The Prezi Experience

"Prezi" is a tech tool to create interactive presentations.  It is similar to PowerPoint, but the dynamics are slightly more dramatic in a sense that the viewer does not just click from square slide to slide.  Instead, presentation mode takes the viewer to a template that requires clicks to zoom in and out from each "slide" to the next.

While PowerPoint does have some features to jazz up a presentation, Prezi is an easy way to design an engaging presentation for students.  This might be a great way to hold students' attention for a history presentation, an introduction to a writing workshop, or even a science lesson. 

The students would also benefit from this easy-to-use tool.  Since all the editor must do is choose a template and fill in text and images, the tool is accessible to young students at the elementary level, as well.  Students might choose to use Prezi for group presentations, or perhaps the teacher might require a Prezi to outline an essay before writing the first draft.

I used my first Prezi to explain to a third party how my charity event came to fruition:
http://prezi.com/7r0pudykeh9i/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

A fellow classmate, on the other hand, used her Prezi as personal reflection that she chose to share with an audience.  The travel template she chose for her presentation dove-tails quite nicely with her lyrical style and thought-provoking insights on the concept of exploration and discovery:
http://prezi.com/aks0jdploeib/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Overall, Prezi is a valuable tech tool for students and teachers alike to create engaging and visually appealing presentations!

The Wild 3-D Printer

2/10/2014

The day I saw a 3-D printer, was wild.

A view of one of the 3-D printers.

Bill Darry, a librarian and printer coach at the Westport library, passionately described the capabilities and features of the printers in detail.  He advocated for "Makerspaces" in schools to promote curiosity, tinkering, discovery, and innovation.  I was blown away by such a tremendous scientific advancement that I had been oblivious to only days before.

I watched a young Tyler, probably an 8 or 9-year old, as he worked diligently to create a plastic trumpet mouthpiece with the printer.  His eyes focused intently at the task at hand and lit up as he created a few quicker pieces: musical notes.  I was entranced.

Printed after a full 360-set of photos were taken of this boy's head.

An X-Box-like scanner took measurements of Bill Darry's body, which were then scaled down to create this figurine replica!

The 3-D printer would be a monumental addition to schools.  The potential it carries to encourage student creativity in a digitally saturated age is unparalleled.  Moreover, the entire concept of a "Makerspace" also seems like it would foster excitement and interest in schools.  If the children are naturally drawn to something fun like this, I believe that a tremendous amount of learning could take place.

What an amazing technological improvement that clearly is not finished evolving! I anticipate that the device will be over 100x more advanced within the next decade.  If we started out with a computer the sized of an entire room and ended up with products such as the iPhone and other devices with the word "air" in the title, I imagine this printer will be unrecognizable and limitless in potential sooner than we think.


For more information about the Westport Library Makerspace, visit: http://westportlibrary.org/services/maker-space

Wiki Creation

   "The Hummingbird's Wings"

   The tech tool, "Wiki" is a hub on which anyone can create a mini version of a website.  There are options to upload photos, videos, files, and external links.  My first impression of this tool was frustration, that may or may not have been due in part to my computer's slowness or the initial confusion of what it was exactly that I was doing.
   Once I moved beyond that, I found that it could be quite fun to create a "Front Page" with foundation information and then insert links to other wiki pages I created.  This provided a great place for me to upload my poetry! I found it very simple to copy and paste my poems onto blank pages and then upload some of my photography to accompany each work.

    This tool would be an effective addition to a Writing Workshop in that it would provide older students with a "digital portfolio" for their works.  They could add clip arts, photos, or scan in artwork and share their collection of wikis with the class.  Although I still value the concept of physical artwork and writing displayed in the classroom, the Wiki tool might be a way to bridge the classroom to home gap, as well.  The student's work can stay in the classroom during the year, but his or her parents can easily view it and even comment on the Wiki Hub!

To check out my Wiki Poetry Page, "The Hummingbird's Wings," click the link below!


https://thehummingbirdswings-lettersfromkay.pbworks.com/w/page/92458500/FrontPage