No iPad needed to use the Providence eLearning Books!!!!

Providence eLearning has several of the books you normally can get for the iPad on iBooks available through udemy.com.  For $10 you can access the videos as well as the audio narration and footnotes, if they were available in the book, (iBook cost is $9.99) as often as you like with lifetime access.  So, if you don't want to make the hardware investment, you can enjoy the video lectures on your PC or laptop.

Enjoy!!!

Double Review - Providence eLearning Digital Publications: Pride and Prejudice & Frankenstein

I'm behind in posting, but more importantly I am behind in my reviews. 

For the record, I am paid to review books from Providence eLearning.  However, I am under no obligation to review them here.  I do that for your benefit.  And, I think they are a valuable asset to the homeschool, high school teen. 

Being well-read means, to me, that you have read the Classics.  You know, those books that have been read over and over again, year in and year out - that's a classic. And, it you can tie technology into it, well then, I'm all in!

Last September, I had the privilege of reviewing Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  I think this story has a bad rap, thanks to the movie industry. The only movie close to the story is from 1931.  And it missed the mark.  Frankenstein is a monster (in size) book and it took a while to review.  While I was not thrilled with their choice of having a woman narrate (in the audio narration) this amazing story of a man, writing about a man found, in search of a man made, running from humanity.  This is a masculine story, and I will be honest, this was my ONLY disappointment about this book.  I learned so much, from a literary perspective - about the author, the time period in which this classic was written and literature itself.  Professor Lasseter has a great way of tying old literature in with the modern world.  The video production work was very well done, too.  I highly recommend that all BOYS read this.  Girls could learn a thing or two, too, like this girl did.

Next, in March, I had the glorious pleasure of rereading and reviewing one of my very favorite books, Pride and Prejudice.  The audio narration was SPLENDID!!!  The narrator dramatized the reading, changing voices for the various characters and had an English accent, just as I would have expected.  It felt like Jane Austen was reading the book to me as she would have read it.  Again, Professor Lasseter did a most excellent job of bringing to the surface much of what is not spoken in the book.  Really, after reading this book as many times as I had in the past, you would think I had it all figured out.  He brought several things to bear I had missed in the past.  All I can say is Bravo!

I really wish there was more material available of this caliber.  I just finished reviewing Le Morte d'Arthur, my husband's very favorite book.  It was spectacular.  They abridged the book, in way very pleasing to this homeschool mom.  I will follow up later with a review of that...stay tuned.

Too Good to Pass Up! Special on Providence eLearning's Macbeth iBook

If you have an iPad and a high schooler who has to read Macbeth, I highly recommend using this iBook.  Several other iBooks have also been created by Providence eLearning, a subsidiary of Primera Technologies.  
The books are enhanced with audio AND video.  In the case of Macbeth, the text is read by William Lasseter, one of the English Lit professors at Providence Academy, who is also a Shakespearean actor.   Each act is followed by a lecture by Mr. Lasseter.  
Right now, Macbeth is available in the iTunes Store for $0.99.  The book is normally $9.99.  This is a great way for kids to access Macbeth with a professor right in the book.  It also makes Macbeth accessible in that the audio of the book is included, so the students may hear all the words pronounced correctly and read as if the reader were actually listening to a play.  There is also an actively linked glossary which explains characters and settings.  This format is particularly useful if you have a child with dyslexia or attention issues.
The folks at Providence mentioned to me that they may make a new book available at a lower cost each month. 
Check out this book on the iBookstore:

Macbeth William Shakespeare & William Lasseter Category: Literary Criticism

DISCLAIMER:  While I was compensated to review Macbeth last year, I get no kick-backs for any sales, whatsoever.  I just love the product and want others to know about it.

Video Case Study

If you would like to see a video case study my family did for Providence eLearning, here you go!



We had a really good time working with Providence eLearning.  My kids are really enjoying the materials.