What is it and how do you use it?
Mystorybook is a web 2.0 tool that allows students to create engaging picture books online using a simple click and drop interface. The service is free to use and you only need to create a username and password to make an account (making an account allows you to save your books and share them with others). A book can have as many pages as you want and there is no limit to how many books you can create. You can use the clipart included on the tool or you can add your own pictures from your computer. When you save a book you have the ability to publish it online (meaning anyone can access it and edit their own version of the story on their account, share it with others via URL (you can decide if it is public or private) or print it out.
One of the benefits of using this site is that it is very easy to use, and can be accessed on any Internet-enabled device (smartphones, tablets, laptops etc.). There is no software to install and there are no outside ads that can be distracting to students. While the tool allows you to make picture books that does not mean that this site should only be used by elementary students. The books you create can be simple or complex and therefore can be used by students of all ages. Older students could create their own accounts, or the teacher can create a class account with the same username and password for everyone. This tool will allow multiple logins from multiple machines at the same time.
Classroom ideas
- Use this site as a prereading, during reading or after reading activity to assess prior and learned knowledge.
- Students can use this site to create their own study guides.
- As an alternative to PowerPoint, have students create a nonfiction story about a historical person, or event.
- If you have access to an LCD projector, you could create your own stories and share them with your class as a whole class activity.
- Create a new book as a story starter and have students come up with their own endings to the story. ( Publish it first then allow students to edit the story. When they edit it, they get a copy of the story on their account, so you still get to keep your original copy.)
- Create a flipped classroom environment by creating a book and having students access it via url on their own devices at home.
- Make books as a way to make electronic portfolios to showcase students’ work
- Make books of vocabulary/spelling words