Week 5 Activities & Reflections
1. Powerpoint
1. Powerpoint
So it’s been around the block a few times as one might say, and became boring to me, personally. Not in a completely negative way just that in modern times, there is so many ICT tools to play with that are amazingly advanced and exciting that it seems Powerpoint has been left behind.
Basically, Powerpoint is a software package that can be used to present information in a slideshow which generally supports an oral speech. It can include text, charts, graphs, sound effects, videos and so forth. The specific aim is to make a powerful impression on the intended audience and it can be useful in the classroom in plenty of different ways and by presenting many different forms of information. To view a good example of a Powerpoint presentation, click on this link Powerpoint Presentation.
In more recent times, PowerPoint has faced upgrading and now it includes many features including the ability to embed text, linking and interactivity with audio, images, voice recording and video even. It’s extremely easy to use and just as a prime example for classroom-based use it can be used to create a narrated stand alone presentation with the students voice recorded in the slide, it allows for all students to ‘get rid of those jitter bugs’. Some more examples include an analysis of a process, to create interaction (choose your own path) story books, create interactive quizzes, concept maps, brain storming and yet again the list goes on.
So for this generation of learners, I believe this tool is fantastic and being the most widely used presentation tool in the world, it also doubles due to the simplicity.
Prezi is about ‘helping people understand each other better’ (retrieved from http://prezi.com/about/). On the website they refer to presentations being 50 or more years old and stating that they are not evolving especially since slides were around in those days and to change all that, Prezi came about. Prezi is a collection of one’s ideas emerged into an online space where you can see how they relate. Its aim is to connect audiences and its web-based maps have brought a new beginning to how we navigate through map books. A person can zoom out to see the big picture or zoom in to see the detail. It was launched in April 2009 and since then the company has grown massively into 2010 and 2011.
There are 3 basic products that include Prezi Desktop, where you can create, edit and show prezis from your own computer without internet access, Prezi Meeting, where you can work with anyone, anywhere to edit and show prezis with up to 9 other users by generating a link or Prezi for iPad, which is a portable version (application).
So how did I go using Prezi? I think it's ridiculously awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is because as Teachers we often need to analyse long sections of text with our classes and the ability to zoom in on images or text helps students focus on what the important bits are. The ability to do this also can help to expand on meanings of particular words and help students associate words with images, diagrams and texts. Even though I haven't had a chance to make one up myself yet, here I have two perfect examples of Prezis below, enjoy!
3. Glogster
Glogster ‘Poster Yourself’ is a social network that allows people to create their own personalised interactive posters, or glogs, for free. In simple form, it’s a graphical blog that acts as an interactive multimedia image and others say it’s an online scrapbooking tool. There is not only Glogster available, in fact there is already an Educational Glogster website which has been created that promotes itself as being a collaborative learning platform for teachers, educators and schools. It features Glogs (the interactive posters), collaborative class projects and a school-level teacher management of students and classes. It provides a private and safe student environment, engages students in fun and creative activities and supports national educational standards.
There are many benefits of using this online digital tool as an educational resource including some of the following;
- A fun learning experience
- A new way to express creativity
- Private, secure, safe virtual classroom monitored by teachers
- Drives new interest levels around subjects that may have been seen as ‘boring’ in the past
- Adds needed audiovisual aspects to traditionally text-orientated subjects
- Fosters teamwork and collaboration with classmates
- Increases drive to be independently creative
- Unlimited shelf life
- Improves teacher-student relationships
- Keeps teachers and students up to date with modern technology
I personally believe that Glogster is great and can be used in limitless ways to present ideas and information to my class and for my students to do the same back to me. Last but not least, Glog’s are also versatile in that you can embed them into a professional blog for example, then it is easily accessible wherever you are. For the most part I think that I would use Glogs in my teaching context for a student assessment. For example, pick a topic (Australia) and create an online interactive poster with your findings.
My Glog
A Glog I can definately use in my classroom..
Glogster SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
- Highly interactive so students will be interested
- Free tool
- If registered you can save and publish your blog, provide comments/feedback
- Easy to learn, use & edit
- Provides plenty of examples and different design options
- Can upload video clips from Teacher Tube, School Tube etc.
- View options to have it seen as public or private
- Promotes creativity and individuality
- Students able to express feeling and opinions on topic
Weaknesses:
- Need to be online to view
- Upload time
- Must register
- Age restrictions (13 years & up)
- Need to save frequently
- Some glogs are not excepted in schools due to content (inappropriate images)
Opportunities:
- Class options available
- To create and publish projects
- The ease of use with text, images, sound and videos
- Assessment can be authentic
- Students can collaborate but commenting on peer work
- Students are able to view different internet options available
Threats:
- Inappropriate use of material
- Schools can have youtube or glogs blocked
- Online chat not private
- Cyber bullying / Cyber stalking and so forth can occur
- Publicly shared
My Glog
A Glog I can definately use in my classroom..
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