Digital Technologies Three

 The digital tools that I explored in Digital Technologies Three were all presentation tools.  Each of them just as wonderful as the other... though, I must admit, I prefer to use Prezi and Glogster.. but that is probably just because I've used PowerPoint so much!! Who knew that such wonderful programs were available?? Certainly not I!!!  :)  If you get a chance to explore them I hope you find as much enjoyment in them as I did!!!

PowerPoint:

I have been using PowerPoint for as long as I can remember.  As a recent primary school student, PowerPoint was one of the first programs I was ever introduced to.  And what fun I used to have with them too!  As a student myself I always loved being able to create a visually appealing presentation, and they were always so easy to make to!  One of the things that I always really appreciated about PowerPoint was the clipart and wordart that it offered.  There was no need for me to have to search the net for images (very good at such an early age) because all the images I could have needed were made available to me through the program.


PowerPoint is an excellent presentation tool - but can be very time consuming once it comes to adding all of the animations.  However, for primary school aged children, PowerPoint makes an excellent introductory tool to creating presentations.  The potential seems endless.


Prezi:

While I was exploring this digital tool I decided to try it out by making my own.  It can be accessed here http://prezi.com/ntuhskbfo6dy/once-upon-a-time/ This was simply for my own benefit in learning about the tool and the different things I could do within it.  I think that Prezi is a great digital tool for presentations, it is very easy to animate it and this makes it instantly more entertaining and engaging.


I think that the students would enjoy using Prezi as an alternative to PowerPoint as it is so easy to indivualise!  If I could create something without having to follow the tutorial than the students will catch on to it very quickly!  I can really see me using this digital tool in my own classroom.


Within the classroom I believe that a Prezi has the potential to be used as a webquest.  Where the teacher specifically designs a task or a unit for the students to complete on the computer at their own pace.  Because the Prezi makes each stage very separate and distinct, I believe that it would make the perfect program for such a task.


As well as this the students could create their own Prezi to present a project or information to the class.


Another option is for the students to create a digital story that can be shared with other people. 


This is truly a wonderful program to play with!! I look forward to introducing my own children to it.


Glogster:


http://www.glogster.com/


If you get the chance to try this program out DO IT! It is fantastic!! It is just like creating your own scrapbook page digitally.  It has all of the things that student will love, pictures, images, videos and music.... and you can play with all of it to make it your own!

I would definitely use this digital tool within my own classroom.  The students task would be something along the lines of creating a poster to teach the rest of the class about an animal of their choice.  Or a poster to advertise a business they make up.  The possibilities are endless.  I can definitely see this program being popular with all students!

Its only downside may be how time consuming it can be!!