The Positive Pieces of Prezi!

By:

Katy Burkhart

Jessie Black

Amanda Brown

Kristi Small

Danielle Strauss

Nicole Ayers

What is Prezi?

Prezi is a web-based presentation tool that is similar to a Powerpoint, except Prezi allows you to navigate a single canvas, rather than multiple slides. To start a user needs to create a free account at http://www.prezi.com. Then, the user can choose from multiple templates to begin crafting their presentation. Prezi is flexible enough to use with any topic or content area of the users choice. The unique thing about the Prezi tool is that a presenter can engage their audience with a visually appealing presentation. The tool utilizes creative movements that navigate from a central screen to supporting details that are located in different areas of the canvas. 

Below is a tutorial for the tool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp1iqZQH5vI

Applications to Teaching and Learning

This tool can be used in many different ways in the classroom by both teachers and students. Knowledge can be demonstrated or presented based on the users preference. It can used in history and social studies in many exceptional ways. Some examples include timelines, biographies, current events and issues, geography, and economic content. 
http://prezi.com/oxbs9ucnqhe1/biography/

The link above is an example of a Prezi that demonstrates the use of biography in a presentation.

http://prezi.com/htku9g4xpugj/history-timeline/

This link shows an example of a Prezi used as a timeline.

http://prezi.com/xbiog0o3kuqv/chile/

This link shows how Prezi can be used as a part of a geography lesson. 

Supporting Teachers and Students in the Classroom

Here are several links to resources that teachers can use to incorporate Prezi into their social studies curriculum:

1.) http://ictacrosscurriculum2012.wikispaces.com/file/view/PREZI+lesson+plan.pdf This is a PDF file that is intended for pre-service teachers to learn how to use the Prezi tool. It gives creative ideas about how one can introduce Prezi in their classroom. 

2.) http://prezi.com/ipwuexxkuavd/prezi-4-social-studies-lesson-plans/  This link shows five examples of lesson plans in the Prezi format. 

3.)http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/view_lesson_plans?id=6256  This link is a lesson idea for upper grades to incorporate many technologies including Prezi. 

4.) http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/blending-past-with-today-30887.html  This link provides a lesson plan in which students use Prezi as an introduction to a unit of study.

5.)http://suite101.com/article/classroom-lessons-using-prezi-presentations-a366208  This is an article that explains how Prezi works and ways to incorporate it into a classroom.

References:

 http://prezi.com/

http://youtube.com/

http://google.com - images obtained from Google search