The Latest from VisiBooks

Text Books For Open Office Are Now Available
Visibooks has published textbooks for Open Office 2.0. There are 4 books - Base 2.0, Calc 2.0. Impress 2.0 and Writer 2.0. These books use small projects (many can be downloaded from their website) to give you step by step instructions on how to use each of the programs. When a concept needs to be explained - such as elements of a databse - you get simple, precise explanations that are easy to understand and remember.
Visibooks were written as a part of a U.S. Department of Education research study. The purpose of this study was "to develop a prototype textbook that makes it easier for students with learning disabilities and low English proficiency to learn computer subjects". Using an Illustration Based Approach to Learning, Visibooks has made it easy to teach almost any age group how to use computer programs.
The website will allow you to download the first 50 pages of either books. Since I have always avoided databases - never could find the "right" book to learn from - I decided to give Base 2.0 a try. I went through the first section "Database Basics" in about an hour or so. After doing that section, I found it easier to understand the basic database concept and the mechanics of the program. I could easily see my self using these books in a classroom setting.
Visibooks carries many more titles than Open Office - titles such as Windows XP, Linspire Five-O, PHP Basics, Photoshop CS2 and many more.. Books are offered in book format ($24.95) and electronic format ($4.95 per seat). It has been a long time since I have seen text books for that price. Thanks, Visibooks! - Fran



