Powerpoint, Prezi and Glogster

This week was another full on week between learning about PowerPoints, Prezi and Glogsters!

Powerpoint

I have used PowerPoint before and find it to be a neat and easy way to present information to an audience. I have completed presentations where I was at the front of a group and had a speech prepared that related to the PowerPoint next to me, as well as having a group presentation where I voice recorded over my particular slides and sent it to the next person to record over their slides (it was through distance learning at CQUniversity). I found both of these to be easy and professional and the voice recording was especially helpful for the long distance education.

PowerPoint has developed alot since it was first introduced with user being able to

• Create a customised layout to suite there presentation
• Change any colours/fonts/sizes of text as well as inserting new text boxes
• Inserting pictures instead of just clip art
• Inserting charts and diagrams
• Inserting a video
• overlaying voice recording for the whole or part of the slide show as well as music
• Inserting hyperlinks for further content exposure
• Customise any animation on the slide (eHow, 2012)

Power point can be used effectively in classrooms to draw attention to main points in a class or to finalise the important parts of a lesson. Students can easily use PowerPoint to create their own presentations and would feel comfortable with the ease that this tool has. I have made a short PowerPoint on the overview of HPE and essential learnings for year 9 as well as an image slideshow.

Overview of hpe, essential learnings from Milo Jansen

car driving from Milo Jansen

Prezi

After playing around on prezi the benefits really stated to show. It would be a great visual presentation to use in class and surpasses the powerpoint in more ways than one. The prezi that you make can have any number of templates as well as the option for you to make one from scratch. As you make your presentation you can view the page as a whole or zoom into any part that you want to emphasise, alternatively you can go through the presentation like a powerpoint where you have made a story line that the presentation follows. You can add links, videos, diagrams, music, images and even powerpoints. I have created a prezi about My journey to become a teacher. You can collaborate, share and present your prezi online, and if you want to upgrade can also work on your prezi offline. This tool seems to be a very easy and flexible way to present information in a large variety of ways, as well as having the advantage of being interactive and letting students work at their own pace if it was an individual activity.

Glogster
The interaction that is possible for students with glogster is awesome. A teacher can register up to 200 students with their own glogster account where the students can safely create and view glogs that their classmates and teacher has made. Much like prezi glogster has the advantage of being very visual as well as interactive. You can upload pictures, text, graphics, audio and video to create an online poster. Tracy Blazosky has created a great introduction on how to use a glogster as well as some of the benefits that I have listed.

Glogsters can be embedded into a wiki, blog or class website. You are also able to make your glogster public, which is how I found this interesting glog on Healthy Living and nutrition that could be a good starting point for a year 8 HPE class on being aware of what is in foods. 

That wraps up powerpoints, prezi's and glogsters. I have really enjoyed learning about the different ways to use each of these tools. I can see myself using prezi the most in class, however the ease and online safety that comes with glogster could be more beneficial when getting the kids to interact and create. Its a tough decision between the two, but I think I will stick with prezi as my tool of choice between these three. Thanks for reading :)

References

eHow. (2012).How to Use Microsoft Office PowerPoint. Retrieved 29 March 2013 from: http://www.ehow.com/how_2301070_use-microsoft-office-powerpoint.html

Blazosky, T. (2009). Detailed tutorial on glogster EDU- online teaching and learning tool. Retrieved 1st April 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=80NISdsoouE