Glogster and Prezi: Not Just Alien Babble Anymore

Dynamic Duo of Graphic Representation

Photo courtesy of onirishroad.blogspot.com

            I’ve recently come across two awesome, FREE services that have multiple potential uses in an English (or any) classroom.  Have you ever wanted to do a collage exercise without hauling in 5000 magazines, scissors (yikes!), construction paper and glue?  Glogster allows students to make interactive posters online.  Here is what appears to be a culminating project during a book report unit.  I can see a peer critique element being so awesome when coupled with this site.

Photo courtesy of lauratech-2010.blogspot.com

            The downside of Glogster, is that anyone can use it.  That doesn’t sound like a downside, but when people can post their innermost feelings coupled with their favorite (explicit) songs, some…we’ll call them “interesting…posters get made.  I’m sure there is a way to limit exposure to the more risqué posters, but I haven’t found it just yet.  I think the best bet would be to make a class account and have the students log-in directly to that.  They also have a section specifically for schools that covers a plethora of different topics (both core subjects and problems associated with school-age children).  Even if you don’t use it, looking through it will fascinate you.

            We’ve all had a PowerPoint unit (or sat through one) where everyone’s presentation looks like the same format with different information.  As a teacher, I feel we are already close to spiraling into a black hole of depression.  To avoid letting PowerPoint be the straw that convince the camel to commit suicide, check out Prezi.  What I love about Prezi, is that instead of making a slideshow, you get to build a presentation that is visually dynamic and can be geared specifically toward the subject at hand (and yes, that means more than having a relevant background). 

Photo courtesy of instrucatbles.com

            Click here to get a taste of what these things can look like.  Personally, I think they look absolutely beautiful.  The downside is that if you use the free online version, you had better have some awesome internet speed.  Fortunately, there’s a discount for schools and you can generally convince your school to pay for an account.  Once again, even if you don’t use it for class, you should definitely check it out.  They have plenty of reusable prezis that I’ve already used with great success.

            Check these out and let me know what you think.  Also, if you come up with specific ideas for how you want to use them, please post so we can steal from you!