eBooks

eBooks are treasure troves for learners and educators alike, integrating video, audio, and interactive assessments for real-time feedback.

Unlike static words on a page, eBooks defy the one-size-fits-all learning approach. Students can personalise their experience with searchable content, customisable text and built-in annotation tools for detailed note taking.

Automatic updates also mean learners can stay on top of subjects, while educators benefit from cost-efficient teaching and training tools.

Here’s how our ebooks have helped inspire learners across the world.

Irish eBook

Storytime for language learners, creating Irish language ebooks for juniors

The background

Gill Education, one of Ireland’s leading educational publishers asked us to create an eBook for young language learners aged 4 to 12 years old.

The goal was to show a clear link between spoken language and the written word, helping build vocabulary and linguistic understanding in young children.

The challenges

Developing multimodal content – eBooks needed several modes for interactive learning, appealing to both young learners and their parents, who might not have any previous knowledge of Irish.
Coordinating multidisciplinary teams – we had to juggle multiple talent teams including authors, language experts, graphic designers and sound studios, in addition to fitting in our own work as instructional design specialists.
Enabling advanced functionality – eBooks had to work on a range of devices to support teacher-led and at- home learning.

The solution

We developed a collection of interactive reader eBooks which focused on cementing the connection between spoken and written Irish in the minds of our target audience.

We did this by building four modes which children, parents and teachers could effortlessly switch between:

Read aloud – which simultaneously highlighted the written word with accompanying audio.
Extended reading – an extended version of the audio, introducing new vocabulary relevant to the specific language unit.
Read myself – for students who wanted to read along without audio.
A picture dictionary – images of key words along with an audio recording.

Each mode added a new layer of learning, supporting beginners, expanding their knowledge and embedding vocabulary.

Ecology eBook

Transforming print to digital, revitalising assets for an environmental non-profit

The background

We were asked to create an interactive work book to accompany and expand on the content in a printed guide called the Eco Student’s Guide to a Healthy School.

Our client was Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) based in Pittsburgh. The organisation is a non-profit that uses community-based initiatives and takes a scientific approach to address environmental risks affecting public health.

The challenges

Supporting platform integration – the eBook had to be fully compatible with existing platforms and would be hosted in an LMS integrated with the client’s WordPress site.
Enabling compliance – to meet SCORM standards, we needed to embed data tracking to record usage, including the time learners spend using the content and when it was accessed.
Transforming static content into dynamic content – we had to modify pre-existing printed content and make it fit for digital use.

The solution

We decided to create a series of interactive activities based on the printed textbook. This gave us the chance to revitalise existing material while sticking to the principles behind the original content. Designing a new suite of digital assets also gave us the freedom to expand on topics for deeper learning.

We made sure the digital reader was fully SCORM compliant and could be used across devices, including interactive whiteboards, tablets and handhelds.

CSPE eBook

Modelling best behaviour, digital assets for CSPE programmes

The background

Gill Education, one of Ireland’s leading educational publishers tasked us with creating digital assets to sit alongside printed content for a new Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) programme for students aged 12 to 15 years old.

The challenges

Keeping design consistency across assets – we had to maintain design consistency between physical and digital assets, while also adapting existing content for deeper learning.
Balancing file size and loading speed – the eBook needed to hold around 15 separate lessons (along with assessments and interactive activities), but also needed to be responsive and quick to load on different devices.
Monitoring responses and meeting compliance – we had to find a way to track and record student responses while complying with data protection regulations.

The solution

Partnering with the original textbook’s author, we transformed the existing static, printed exercises and added exclusive digital assets. Our new collection of lively and engaging activities could be used in class (projected onto screens or used on interactive whiteboards) and by students on mobile devices.

To meet compliance regulations, we cached student responses in user browsers instead of storing them within an LMS or centralised database.

ABOUT DESIGN R O W S

Learning never stops.

That’s why at DESIGN R O W S, we create and develop bespoke eLearning tools for everyone, from 3 to 103.

Our focus is simple – to design engaging content that learners actually remember. All our eLearning assets are designed entirely in-house, which means we can provide accessible and inclusive material that your organisation can scale and adapt to meet changing needs. We can also develop multilingual content with translations from English to a variety of languages including Irish, French and German.

Because we tailor our eLearning content, we’ve helped a whole host of people retain the knowledge they need to work well and learn well. But if we had to choose, our areas of expertise include education (particularly within the Irish education sector), health and safety, logistics, and technology.

DESIGN R O W S founder Shannagh Rowland, has been crafting eLearning content for global audiences for nearly a decade. Formerly the principal instructional designer at Ireland’s leading educational publisher, Gill Education, Shannagh is also a graduate of New York University and Trinity College Dublin.