Education – Octavo Blog

1st January 202411th January 2024

What happened to my Maltese oBooks?

Some years ago, the collaboration between Octavo and the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta partnered to provide thousands of students the oBooks of the Qari għal Qalbi collection for free.

However, if you are a student or a teacher in Malta, is quite likely that you noticed a notable absence in your library: all the oBooks of this collection.

Unfortunately, the Ministry has decided not to continue with this partnership going forward, and hence the oBooks are no longer available in the user accounts of the students that read them hundreds of thousands of hours collectively.

However, the collection is still available in the platform if you want to add them to your account and keep them without time limitation. Getting this content again, will not only bring back the content, but your statistics, notes, voice recordings and exercise results.

21st November 202321st November 2023

What are Interactive oBooks?

Developing a love for reading is one of the most exciting parts of a child’s educational development, which opens them up to a new world of literary possibilities. From getting immersed in fantastic fictional stories to learning about the ways of the world with interesting non-fiction books, there are endless texts just waiting to be discovered.

With Octavo, the first digital reading platform with Maltese fonts, young readers can enjoy reading in a way that goes beyond the traditional format of text and images. Octavo’s interactive ‘oBooks’ make use of different elements to engage readers in a more dynamic and immersive reading experience. These interactive features can also help children to gain a deeper understanding of the text through educational exercises.

Through a diverse range of collections of educational oBooks, readers can experience a wide range of different interactive features while engaging with a story. These include:

Audio Content and Voice Self-recording:

Octavo uses audio to enhance the storytelling experience, giving readers the option to listen to different sections of their oBook being read out loud. This feature can also help readers to develop a better grasp of the pronunciation of different words. Readers can then record their own reading to practice the pronunciation themselves.

Quizzes and Assessments:

Through interactive questions and assessments embedded within the oBook, readers can test their own understanding of the content that they’re engaging with. This can also help teachers to understand their students’ progress, as results will show up on the individual’s reading profile which can be accessed by teachers assigned permission by their school.

Text Highlighting and Bookmarks:

While reading on Octavo, you can highlight text, add bookmarks or make annotations directly within the text.

Interactive digital books are particularly popular in educational materials, children’s books, and non-fiction genres where visual aids and engagement can enhance the learning experience. They leverage the capabilities of digital platforms to create a more dynamic and personalised reading journey for users.

Have you tried any of Octavo’s interactive features?

Head to Octavo to start reading!

17th July 202317th August 2023

Summer Reading: Why Children Can Benefit from Reading over the Holidays

Summers in Malta are long, and there’s plenty of time to plan fun activities that give children and parents a well-deserved break. The summer holidays are a time for rest, recreation, and adventure, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for parents and caregivers to encourage one of the most enriching activities for young minds: reading.

While reading may seem like ‘homework’ to some children over the summer holidays, it can actually help them enjoy the summer more and make them feel more prepared for the upcoming academic year. Plus, it’s a great way to start important conversations as a family by discussing the stories that a child is engaged in.

Remember, there’s no pressure to read all the books on your summer reading list. Even one book is better than none, and it’s never too late to start cultivating a new habit!

In this blog post, we explore why reading can be one of the best hobbies that your child can pick up this summer.

28th February 20231st March 2023

7 Ways to Get Children to Love Reading!

As a parent of a young child, you may feel thrilled when your child starts learning how to read. It’s a significant milestone that marks the beginning of a lifetime of learning, opening the doors to endless opportunities. However, the process of learning to read is not a straightforward one, and you might be wondering how you can encourage your child to read and help them develop their reading skills as best as possible.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Make reading a part of your daily routine.

Set aside some time each day for reading. It could be before bedtime, during breakfast, or any other time that works for you and your child. Consistency is key to developing good reading habits.

12th September 202212th September 2022

What is Digital Literacy all About?

Teach necessary digital skills with Octavo

For many teachers and parents who were born before the internet, the concept of digital literacy as a subject may sound a little strange. Aren’t digital skills something that people learn naturally as they grow older? This may have been the case up until the Millennial generation who grew up alongside the internet, but as technology develops at a rapid pace, it becomes even more difficult to keep up with new skills.

Just as children can learn new languages much easier than adults, they can also absorb the language of the digital world with greater ease.

This is what digital literacy is all about!

27th June 202228th June 2022

5 oBooks to Explore the World for Elementary Readers

Explore countries, landscapes and cultures with these travel-themed oBooks

Travel books for children have the power to increase global awareness from a young age. Learning about the different countries and their unique cultures around the world can encourage a sense of curiosity among young readers, helping them expand their horizons and learn about the many wonders of the world.

With the summer months ahead of us, what better time to encourage children to read more? These 5 travel-themed oBooks will make the perfect summer read for elementary-level readers (CEFR: A2)

24th May 20221st June 2022

Octavo for Mobile: Breaking Down Barriers to Reading!

Carry an oBook through the Octavo Mobile App

Whether you’re at home, in class, or on the go – having a good book close by is always a great idea. How do you think bookworms manage to read hundreds of books a year? Next time you’re twiddling your thumbs or scrolling through TikTok, dive into the Octavo app and add another oBook to your reading list.

Here’s how you can read your favourite oBooks – even without an internet connection – through Octavo on mobile!

19th April 202219th April 2022

Where Reading Starts!

Discover the new Jump! Collection on Octavo

If you’re looking for a way to get young readers excited about books, here’s your chance! The fun-packed Jump! collection has just been added to Octavo with over 145+ educational, levelled English oBooks waiting to be read.

This collection uses high-interest non-fiction topics to educate readers from grades PreK – 3. From beginner readers to newly-fluent ones, the collection covers a diverse range of subjects that young children will love to read!

11th March 2022

How to Read and Grow your Digital Library on Octavo

Discover a world of oBooks at your fingertips

Reading books online carries a wealth of benefits to the reader. Not only are digital books easily portable, but you can also hold thousands of books at once through the device in your pocket! Having access to a book wherever you are, gives you the opportunity to increase your reading time, while saving money and space too.

With Octavo, readers can access over 1000 digital books, which we call ‘oBooks’, in multiple languages including English and Maltese.

Here’s how:

18th February 202224th February 2022

5 Creative Ways to Use Octavo in the Classroom

We all know that reading is one of the most rewarding exercises that children can engage in, but how can teachers make even the most stubborn readers find joy in their books?

It all begins in the classroom: If a student enjoys reading in class when it’s combined with a series of fun activities, it’s more likely that they will look forward to reading at home too! In this guide, we will be sharing 5 creative activities that teachers can use in the classroom to make reading more fun for their students using a digital reading platform, which will allow you to check that your students are actually reading!

For more info on how this works – check out our recent guide on how to view your students’ portfolios.