Last updated on October 26, 2023
Pressbooks is a content authoring and hosting platform that faculty, staff and students can use to create eTexts. Those eTexts can be viewed through a web browser, downloaded as a print-ready PDF, or exported as another digital-ready format (such as EPUB). Pressbooks integrates well with Canvas and includes a number of plugins that add interactivity to content authored in Pressbooks. Among others, these plugins include H5P, a question authoring plugin, and Hypothes.is, an annotation plugin. Pressbooks can also be used to author and host Open Educational Resources.
Pressbooks is part of the Learn@UW suite of learning technologies. More information about Pressbooks, updates, events and how to work with the Learn@UW–Madison learning technology consultants are available on the DoIT Academic Technology website.
Getting started
If you are affiliated with UW–Madison and would like to use Pressbooks, please email Learn@UW–Madison at learnuwsupport@doit.wisc.edu. Include your netid and a brief description of what your goals are with Pressbooks. Once you have an account, you can log in to Pressbooks.
Your account will be manually created. Your login will be your NetID, and the email associated with it will be the email listed for you in the UW–Madison directory. You will receive an email when your account is created which will include your username and a link to reset your password.
Pricing
Pressbooks is available at no cost.
Key features
- Easy-to-use interface for authoring, exporting, hosting, and distributing texts and other content
- Ability to embed images, video, and audio from Kaltura, YouTube and other sources
- H5P and Hypothes.is can be used to add powerful interactive elements to content
- Content authored in Pressbooks can be made publicly available or kept private
- Pressbooks content can be embedded directly into Canvas courses as ungraded module items
Support
The DoIT Help Desk provides instructors, staff and students with free tech support and troubleshooting help by phone at (608) 264-4357, email and chat. In-person support is also available at the DoIT Help Desk service desk in the Computer Sciences building. Visit helpdesk.wisc.edu for hours and more information.
Instructors and instructional staff can also request a consultation through the DoIT Help Desk. A DoIT AT consultant will help you select and use the right learning technology to improve student success. In addition, the Learn@UW KnowledgeBase offers helpful documents for instructors, course owners and students.