Technology Tool 2: Prezi (SWOT)

About:
This website allows students to create their own presentation to showcase what they have learned.  Prezi allows for enhanced transitions throughout a presentation, making it more engaging and "movie-like".  Students who are beginners with technology can choose to take advantage of one of the preloaded templates and add their own information to it.  Those who are a bit more tech savvy can show off their skills by creating a presentation from scratch, including personalized backgrounds and transitions.  The website allows the instructor to see the process and the product of student learning.

How This Tool Aligns to UDL Principles:

• It provides multiple means of engagement by promoting expectations that optimize motivation while also optimizing individual choice and autonomy
• It provides multiple means of representation in that students are able to customize the display of information and highlight patterns, critical features, and relationships through the use of transitions within the Prezi 
• It provides options for expression and communication by allowing students to use multiple tools available in the program to create their presentation

SWOT Analysis:

Strengths:

• Appeals to students who are both strong in technology use and those who do not have much experience with technology
• Students are able to create an engaging presentation that is a step up from a traditional PowerPoint
• Only those with a direct link to the presentation can view it

Weaknesses:

• In order to take advantage of all that Prezi offers (video and audio uploads for example), you must pay a monthly fee

Opportunities:

• Students can create multimedia presentations exhibiting what they have learned
• The Prezis can be viewed by the instructor or presented by the student

Threats:

• If the website is down, students cannot access their work

Implementation:
This technology tool has several methods of implementation into a classroom setting.  For the obvious implementation, it is a great way for students to present information in a dynamic way.  The presentation can either be viewed by the teacher and taken for a grade, or the student can use it as an aide when giving an oral presentation on a certain topic. Another way this tool can be utilized is by allowing students to collaborate and create a Prezi together.  Each student can be responsible for a certain section, making the group project more of an individualized approach to grading, so that certain students cannot piggyback on the successes or failures of others. I have included the link to a Prezi I created so that you may see an example of its dynamic possibilities.  You can view it here.