Presentations, Presentations, Presentations!!!

This week in Managing E-Learning, we looked at 

POWERPOINT, PREZI and GLOGSTER.

Those names sounded intriguing, and it was certainly a pleasant surprise to find out the AMAZING things these platforms can do!

Anyone who’s seen or used a computer before has probably experienced a POWERPOINT (part of MICROSOFT OFFICE) in some way or other – be it following one through a presentation, or creating one themselves. It has proven to be an invaluable PRESENTING TOOL for teachers and students alike!

POWERPOINT
STRENGTHS -       Comes as standard with MICROSOFT OFFICE on most or all PCs -       VERY EASY to use (don’t need much technical knowledge to navigate and create) -       Can be modified to create SIMPLE or EXTREMELY complicated presentations, depending on ability and preferences -       Great MULTIMODAL, VISUAL TOOL for supporting presentations -       Completely STUDENT-AUTHORED	WEAKNESSES -       Can be very TIME CONSUMING to create complicated presentations, with endless options and modifications -       Unless using hyperlinks to other slides, PowerPoints progress in LINEAR fashion (so difficult to jump between slides, information and ideas)
OPPORTUNITIES -       Students are able to augment their PRESENTATIONS with visual information, audio, images and video -       Students are able to EDIT and MANIPULATE PowerPoints to their preferences (and style of presentation) -       Can be used as an ALTERNATIVE MODE OF ASSESSMENT to speeches and reports -       Encourages students to use MULTIMODAL and creative ways of presenting information -       ENGAGING for students as it is an interactive, customisable technology -       Gives students a sense of OWNERSHIP and pride for their work -       Meets students at their technological INTERESTS and their abilities	THREATS -       Copyright and PLAGIARISM issues could arise when using images, videos, information and audio from the internet -       Easy to spend a lot of time creating and modifying PowerPoints, which could DISTRACT students from the classroom task (visuals for a presentation, or an information report)

For students and teachers alike, PowerPoint is a VERY USEFUL TOOL. For almost every lesson I have taught so far, I have made use of PowerPoints to DIRECT and AUGMENT my lessons (with sound, animations and videos embedded, of course!). I have uploaded a Grade 10 Science PowerPoint to my Wiki HERE: http://pshs11chemistry.wikispaces.com/home

 PREZI is an online tool to make DYNAMIC, POWERPOINT-LIKE PRESENTATIONS. While PowerPoint is somewhat restricted in animated and sequential capabilities, Prezi allows slides to be incorporated, animated and zoomed in/out of in a GLOBAL, non-linear fashion. 

Prezi is like POWERPOINT 2.0!

PREZI
STRENGTHS -       FREE service offered through prezi.com for computers, and iTunes apps for Apple products -       EASY to use (don’t need much technical knowledge to navigate and create) -       Can be modified to create SIMPLE or EXTREMELY complicated presentations, depending on ability and preferences -       Great MULTIMODAL, VISUAL TOOL for supporting/delivering presentations -       INTERACTIVE and NON-LINEAR, allowing for non-ordered global and detailed views of information and slides -       Completely STUDENT-AUTHORED	WEAKNESSES -       Can be very TIME CONSUMING to create complicated presentations, with endless options and modifications -       Requires a considerable amount of RAM and STORAGE capacity to run the program and save presentations, as well as an up-to-date version of FLASH (so is restricted in effectiveness on netbooks or iPads/tablets)
OPPORTUNITIES -       Students are able to augment their PRESENTATIONS with visual information, audio/narration, images and video -       Students are able to EDIT and MANIPULATE Prezis to their preferences (and style of presentation) -       Can be used as an ALTERNATIVE MODE OF ASSESSMENT to speeches and reports -       Encourages students to use MULTIMODAL, interactive and creative ways of presenting information -       ENGAGING for students as it is an interactive, customisable technology -       Gives students a sense of OWNERSHIP and pride for their work -       Meets students at their technological INTERESTS and their abilities	THREATS -       Copyright and PLAGIARISM issues could arise when using images, videos, information and audio from the internet -        Easy to spend a lot of time creating and modifying Prezis, which could DISTRACT students from the classroom task (an informative, interactive presentation of information)

As a teacher, I believe that Prezis could be a FUN and INTERACTIVE way to introduce new information or explore new topics. However, as they are more TIME CONSUMING to produce than PowerPoints, I wouldn’t use them on a regular basis – but instead use them for special presentations, assessment/topic explorations, or just simply a fun and different lesson!

 I have made a QUICK and EASY Prezi (no images, I’m sorry!) about the process of schooling life. Check it out HERE, to see some of Prezi’s simple features: 

http://prezi.com/mxbdw9x2t0ir/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

A lot of students fall by the wayside and DISENGAGE from schoolwork because their CREATIVE interests are not catered for. But never fear – GLOGSTER is here!

GLOGSTER
STRENGTHS -       Very interactive, and completely STUDENT-AUTHORED -       GLOGSTER website offers free, easy-to-use templates -       CUSTOMISABLE to almost any colour, theme and layout -       Online, public PUBLISHING creates a sense of ownership -       Can imbed videos, photos, text and graphics (MULTIMODAL delivery of information) -       Can be EDITED at any time by the author -       EASY to use (don’t need much technical knowledge to navigate and create)	WEAKNESSES -       So customisable that students may become DISTRACTED by the setting up, and spend less time on content -       Requires a considerable amount of RAM and STORAGE capacity to run the program and save Glog pages -       Easy to unintentionally post PERSONAL INFORMATION AND IMAGES and breach COPYRIGHTS of videos, information and graphics -       Glogs are POSTED PUBLICLY, unless settings are changed
OPPORTUNITIES -       Can be used by students to create and present information, or a WHOLE-CLASS creative activity culminated in a single place -       Can be MONITORED by the teacher for inappropriate, personal or unreferenced content -       ENGAGING for students as it is an interactive, customisable technology -       Gives students a sense of OWNERSHIP and pride for their work -       Students are able to EDIT and MANIPULATE Glogs to their preferences and abilities	THREATS -       Easy to spend a lot of time customising and personalising, which could DISTRACT students from the purpose (to present information) -       Risk of students UNSAFELY posting personal information and images -       Copyright and PLAGIARISM issues could arise when using images, videos, information and audio from the internet

I believe that Glogs may have a place in our classrooms – if they are APPROPRIATE for the CONTEXT/TASK, and are appropriately MONITORED by the classroom teacher. They can be used for SIMPLE in-class tasks, or set as part of a larger ASSESSMENT item. If students are aware of the plagiarism and personal safety CONCERNS involved with online publishing, and the Glogs are set to private/group, Glogs could prove to be a NEW and EXCITING way to involve students in their learning!

I’ve made a simple Glog about myself using one of the pre-made templates. 

Access it HERE: http://sarlaw.edu.glogster.com/this-is-me-9962

So PowerPoints, Prezis and Glogs are POWERFUL PRESENTING TOOLS 

for students and teachers alike... 

Do I approve, and will I use? ABSOLUTELY!!