Ed Tech by Bowman
DR. B'S ED TECH BLOG

January 1, 2011 

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

My goal this year is to have at least a couple entries to this blog each week. Please your questions and comments Let's begin!.

EASY FILE CREATION FOR KINDLES (I)

A number of educators have been discussing how to use mobile devices, such as e-book readers, in their classrooms. (I would like to use the broader category of "use with a class" because this does not limit the discussion to only how such devices are used in a particular room) So for the next few days, I will be giving some how-to guidance on making files that can be downloaded by students to their e-readers and read anywhere they take their mobile devices. Much of what I report for the Kindle will be applicable with a bit of trial-and-error with other e-readers.

TEXT FILES FOR THE KINDLE

The simplest way to create a file that can be transferred to and read on a Kindle is to generate a text file. 

A. Create the Text File

Try opening a Word document or other word processing file, such as a syllabus, in its associated program and save it as a text file. On a Windows computer make certain that the extension is ".txt" so that Kindle will recognize it immediately. Or you may open up your favorite word processing program and begin from scratch to create a document.

HINT #!: The only formatting that can be done with a plane text document is: using spaces instead of tabs and using all caps or double quotation marks to set off words or phrases that should be highlighted. 

HINT #2: Nothing should be centered by trying to use spaces since each user will be selecting their own font size on their particular device.

HINT #3: To enhance readability, skip a line between each paragraph and indent each paragraph with five spaces (an old typewriter format; anyone remember that?).

HINT #4: If your original had tables, then you must use spaces to try and get a similar formatting, but for those users who use large-sized fonts, do not make your lines too long or they will wrap in the e-reader and destroy your careful formatting.

So after you have saved your file as a text file, open it in a plain text editor (for example Notepad in Windows) and adjust it to make it more readable as the hints above suggest.

Finally, save it to your web site or into your course in your course management system, such as Moodle.

B. Load the File unto a Kindle

Most Kindle users will never have placed a file on their Kindle from their PC, so you may want to share these quick instruction with your students or give them a link to this page.

1. Download the file from the web to a folder on your PC.

2. Use the micro-USB cable provided with your Kindle e-reader to connect the PC to the Kindle. (While I do not have a Kindle Fire, my understanding is that all users must buy their  own at Amazon, or use one that they already have from another product.)

3. Turn on the Kindle, if it did not start up automatically, and wait for your PC to ask you what to do with the new device that is now connected. Select the option "Open folder to view files."

4. Then double-click on the Documents folder to open it. Even if you have used "collection" (folders) on your Kindle, they will not show up that way in the "documents" folder. All files are dumped together in this folder. Do nothing with the files already in that folder.

5. Go to the folder on your PC where you have placed the file you wish to upload to your Kindle. Copy it. Move to the Kindle "documents" folder and paste it into that folder.

6. Finally go to the Computer icon on your PC, and you will see your Kindle listed as one of the storage devices. Right-click on the icon for your Kindle, and select "Safely Remove." When a message pops up telling you "Safe to Remove Hardware," simply disconnect your Kindle from the USB cable. Wait until your Kindle goes back to its normal mode, and you will be ready to locate the file in your Home menu and read it.

7. HINT: After loading the file into your Kindle, best practice would be to create a "collection" for each course and place all materials into their appropriate course folder.

My plans are to have syllabi and other course materials for my spring semester in both web-ready format and e-reader format. Give it a try and let me know what you found. Next time I will discuss making PDF files for e-readers.

--©2012, Richard L. Bowman