBook use in your school