Educators often rely on importing PDFs for digital assignments, worksheets, and instructional materials, but static PDFs present challenges for differentiation and engagement.
Whether through annotation with the pen tools, cropping for differentiation, or adding audio/video responses, these features help meet the needs of diverse learners and support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.
Editing a PDF
After a PDF is imported into Book Creator, it will actually be converted into an image. You can annotate a PDF in Book Creator using the drawing tools. Just select the PDF then click on the Pencil icon in the top right to open up the editing tools.
Once the Pencil icon is selected, the canvas to edit the PDF will appear (if you've used the Pen tool before, this will be familiar to you).
When editing a PDF, you can:
Highlight key information to focus student attention
Underline or circle important vocabulary or instructions
Fill in sections directly on the PDF with digital ink or add emojis
Erase parts of the PDF that are not needed
Note: Using the pencil icon on the PDF to edit will only edit the PDF (image). It will not edit the page itself.
You can always make changes by opening up the PDF again.
Cropping a PDF
You can crop the PDF by selecting the Inspector (i) button or by right-clicking and choosing Crop from the menu.
By cropping PDFs into smaller sections, it makes it easier to:
Present students with one direction or problem at a time if too much information causes overwhelm
Adapt worksheets for individualized learning needs, by focusing on specific sections for different student groups
Scaffold by breaking down complex assignments and supports into small chunks
Add Text-to-Speech (TTS) to PDFs
One of the most powerful accessibility features for PDFs is Text-to-Speech (TTS) support. After importing a PDF into Book Creator, select the PDF on the page and either click the inspector (i) button or right-click and select Scan for text to allow the text on a PDF to be read aloud.
With this feature, students can:
Hear the text read aloud while following along
See the words highlighted in real-time, reinforcing word recognition and comprehension
Adjust the reading speed and voice for personalized support
Add Video and Audio to PDFs
You can add video and audio onto a PDF in the same way you add it into a book. Simply click on the + button then select Camera (to take an image or video) or Record (to record your voice).
Note: The first time you use these features, you will need to allow Book Creator to access your device's camera and microphone and select how often to prompt you.
Encourage multimodal learning using video or audio to:
Record audio responses: perfect for early readers, language learners, or students with writing difficulties
Use video responses to explain thinking, demonstrate a skill, or provide verbal reflections
Add transcripts and captions to your audio or video to support language acquisition, translations, or fluency
Empowering All Learners with Accessible PDFs
By leveraging these tools in Book Creator, educators can transform traditional PDFs into dynamic, inclusive resources. Whether students need visual supports, differentiated instruction, or multimodal ways to demonstrate their learning, these built-in accessibility features ensure every learner has access to the content like never before!