The swfBook format exists for many reasons.
- Although many of the concepts students must master can be readily conveyed with words alone, some concepts are more effectively communicated using narrated animation (Mayer, 2001).
- Educators need an easy way to combine available media with their own comments, questions, hints and assignments.
- At swfBook, we look forward to a day when the readability of a bound book can be seamlessly combined with the interactive possibilities of the web. While the swfBook format is currently a long way from realizing that dream, it hopefully showcases the power of adding an interactive element to books and presentations. An eTextBook technology that lacks an interactive element is as far from the goal as an interactive textbook that can only be experienced online.
- Educators working in institutions that use Sakai as an LMS desperately need a tool that allows them to create what WebCT calls a 'Content Module', and Moodle calls a 'Lesson Module'. A swfBook provides many of the features of a 'Module', including navigation, quizzes and a glossary.
- Content developed or converted to swfBook is LMS neutral, and will continue to function no matter how many times a faculty member needs to switch from one system to another.
- A swfBook is not SCORM compliant. This can certainly be viewed as a negative, however, contrary to popular belief, standards compliant content can not always be transferred from one SCORM player to another. The system simply does not work as advertised, at least, not today.
References:
Mayer, R. E. (2001). Multimedia Learning. New York: Cambridge University Press.
