Task 4: Reflecting on Prezi Presentations

This week saw us look at 'Presenting Learning'. Presentations are about finding the best way to communicate ideas to an audience for a purpose. All to often presentations stray off topic or are just not effective at communicating information; we've all sat through a bad PowerPoint. This weeks reading 'Audience and Purpose' prsents the idea that PowerPoint is not always the default option, there are other ways to publish and broadcast ideas. It also talks about the importance of 'knowing your audience' so you can communicate effectively. As mentioned, the most obvious tool for this is good old PowerPoint. PowerPoint is a highly effective communication tool if used properly, but more often than not it ends up being done completely wrong. However, just as the reading suggested, there are other tools available. We were also given the options of exploring Prezi, Glogster and Thinglink. As it costed money to join Glogster and Thinglink, I chose to explore Prezi for this weeks reflection. I am already familiar with PowerPoint and am a big believe in trying new things. Overall I found Prezi to be successful, but it does have a few major drawbacks.

A Technological Overview Of Prezis:
Prezi is free (for the first month) zooming presentation tool and its presentations are available online or downloadable, and the paid version allows you to download the off-line creation tool and use it offline. It allows you to create a global perspective with your work, as opposed to PowerPoint which is linear. The Zoom function also allows you to provide more detail into the presentation, such detail often gets muddled up in a PowerPoint.
Prezi also allows you to ad in images, links, videos and music. 

The Layout, Functions and Setting for Prezi

The layout and program structure of Prezi is simple enough and the instructions are clear to follow. The left sidebar allows you to choose which 'bubble' you edit (listed by numbers in the order of viewing). The 'bubbles' allow you to change the font, colour and size of your text, as well as lets you place them wherever you choose.  There is a function that lets you edit the shape of these 'bubbles' (seen top left) and in the bottom left the "Edit Path" function allows you to re-draw the viewing path; so instead of 1, 2, 3, 4 you might change it to 4,2,3,1. The customize button allows you to change the template and background to suit your topic; I chose the basic "Creativity" template for this task. Next to the Customize button is the 'Insert' function. This is what bring your Prezi to life and makes it interesting for viewers. It is here the user can add images, videos, music, links.. anything they want really. This is a straightforward process and has a lot of potential for the classroom, as students can completely customise their Prezi. 

The sharing of Prezi is similar to that of a Google Document. Once finished there is a share button and you are provided with options. The link allows the Prezi to be publicly shared, though the user can edit whether or not just anybody can edit the Prezi. This has the potential to be used as a collaborate learning tool. However to make the Prezi private you need to be a full member and paid the fees.
To cutomize you can invite people to view your Prezi, this would be good to create a class list so students could easily login and access a Prezi. 

However, Prezi does have its drawbacks. Aside from requiring payments for ongoing usage, it often stops working and cannot be used offline. During the Prezi exercise in class it was apparent that many of my peers were unable to access the Prezi network and were therefore unable to create one. This would cause major problems if it was used in a set task.This is why my overall recommendation would to to use something like PowerPoint when presenting. Although Prezi does provide a unique learning opportunity, the access glitches and fees out-way the good. PowerPoint is easily accessed and comes with all the same functions. 

Learning Outcomes Of Prezi Presentations: 
Prezi Presentations has a lot of potential to be used in the classroom. Currently I believe that there is no point using it due to the fees and glitches, but if those issues were to dissipate then this would be a great alternative to PowerPoint.   

• It gives students an exciting alternative to PowePoint - new tools will get their attention. 
• Provides a presentation platform that is non-linear
• Has the ability to be completely customised to suit the presentation, even allowing the user to effortlessly circle back to a point 
• Allows viewers to zoom in and out to focus on a piece of infomation
• Can easily embed videos from Youtube, this is great as a lot of schools block Youtube and therefore links are useless. 
• Caters for collaborate learning. 

Using Prezi In My Pedagogy:

 Within my subject areas of English and History I think an improved Prezi would be very useful. I especially like that it allows users to circle back to a point, or use a central idea and branch off it. This would be useful in English if we had a topic like movie themes because the Prezi could essentially replaces the 'brainstorming' activity usually used to start off an assignment. By setting the privacy settings to allow for other people to edit and add to a Prezi, it become easy to share ideas about a singular topic. The great thing is that you can just keep adding more 'bubbles' and arrows, allowing for the topic to expand as much as you need; while still being able to interconnect ideas. 

Models: