Application Wars I: The Phantom Prezi

During the course of this academic year I have been introduced to a number of new and (in some cases) exciting applications that can help add a variety to my teaching. In this two part blog I will Be discussing these applications and deciding whether or not I will be using them in future.


Application 1: Prezi

Prezi is a 'freemium' application found at http://prezi.com/. This application offers a new and innovative way of presenting lessons. Unlike the standard powerpoint presentation, which is a very formal and basic way of conveying information, a Prezi presentation allows for a lot of creativity and finesse. As a simple substitute for a power point a Prezi can provide a more visually stimulating experience for the learner. The transition and highlighting (zoom and enhance etc) functions are far more advanced than any powerpoint available. These animations can be used to really catch the attention of a class and hold that attention through smaller subtle changes. To limit Prezi to a mere powerpoint replacement would be doing it a disservice. The sheer variety of animations, shapes and other tools that are available really allow for a user to run wild. This would be a very good application to use for a creative class in the areas of art/design.

However for a more 'wordy' subject like law this application falls short. The time it takes to firstly get acquainted with the systems and then to actually create a presentation outweighs the visual benefits. I would much rather hold a class' attention through my actions than through flashy transitions that took hours to perfect. 

Aled's Verdict: Not for me.

Application 2: Explain Everything.

Explain Everything is an application found on the App Store for £1.99 that can be used on an iPad. This application allows for the detailed creation of video presentations that can be exported to other devices. The application works a lot like MS Paint in that you can either draw freehand or add text and pictures to a black page. Where this application excels however is the editing functions. This app allows you to record your writing (either text or freehand) and play it back as a video. This could therefore be used as a great presentation tool that does not take hours to perfect. It also includes a number of options for the text/drawing. Different brushes, shapes, wordarts and colours can be chosen to spice up the presentation.

The major drawback I found during my interaction with the app is that it is difficult to make your presentation look anything other than 'amateur'. By this I mean the freehand drawing looks out of place with pictures and text. Any presentation I tried to make ended up looking like an MS Paint drawing which is not the type of presentation you want to be giving to post 16 year olds. I do however feel that this might be my artistic ineptitude and someone with more talent could really flourish.

Aled's Verdict: Only for those who can draw (Not for me).

Application 3: Pinterest

Pinterest is the final application of this part and is another good tool for visual teaching. Unlike apps such as powerpoint and, to an exten, Prezi, Pinterest give the teacher a freedom to go in any direction they wish. Whilst standard presentation tools allow for a very linear progression through the lesson, Pinterest allows the teacher to pick images from a 'board' in any order they wish. This allows for easy transition back to previous points as well as being able to move freely through the lesson. Pinterest also provides a scope for various extra reading. To provide extra reading on a powerpoint the teacher will either have to create extra slides, use speakers notes or provide links at the end. A Pinterest board is open to view at any time for the students, and additionally any pictures that aren't visited during the lesson can be accessed by the students at home. This also allows the teacher to miss out information without scrolling obviously through a number of slides.

The disadvantages of Pinterest however, for the subject of law, outweigh the advantages. Law is not a very visual subject and would not lend itself well to this format. It would be a tedious exercise to find and present visual representations of every case cited. Also, the linear nature of a powerpoint suits the linear nature of how laws are developed. Finally, to navigate freely through a Pinterest Board would either require a lot of practice or visually distinct images. As law is very 'wordy' this would be more trouble than it is worth.

Aled's Verdict: Not for me.

Well that's it for part 1 of my epic saga, please tune in next week (or whenever i get around to doing it) for the second installment!