The Challenge
Tell us about yourself and the nature of your work
I’m Themis Chronis, a physics and astronomy professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. While research is a big part of what I do, my real passion is finding better ways to teach.
This is why I started creating interactive physics ebooks for my students to help make learning more engaging for them.
What challenges did you face before using Kotobee?
I wanted to create highly interactive university-level physics ebooks with simulations and other custom interactive elements. Finding software that could support all of that kind of tech was already challenging. Finding one that also hosted the books so my students could easily access them was even harder. I was surprised to find that no other solution offered everything together.
Kotobee was the only solution that handled both ebook creation and hosting in a single platform. It gave me all the tools needed to design high-level physics content exactly the way I wanted.
The Solution
What potential solutions did you explore that didn't work out?
I spent quite a bit of time looking, but every platform I found was missing something. Some offered ebook authoring, others offered hosting, but none combined both. In the end, Kotobee was the only solution that checked all the boxes.
How did you hear about Kotobee?
I came across Kotobee while searching online for ebook publishing solutions.
What drove you to choose Kotobee?
The decision was pretty simple for me. Kotobee was the only solution that handled both ebook creation and hosting in a single platform. It gave me all the tools needed to design high-level physics content exactly the way I wanted.
What specific aspect of your ebook are you most proud of?
Honestly, everything! love that the books read like a natural conversation between two people, but I’m just as proud of how interactive they are. Throughout the ebooks, students can explore Simphy simulations, custom Python- and Java-based widgets, interactive quizzes, and embedded presentations. This is besides the practical tools that fill the ebook, such as the unit converters that encourage them to experiment rather than simply read.
If I had to pick one feature, though, it would be the Simphy simulations. They bring something genuinely unique to the learning experience by allowing students to experiment, explore different scenarios, and interact with physics concepts in ways that traditional textbooks simply can't offer.
The Future
What are your plans for the future?
My goal is simple but ambitious: to create the best physics textbooks ever created. Or at least, try to.
I want every ebook to speak directly to my students and guide them step by step with clear explanations, visual demonstrations, interactive experiments, and numerical examples. I've never liked textbooks that throw pages of equations at students without helping them understand what those equations actually mean. If my books can make physics more approachable and enjoyable to learn, then I'll consider that a success.
