Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Thinglink Interactive Images

Thinglink is a very cool application for creating interactive images. Simply upload any photo or image to Thinglink, and add tags to label and embed hyperlinks. The educational possibilities are limitless. Teachers can upload and tag historical images for a social studies lesson, tag famous paintings for an art lesson, or tag a map or images related to a school (or virtual)field trip. In my example, I uploaded a photo I took of the Massachusetts State House, and added a few tags that lead to more information about the building, the architect, and the state flag. I also embedded the image below, so that you can see who easily you can view and interact with images embedded in a blog or classroom webpage. Teachers can also allow students to edit and add links to images for a more collaborative style of learning. For example, students could be asked to add tags identifying elements of a map or historic landmark. Thinglink images can be shared on blogs, wikis, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and via email. A free subscription to Thinglink allows a maximum of 50 image uploads; educators can upgrade to a discounted monthly fee-based subscription for expanded features.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Alternatives to PowerPoint

If you can use PowerPoint, you can easily learn to use any of the web-based tools for creating presentations. And you should. Online presentations are better for collaborating and sharing your presentations, and are more likely to engage your audience. Some of the advantages for educational applications include the fact that online presentations are completely mobile (no need for flash drives or emailing files), are compatible with any device, including iPads and other handhelds (Apple vs PC problems solved), and allow audience participation (perfect for peer review and student feedback). Here are a few excellent alternatives to PowerPoint:
Although geared for business, the free Lite version of SlideRocket is ideal for education. Students & teachers will find inspiration from the gallery of sample presentations and creative themes and can easily enhance their presentations with the intuitive tools for adding graphics, transitions, and music. You can easily import an existing PowerPoint to SlideRocket, and of course, view it on your computer, iPad, or iPhone.
Prezi is ideal for visual learners or anyone seeking to create a unique presentation. With its “zoomable” canvas, “zebra” editing tools, and navigational paths, Prezi is fun and easy to use, and a powerful tool for cloud-based presentations. I really like that there is an educational version, which promotes sharing and reusing presentations and provides a forum for inspiration and learning in an educationally-appropriate community. There are articles,lessons, and forums for educators and students to explore and share. I have been amazed by how creative students can be when allowed to create their own Prezis. Here’s my own Prezi (not nearly as imaginative as what a typical 6th-grader can do) about technology at Blanchard. You can view Prezis anywhere, including with the free iPad app.
Google Presentations is a great option for Google fans and any schools using Google Apps. With a library of creative themes and the ability to import slides from PowerPoint and open and edit any other types of presentations, Google offers a lot of flexibility and power. All your presentations are automatically saved and stored in Google Drive, so they can be very easily accessed and shared from anywhere, with any device. Watch my slide show below to see Google Presentation in action and learn more about its features, including the ability to embed YouTube videos:
If you are still loyal to PowerPoint but want to be mobile, you can download the SlideShark iPad app, upload PowerPoint files for free, and view and share your presentations on an iPad. Most features, including graphics, colors, and animations transfer with SlideShark, making it a must-have app for anyone using PowerPoint and an iPad.
Another option for sharing PowerPoint slides across any platform and with any device is SlideShare. While some features, including animations and transitions, may be compromised, SlideShare is a simple solution to the dilemma of students using software or devices at home that are incompatible with school computers. Simply upload files from PowerPoint, Keynote, Open Office, or even documents and videos, and your files will be in the cloud, easily accessible and available for sharing.