Using Book Builder to Develop and Write Social Stories

Why should I use Book Builder?

Book Builder includes several features that will allow the author to enrich social stories by providing additional supports for understanding. Here are a few ideas:

• The glossary feature of book builder allows the author to provide vocabulary support embedded in the text of the story. This 'just-in-time' support minimizes loss of focus and engagement and helps students apply the new vocabulary word in context immediately. In addition, the glossary allows the author to include text, images and audio.  By providing multiple means of representation of content, bookbuilder allows the author to reach more students with diverse learning needs. 

• The Book Builder coaches can be scripted by the author to provide consistent 'just-in-time' support for readers when they are reading independently. Coaches can be used to provide different levels of supports. Additionally, parents and teachers who want to use the story in other settings can extend learning in a consistent way.

• The Book Builder animated coaches use synthetic speech. Synthetic speech often has poor prosody and so would not be a good model for students who are echolalic or who have problems with prosody (common in students on the autism spectrum). As an option to synthetic speech, Book Builder allows the author to upload a picture and to record a human voice as a coach. The picture could be of a teacher, parent or favorite toy to enhance engagement. By including the option for human voice, the student is provided with a model of correct prosody.
• A response area is also included in Book Builder for readers who are able to think reflectively and respond in writing. In this book, the response area can be used to take notes. Keep in mind that the book builder program will not save your notes. You will need to print the book out in order to save them.