Prezi Presentations

GYM on Prezi

Above is a simple interactive presetation called a Prezi. A Prezi has some similar characteristics to a powerpoint, however as you can see it also has some differences. When using a prezi, you are able to present information in a way that is interactive and visual, and it is alot easier to group specific information together while holding a student's attention.

When creating a Prezi, you are able to control the movement, images, and text throughout the presentation. This allows for total control of movement, size of text and other key factors of a presentation.

Prezi's are a digital tool that come uner the principle of "Synthesis" in the "Big6" learning theory. When using a prezi, users have total control fo the material that is used in the presentation, as well as how the presentation will look, move, and present information.

Prezi's offer a great alternative to powerpoint, as students may become accustomed to powerpoint eventually. However, when creating a Prezi for informative purposes, such as in the classroom, it is important to remember that the information being presented is the most important part of the presentation. It would be easy to get carried away with all the movement and functions Prezi offers and draw focus away from the data. In my classroom, i would keep the Prezi simple like the one i created above, get still interactive.

You can create your own Prezi by clicking here.

PowerPoints

Powerpoint was basically the founding program for interactive technology in the classroom. It is an extremely interactive and visually stimulating program which holds a child attention and introduces them to the world of technology.

Powerpoint presentations offer students the chance to stop writing down notes from a blackboard or whiteboard, and record information from an interactive source. This way, students attention is usually held for longer and students are interested in seeing what new slide transition or text movement will be used. This way student's are fully focused on the powerpoint and not on other outside factors such as other students.

Powerpoint offers a range of different applications and functions, which enable it to be a very useful teaching tool. These functions include: inserting and designing graphs and charts, inserting text, pictures, movies, hyperlinks, as well as slide animation and transition to name a few.

When using powerpoint in my classroom, i would ensure that the information and data I am trying to teach is still presented in a way the students could learn it. I would try to not overdo the animations and movement, as this may cause students to focus on that instead of the information, yet at the same time include enough interaction to keep my students alert and responsive. I feel powerpoint is a powerful teaching tool for now and in the future

Wiki's

Previously we have looked at both websites and blogs. We have established that websites are great teaching tools when direct and factual information needs to be presented, and blogs are a great teaching tools as students can comment on posts and ask questions relating to the post. However, a wiki is a totally different program which offers great benefits to students and teachers.

A wiki is a type of web document which allows visitors of the site can edit and change information that has been previously posted on the site. Visitors can edit information that has been posted by other indiviudals. By clicking the edit button, the webpage become a type of word document allowing the visitor to change the informatio. Once finished, the visitor clicks saved and the document is transformed into a web page once again.

Wiki's relalte to the learning theory " Big 6" in the aspect of "Synthesis". Wiki's allow information to be transformed numerous times, by many different members of a group. Once the information has been transformed, it is presented in an organised manner.

Wikis allow information to be edited and reedited by many different people. Intergrating wikis into the classroom would be very effective when it comes to group tasks, as student can gather all their information onto one site, and they can add or edit information on the wiki as they gather new knowledge about the task. However, the disadvantage with wikis is that because students can edit information other people have posted, some students may disrespect this priviledge and post inappropriate information. Therefore, it would be necessary for a teacher to overlook the wiki and ensure they are being used effectively and correctly.

Websites

When students are looking through blogs, wikis and websites, it may become quite confusing to them. To some students, all of the above may seem the same. However, wikis, websites and blogs have distinct features which seperate there purpose and presentation.

A website is an internet site where indivuduals can access to view information. The types of information are endless : entertainment, news, videos, sport - you name it, and a website will have it.

Websites have different features from wikis and blogs. As previously discussed, an individual may comment on individual blog postings, and in a wiki students can edit the information presented on a page. However, generally on a website, viewers of the website cannot comment on individual postings. The website will usually have contact details (email address), where the viewers of the site can comment on the material.

As the content cannot be commented on or changed by visitors, a website is a great tools for teachers to use. Teachers are able to present information that they personally know is factual and correct on a website and not have to worry about a student changing the information, such as on a wiki. If a student does have a question regarding the content, they could directly ask their teacher or email the teacher.

Click Here to view the website I created on www.weebly.com. This was a very easy site to understand and the process of crating a website was catergorised into steps for easy

MindMaps

In a classroom, students are constantly exposed to different information regarding topics, and they need to "connect the dots" and see how one piece of information relates to the next. Mindmaps are a great tool which allows students to visually see how information regarding a topic is connected. There are many different benefits of using mindmaps in the classroom, such as the maps are visually stimulation, organise data clearly fro students`, as well as being interactive for students.

To the left is a simple mindmap completed on www.text2mindmap.com, looking at the Subject Managing E-Learning. As you can see the information branched off from Managing E Learning is organised into categories. Another website that is useful when creating mindmaps is http://bubbl.us/edit.php. MindMaps are a great tool and an essential part of any teachers technological skill.

What is a Blog?

A blog is a type of website which presents information from an author in " Posts" which appear on the page. Only the author of the blog can create a post, however visitors to the blogs can post comments and feedback regarding an individual post or the entire site. Posts can include any information the author of that website wants to post. This includes facts, experiences, views regarding particular areas, the opportunities are endless.

With the advancement of technology and funding in the Australian schools system, now is the time to begin the integration of Blogs and Website into our schools. By using a Blog in a classroom setting, teachers are able to present information regarding the subject area they are teaching. Blogs would also be useful regarding assessment tasks, as teachers would be able to post important assessment information and dates, with students visiting the site able to post comment and questions to the teacher. By doing this, every student that visits the site is able to see the questions and answers other students have already posted, therefore each student gains more knowledge about the task and requirements. Teachers can also post useful hyperlinks and video footage regarding a specific topic. Blog's relate to the Engagement Theory principle of "Relate", as the student's can interactive with each other's blog in a group, post comments on each others blogs, and can be used to present information learnt in visual form.

The opportunities are endless when using a Blog and educators that use Blog sites will be benefiting both themselves and the students.