Enhanced Book: I Know Why You Run. (825 words).
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Name of Book |
Angel, K. (2018). I Know Why You Run. [mbook]. Australia: Typology Tech Retrieved from: Rakuten Kobo 2019
Image retrieved from Rakuten Kobo 2019. |
| Category of Resource | Enhanced Book: I Know Why You Run is reviewed as an enhanced book. The novel is described as a multimodal digital work (Angel, 2018), which requires technology for the complete reading experience (Lamb, 2011, p. 13). A digital work is defined by Bouchard and Heckmann (2012), as a work that is specifically designed for reading on a computer or tablet and it exploits some of the characteristics of interactivity and hypertext technology, in this case augmented reality. The text is linear in nature, however, requires the augmented clips to shape the full story (Bowler, Morris, Cheng, Al-Issa, Romine, & Leiberling, 2012, p35). I Know Why You Run was reviewed through the use of the Rakuten Kobo Book and the HP Reveal applications for Apple products, the book is also available as a traditional print book with readers using their device and the HP Reveal application. |
| Content Quality | Reading the text on screen required two devices to achieve a full reading experience as the multimodal applications were unable to be viewed from the device the book was being read from. An additional device was required to scan the in text images using the HP Reveal app and allow the clips to play, this was a disappointing revelation and lowered the content quality for the eBook as it was expected that the clips would play within the text. The book can be read as a traditional print book which would only require one device to scan the HP Reveal clips and would allow for a more simplified and less distracting reading experience. Reid (2016, p. 4) found that while the features and use of additional technological features may cause some distraction, the motivation to read is increased. |
| Value of digital affordances for the literature | I Know Why You Run features traditional print book chapters with the addition of multimodal triggers which contain short video clips of the characters in the novel, which are viewed through the HP Reveal application. There are also opportunities available for readers to create their own multimodal content to be uploaded and used. The value of this is that it is providing an additional plot within the story through the use of augmented reality which further motivates the reader. |
| Accessibility and reusability | The eBook of I know why you run is available to purchase through the Rakuten Kobo Books app and also as a physical book. Readers are required to download the HP Reveal app and enter a link which is provided in the Reading Instructions at the beginning of the book. The eBook and the traditional print book both have the same links which come to life from the page with the use of a device and the HP Reveal app. Readers need to have access to a device with the HP Reveal app in order to fully access this novel. Reading of the novel does not diminish its reusability. |
| Engagement of multiple literacies and learning styles | I Know Why You Run provides a new way of engaging with fictional stories through the incorporation of augmented reality clips. The author included the clips to engage young adults in reading long form fiction (Taylor, 2018). |
| Possibility for feedback and/or adaptation | The book does offer some possibility for feedback and adaptation as the reader is encouraged to create their own multimodal content through the HP Reveal app. This provides opportunities for students to use the technology within their own creative writing to meet the multimodal presentation requirements for the Stage 6 English Standard school based assessment requirements. (NESA, 2018, p. 6-7). |
| Intrinsic motivation of the digital environment for users | Bowler et al (2012, p. 35) found that stories spread across platforms provide a deeper reading experience than a one dimension printed book, by including the technology young adults would be more motivated to experience this book. The technology used throughout the text was included by the author to motivate and engage digital natives within the story, using technology they access everyday on their devices (Taylor, 2018). |
| Presentation design – Intelligently designed (Intuitive, flexible and customisable) | The presentation of the eBook through the KoboBooks app is not as intuitive as the ePlatform by Wheelers app. The table of contents lists ‘Start’ (Angel, 2018) only, which makes it difficult for the user to move between chapters and if you begin reading another book through the app, it returns to the start of the book. While there are tools to change font size, highlight and bookmark they are also more difficult to use than other eBook applications and are not as user friendly as other reading applications, this therefore detracts from the reading experience. |
| Interaction and enjoyability | The interactivity of using HP Reveal does provide an interesting addition to the novel, however the clips are only very short and the first clip does not occur until chapter 4. While Bowler et al (2012, p. 46) discussed that fiction which uses various platforms as part of the experience may provide a richer story experience, the interactivity process in I Know Why You Run was somewhat disappointing. |
| Alignment with curriculum or program purpose | I Know Why You Run would be suited to Stage 6 English Standard students; to assist in their study of a complex multimodal or digital text in Module A. (NESA 2018). |
References
Angel, K. (2018). I Know Why You Run. [mbook]. Australia: Typology Tech.
Bourchardon, S. & Heckman, D. (2012). Digital manipulability and digital literature. Electronic Book Review Retrieved from http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/electropoetics/heuristic
Bowler, L., Morris, R., Cheng, I., Al-Issa, R., Romine, B., & Leiberling, L. (2012). Multimodal stories: LIS students explore reading, literacy, and library service through the lens of the 39 clues. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 53(1), 32-48. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/23249095
Lamb, A. (2011). Reading redefined for a transmedia universe. Learning and leading with technology, 39(3), 12-17. Retrieved from
http://ezproxy.csu.edu.au/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=67371172&site=ehost-live
NSW Education Standards Authority. (2018). English standard stage 6 syllabus. Retrieved from NSW Education Standards Authority website: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/stage-6-learning-areas/stage-6-english/english-standard-2017
Reid, C. (2016). eBooks and print books can have different affects on literacy comprehension. Education Masters. Retrieved from https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1329&context=education_ETD_masters
Taylor, A. (2018, September 16). ‘Technology can bring books alive’: Harry Potter inspires novel with moving images. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/technology-can-bring-books-alive-harry-potter-inspires-novel-with-moving-images-20180915-p50407.html