Reflection on Group 3 Tools

Group 3 Tools: Presentation Tools:
The Writing is ANYWHERE on the page!

 Powerpoint, Glogster and Prezi

 

Having read about glogster I was very excited to use it as I couldn't wait to be able to put content anywhere on the page.  This has been a thorn in my side since looking at blogs and websites.  I want my students to be able to be more creative than just left, right or centre.  We should be encouraging creativity at every opportunity.

 

However, when I tried to use it, I found that it would not load for me.  At All!  Any site that had an example of a glogster on it, would just sit and whir at me.  This lead me to question the file sizes of glogsters!  How big are those files?  If they contain images, sounds, video, text, colours etc. Surely they are huge!  Maybe this is why I couldn't load them.  So of course, now I have to question the likelihood of being able to actually access them in a classroom.  The idea certainly sounds a good one.  Students could create a graffiti like poster showing off their findings in a more visual way than a written report could.  The ability to include image, sound etc makes the potential learning available to a range of learning styles.  Adding clickable links to websites, videos etc would also make this poster an interactive tool. 

I actually use PicCollage on my iPad which is similarly creative, although there is no way of adding audio or video.  But again it is this ability to put 'stuff' anywhere on the page that I crave.  Children are not often  linear.  How many do you see start in the middle of the page when writing or drawing?

Here is a link to a post I wrote about my experience with powerpoint: http://lovetheclassroom.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/my-experience-with-powerpoint.html  I had no idea they could be used so interactively.  In the example that Wendy Fasso put on about using powerpoints, I did find myself questioning whether or not the interactive aspects only work when they are viewed in editable mode, rather than the slide show mode.   Definitely more playtime needed with this one...

Here is a little video of a powerpoint I made where the words 'sort themselves' out.  Now I'm thinking that the students could do that part themselves directly on the screen, re-save and upload to their blogs for me to assess their answers.  (Ignore the water as a non-renewable resource, that's a whole other subject).

 

Here is another link to a previous post about Prezi: http://lovetheclassroom.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/going-to-chapel-and-were-gonna-get.html...I love these...the ability to write anywhere on the page again (insert soapbox here) is dreamy to me.  The potential for these is huge.  Upside is the ease with which they can be created. A downside could be the need to be online while editing and/or viewing.  The desktop version will fix this issue, but sadly is not free.  Of course this may not be an issue in classroom with a computer per child and super internet connection.  I can dream....
 

 Obviously my new love would be upset if I did not choose it to 'SAMR' so here goes...

 

SAMR: Prezi

Substitution: Same task, new tech	Create a persuasive brochure that provides detail about your town to be shown to potential visitors.
Augmentation: Same task, tech increases functionality	Create a logical 'path' that replaces traditional 'page turning'. Ensure that the 'global' (zoomed out) view provides an overview of the town.
Modification: Redesign parts of the task	Include text,  images and sounds that give the viewer a 'feel' for the town.
Redefinition: New tasks, once unimaginable	Make the brochure 'interactive' by including clickable links and video of (previously researched) places of local interest. Use a background image of a map that shows the town's location in relation to the coast. Present the brochure to a particular audience using email, websites, blogs or similar.

That's about it for Group 3 Tools. 

Still miffed about the Glogster...will have to try that on a different computer perhaps.

 

Over and out :)