Presenting in the 21st Century

With the advent of the internet there is a wealth of information on any topic imaginable. So it should only follow suite that to share this information in an organized format an internet based tool should be developed. There are numerous web-based applications with which to present information to a multitude of audiences – from high power business presentations to a simple Mother’s Day card manipulated in unique, and sometimes exotic, formats.

In examining the presentation tools I was specifically searching for something that was easy and fun to use in an educational setting appropriate for elementary students. Many of the tools I viewed seemed like they were web-based versions of Microsoft Powerpoint, such as Prezentit (Prezentit, 2009). Someone who is familiar with using Powerpoint could easily use this application. The main difference I found was the fact that any presentation is accessible as a website instead of a file that needs to be transported from place to place.

One tool that really impressed me was Animoto (Animoto, 2010). This tool takes video clips, photos, and text and will put it to music in a visually engaging format. There were plenty of sample videos to view, however there were no real tutorials demonstrating how to use it. From what I could gather the person wanting to use this site compiles all of the information and various media then sends that to the people at Animoto to compile into a dynamic show complete with musical accompaniment. Of course this type of presentation media, though visually stunning and obviously professionally produced, does not come cheap. In today’s economic environment, especially being a teacher, money is an obstacle. I think this would be a great way to engage students in a topic, but I’m not sure if the benefit would outweigh the cost since a different presentation would have to be created for nearly every content topic covered.The one that I found the most interesting and easy to use was Prezi (Prezi, 2010). The tutorial walks the user through a step-by-step process in setting up a new presentation as well as how to manipulate the on-screen devices. Prezi allows the user to present the information in a non-linear format of pictures, text, or video. The tools for manipulating the project are very simple by allowing the user to zoom in or out, tilt, embed video, frame like information, and sequence information through a numbered linking device. There are numerous samples and tools available to view and use, but the best part about this tool is that it is free to sign up for the basic plan. I think this is a great tool for the classroom as it will keep students engaged with the dynamic screen motion, plus it would be easy for students to create their own presentations.

References:
Animoto. (2010). Retrieved September 12, 2010 from http://animoto.com/

Prezentit. (2009). Retrieved September 12, 2010 from http://prezentit.com/

Prezi. (2010). Retrieved September 12, 2010 from http://prezi.com/index/