Introduction
Welcome to the SPSCC’s PressBooks tutorial. This will teach you everything you need to know to build your very own PressBooks easily.
You can also consult the official PressBooks Users Guide directly if you are eager to start hacking on your own.
What is PressBooks?
PressBooks is an online publishing tool that makes it easy for you to generate clean, properly formatted books.
PressBooks enables you to author and create your own textbook. You organize the book as you wish. Type in your text. Edit at will. Add pictures, drawings, illustrations, even videos, where appropriate. Re-organize the contents to satisfy your mind’s eye. Satisfied with the final look, hit “Publish” and you are done. You are now the author of your own book that you have tailor-made to your own unique audience!
PressBook is built on WordPress and is open-source.
How to use this tutorial
You will need basic familiarity with word processing software–Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, for examples–to understand PressBooks.
As you progress through this tutorial, you will be presented with step-by-step instructions designed to uncover new features. Later instructions are built on the knowledge gained in earlier ones, so it is advisable for you to proceed from the beginning to the end.
Useful Resources
What do you want to include in your PressBooks?
If you need inspiration for content, please visit B.C. Open Collection by BCcampus for a treasure trove of Creative Commons licensed, freely downloadable books.
How are other colleges and universities using PressBooks?
Check out the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s OER Activity Sourcebook, a very well done interactive resources guide.
What does a published PressBooks look like?
Check out the PressBooks Directory for publications covering a number of academic disciplines. Healthcare, for example.
SPSCC’s own
The South Puget Sound Community College has an inhouse resource person for PressBooks. Faculty and staff of the institution are welcome to contact Ryer Banta for help with PressBooks.
