Move over PowerPoint …
As a Learning Technologist I am constantly looking for technologies that will enhance learning but that are also easy to use, engaging and free … and my latest find (thanks to Helen Davies) meets all of these criteria (IMHO).
Prezi.com is an alternative to the much used in education PowerPoint. It is web based BUT the final ‘presentation’ can be downloaded and used offline. In it’s own words, Prezi lets you ‘create zooming presentations … to talk about the big picture … and those devilish details’ and if you watch the introductory prezi about Prezi on their websites homepage you will see what I mean. For me, learning how to use it was a bit like moving from Office 2003 to 2007. I ‘got’ it but I had to think a bit before I got into the swing of using it.
Unlike a lot of ‘tools’ I look at, this is one I will definitely be coming back to again … to use as an alternative to PowerPoint when making a face to face presentation but also to use as another way of presenting information to an audience who can’t see me but who I want to interact with what I am presenting them with … like this example prezi I created to promote a forthcoming event … http://prezi.com/91941
(Hint: 
and you’ll need Flash Player 9)
As always, all comments gratefully received 
Tags: Learning Technology, powerpoint, prezi
June 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
It’s a bit good isn’t it?
Thanks for the heads up on this – I looked at it during beta then forgot about it again.
It’s now been added to my site: http://sites.google.com/site/technologyenhancedlearning/Presentation-Tools
Ta!
P.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I’d never come across prezi before but it looks really interesting. For those of you reluctant to let go of PowerPoint and if you use Office 2007 there is a free plugin from Microsoft called pptPlex which allows you to achieve a similar effect (a short description/video and download link is available here http://scottish-rscs.org.uk/newsfeed/?p=2203)
and if you really want to wow the kids next year here is some information on how to navigate through your slides using a Wii controller http://www.officelabs.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=59
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
Great pointer to what looks like a really interesting tool.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Hi I run Global Gateway (for the stuff we offer for ICT support to school links, see http://www.globalgateway.org/toolkit We’re currently promoting the exciting new Global Teenager Project in Wales (and in England) see http://iearn.org.uk on behalf of one of our partners, iEARN. We’re also working with Newport on some training for local authorities on using Thinkquest (as a VLE).
I’d love to participate more deeply in this forum. We’re talking with JANET (Steve Hogger) anyway about how to reach schools more effectively with innovative collaborative tools, and how to move web 2.0 into schools in a meaningful way (ie with an attached community rather than a theoretical one).
We also support eTwinning throughout the UK – see http://www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning
We need to update our networks with this sort of stuff. Glad I ran across something so spot on!!