Topics Map > Pressbooks > Pressbooks Advanced

Pressbooks - How to Create Interactive Content in Pressbooks with H5P [UW-Madison]

This KB doc includes details about how Pressbooks users can create interactive content in Pressbooks with H5P.

Creating content in Pressbooks is similar to using Microsoft Word or Wordpress. Users can add rich content (text, images, and embedded videos), and users can also add interactive HTML5-based activities directly in Pressbooks using the H5P plugin. This document outlines the process of creating these H5P activities and adding them to standard Pressbooks content.

Adding interactive H5P Activities to Pressbooks

H5P is an open-source platform for creating interactive, HTML5-based activities like multiple choice quizzes, branching scenarios, and others. H5P is included within Pressbooks as a plugin, and this plugin allows to create H5P content and embed it all within Pressbooks. H5P.org is the main website for the open-source H5P project. If you are new to working with H5P, please visit H5P's content authoring guide.

Here are the basic steps to get starting using H5P in Pressbooks:

  1. Before making H5P content in Pressbooks, you will need to activate the H5P plugin within your Pressbook by navigating to the Plugins page. From your Pressbooks dashboard, click on Plugins, and then click on Activate under the H5P entry.
    An animated gif demonstrates how to navigate from a pressbook's dashboard to the plugins page by clicking on 'pugins' in the left navigation window. In the page that appears, the link to 'activate' under the H5P entry is clicked. Pressbooks users much first activate the H5P plugin before they are able to create H5P content in their Pressbooks content.
  2. Now that you've activated H5P, click on the H5P Content menu option in the left navigation ribbon.
  3. Click the Add new button at the top of the page.
    • If this is the first time H5P content is being created in the book, the user will see a message which reads: "To be able to start creating interactive content you must first install at least one content type. The H5P Hub is here to simplify this process by automatically installing the content types you choose and providing updates for those already installed."
    • Users must click the I consent, give me the Hub! button in order to proceed.
  4. The H5P “Select content type” drop-down menu will be displayed. You can use this menu to select the specific H5P content type you would like to create. The first time you use a new content type, the menu option will say Get. You will first need to click Get and then Install. Once it is installed, you can click Use.
    • Content types which have already been installed will have a blue Details button instead. Content types with an update available will have a "update available note" to the left of the details button. By clicking on the details button for those entries, users can then update that content type by clicking on the Update button. 
  5. Fill in the details on the H5P module. For example, if you create a multiple choice question, it will ask you to add the question, answer options, and click the checkbox to indicate which answer is correct. It is also recommended that you develop tips and feedback for each answer option. For more information on authoring with H5P, please refer to H5P's documentation.
  6. Check or uncheck the Display Options on the right depending on how you want the H5P module to function. Configurable options include:
    • Display toolbar below content
    • Display Download button
    • Display Embed button
    • Display Copyright button
  7. When you’re done configuring your H5P module, click the Create button on the right. Pressbooks will display a preview of your H5P module that you can test.
  8. Once you have created H5P content and are ready to add it to a chapter within your book, navigate to the edit page for that chapter. Once you're in the chapter where you'd like to add the activity, click into the place on the page where you want to the H5P activity to appear, and then click the Add H5P button in the Pressbooks editor. A window will pop up allowing you to choose the specific H5P activity you would like to add.
    Screenshot of an edit chapter page within Pressbooks. An orange arrow points to the "Add H5P" button at the top next to the "Add Media" button
    1. If you are done creating your interactive Pressbooks content and you want to embed it in Canvas, you'll follow the next set of directions in Pressbooks - How to Export Pressbooks Content as a Common Cartridge for use in Canvas [UW-Madison]

    Editing H5P questions

    After creating an H5P item, you may need to make edits or changes. Follow these steps to make changes to already existing H5P content.
    1.  Click on the H5P Content menu option in the left navigation.
      H5P content button in left navigation bar
    2. Identify the question you want to edit by title or H5P ID.
      List of H5P questions in H5P content menu
    3. Click the Edit button next to the item you want to edit.
    4. Make the desired changes to the item.
    5. Click Update to save your changes. 
      Red arrow pointing toward the update button

    Other resources

    Pressbooks is a Learn@UW-Madison supported tool. For technical support questions, or to request a consultation over Zoom, UW-Madison users can contact the DoIT Help Desk.

    Additionally, Pressbooks (the vendor) has a number of other resources available for reference. Both the Pressbooks user guide, and the Pressbooks YouTube channel are great sources for further information, tutorials, and guides to help new users. 



    Keywords:
    content, authoring, pilot, pressbooks, h5p, write, book, interactive, multimedia, 
    Doc ID:
    84557
    Owned by:
    Learn@UW Madison in Learn@UW-Madison
    Created:
    2018-08-07
    Updated:
    2024-01-02
    Sites:
    DoIT Help Desk, Learn@UW-Madison