5.1 Meaningful Student Interaction with H5P
H5P is an open source plug-in that allows users to create interactive content in an existing authoring platform, through a WordPress site, a Pressbooks site, or through an LTI with a Learning Management System (Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, etc.).
H5P is important for equity-minded learning design because it allows students to engage more deeply in course concepts and to test their own comprehension of course materials in a low-stakes environment.
H5P allows authors and instructors to include answer feedback to guide students in further study and review. In this way, when a student completes H5P interactives and receives substantive answer feedback, students can gauge their focus in the course materials and feel connected to their instructor.
Pressbooks Directory allows users to filter by H5P Activities. This is a great way to see how other instructors have incorporated H5P interactives into open textbook and course content.
eCampusOntario H5P Studio allows users to search existing H5P by keyword, subject, or question type. Many of these examples are openly licensed and can be adapted for your course.
H5P Kitchen is an open community space with guides, examples, reflections, and shared H5P projects. The space is not currently that active, but the collection of resources is great.
Why create H5P?
There are some powerful reasons to create H5P for our open textbooks:
- Help students achieve chapter learning objectives. Each interactive will deepen a student’s understanding of the key terms, skills, or concepts that guide the chapter. Each interactive should have a clear relationship with at least one chapter learning objective (often more than one!).
- Give students more opportunities to check comprehension. Learner interaction, discovery, and agency allow students to shift from passive to active learners. Interactives in the text reinforce and interleave content, supporting new learning pathways.
- Increase the relevance and overall appeal of the Pressbook. Future educators and adopters look for built-in student interaction. Because many students print the Pressbook or download to read offline, we want to include the text of quiz questions and answers in the PB.
How do I help create H5P?
As course pilot instructors, you play an important role in drafting H5P that aligns with chapter content and draws from existing course activities. You can help to identify opportunities to reinforce concepts and skills by brainstorming interactives that incorporate keywords, learning verbs, and skills described in chapter learning objectives.
Review your textbook chapters for ideas for new H5P. Check our list of accessible content types and accessible behavioral settings below as your guide (see below). You can draft H5P ideas in your H5P Drafting document in your course pilot folder. Your ID can help you to build them into the Pressbook prior to the start of your pilot term.
If you feel comfortable creating H5P in the Pre