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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Jun 26, 2011 by Teacher Education |
| Overview: |
Prezi is a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. Text, images, videos and other presentation objects are placed on the open canvas and grouped together in frames. The canvas allows users to create non-linear presentations, where users can zoom in and out of a visual map. The creator establishes a path or sequence for viewing all the items on the canvas. Prezi can be used from an Internet browser, a computer desktop, or an iPad. It allows greater flexibility in visual presentation and movement between ideas than the standard powerpoint format. |
| Learning Goals: |
Prezi seeks to help people understand each other better by bringing ideas into one space, seeing how they relate, and building connections.
Students will be able to create attention-grabbing presentations with zoom capability and embedded video and images that can communicate connected ideas to their audience. |
| Target Student Population: |
Although Prezi is designed for those 18 and older, you can use it if you are under 18 years old and older than 13 years and have obtained consent from your parent, teacher or school (or other guardian). It is most likely to be adopted in college and university level classes. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Basic computer skills, knowing how to download/install program, save and edit files, and follow instructional videos on how to design presentations. |
| Type of Material: |
Web 2.0 presentation, design tool |
| Recommended Uses: |
Prezis can be shared for collaborating with others. Prezis can be sent to non-Prezi users for sharing information and ideas. Prezi can be be used to capture ideas in brainstorming session, to develop innovate presentations, to establish goals and objectives for work or personal use, to layout information for planning projects, and for researching and revising learning content.
Prezi has elements for both in-class and out of class use. |
| Technical Requirements: |
The Prezi editor will perform best on Windows computer, followed by Mac OS X, and will be slowest on Linux. Fast processors and lots of memory help more than a strong graphics card. Every major modern browser is supported. |
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| Strengths: |
Prezi is free to use and easy to learn. It is based in communicating ideas more effectively than standard, linear slides. It educates users about visual literacy skills as the they develop their presentations. Information about developing a strong presentation, no matter the curriculum area or content focus, is divided into three areas: Get Started, Go to the Next Level, and Share your Prezi. All of these areas have "cheat sheets" that highlight the key points. Visual and audio examples with steps are available in a series of clear and concise video tutorials. For educators who want their students to develop presentations, all the information needed to get started and do well is available at the Prezi site. Prezi also provides self-direct and community support for users. There is an online manual, a FAQ page, a known issues page, a discussion forum, PreziSupport on Twitter, and premium support for paying users.
The instructional videos on how to use the tool are excellent, clear, and concise. |
| Concerns: |
There is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning where the user may not know how to find the design wheel or get started, but after exploring and testing the design screen, the tool is fairly easy to use. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
Prezi offers multiple uses for communicating ideas, plans, curriculum content, and more for educators and their students. For educators being able to zoom in on images or text at appropriate times helps students focus on key points. Zooming out at appropriate times allows for expanding the meaning of the content or idea with additional words, images, or links. Prezi's ability to set a pathway for the sequence after the ideas are collected on the canvas is reasonable. Furthermore, since learning is rarely linear, Prezi allows users to leave the created pathway at any point to explore additional content. An example of this would be developing and exploring timelines with Prezi and then being able to see the entire timeline and key dates as planned and as needed. You can explore many examples of Prezis by others and several are available for you to copy and change for your own teaching needs. Because this tool is anchored in the development of visual literacy and communication skills all who use it and experience improve their understanding of these skills as well as the actual content in the presentation.
The presentation software is designed to "help people understand each other better," that is, to create presentation that communicate ideas more effectively than standard, linear slides. It harnesses the visual aspect of learning and offers the presenter rich tools in sharing ideas visually. |
| Concerns: |
The effectiveness of the tool in actually communicating that which is intended would depends on the skill level of the presenter and background knowledge of how audiences would interpret information. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The Prezi web site is clear and organized. Key areas are tabbed at the top of all pages. At the bottom of all pages there is information about Prezi and links for using Prezi on your computer desktop, for meetings, or with an iPad. Information links for using Prezi, getting involved an online Prezi community and Prezi Help are also there. On the Prezi tool bar, users can click save at any time to force a save. However, Prezi actually automatically saves the user's work periodically and it displays the time of the last save. This is thoughtful and important feature. The ability to create Prezis online or on your computer desktop allows for choice and supports a range of learning styles. With practice, the presentation tool becomes much easier to use. There is an artistic element to the design process as well, so this is a great tool for budding designers or visual artists. |
| Concerns: |
The current version of the Prezi iPad Viewer app does not support pdf display. Prezi indicated almost six months ago that it is focused on texts, frames, images, and paths. There has been no recent response to update this concern since then.
It is important to save work, especially when using the online version, as using the back arrow to get to a previous page can wipe out any progress that has been made. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
The major benefit of this tool is that one can create animated, engaging presentations rather than linear powerpoint bulleted slides. There is also a great feature where you can share the Prezi online and have others assist in its design. |
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