Big+Universe

=[|Big Universe]=

**Resources**

 * [|Overview of Big Universe]

**Strengths**

 * Access a large number of books online
 * Ability to read books published by other children
 * Followis assists students trying to reach Accelerated Reader (AR) goals
 * Books can be projected on screens (whiteboards) during lessons
 * Easy to use browse and search features to locate books by grade, reading level, topic interest, category, and/or language.
 * Parents, students, and teachers have 24/7 instant access, anywhere-anytime to support consistency and communication from school to home.
 * Books available in 13 languages to support a multi-cultural classroom and/or ESL program.
 * Provides tour videos to efficiently teach users how to navigate and use the website.
 * Allows students and teachers to create, publish, and share books.
 * Helps students develop both core curriculum skills in reading and writing and technology skills such as:
 * Computer skills
 * Typing skills
 * Presentation skills
 * Pointer-mouse skills
 * The ability to create/manage virtual book clubs
 * Online sharing of student created materials
 * A search feature that allows students to discover new books
 * The ability for students/teachers to recommend books to each other

**Weaknesses**

 * You have to pay for unlimited access (only partial books and a limit of 5 created books for free)
 * Home subscription for $70
 * Classroom subscription $100
 * Whole school subscription $1000
 * There is no audio to accompany books (for younger students) *update- a few books have audio*
 * Some books have small print that is hard to read and the font size cannot be adjusted
 * What if you don't like Big Universe after a while and you want to put your book on your own blog?
 * Identity crisis: Site claims to be a progressive, organic, save the world type of establishment but is really a profit maker

**Opportunities**

 * Connecting to other students and classrooms around America and the world
 * Publishing student work online for many people to view
 * Connecting to other teachers online (members are noted as students or teachers)
 * Books are recommended (Members that read this book also read...)
 * Ability to turn off ads and links in premium membership

**Threats**

 * Must give out personal information (date of birth, etc...) to gain access to membership

**Ideas for the Classroom**

 * Allow students to connect to other students online by reading their work and recommend it for others in their class
 * Allow multiple options for publishing writing work, one option could be posting it on this website
 * Students critique other student work online to improve their own writing

Examples of Use in the Classroom

 * Students can create and publish an electronic book on a specific subject. Site has a variety of digital images (7,000 plus) to choose from as well as text fields with a variety of fonts, sizes and colors. They can also view books published by others (over 10,000 electronic books have been posted online for users to view)
 * Teacher can share and create customized picture books to cover specific information or address classroom issues.