presentation tools

A veritable plethora of presentation tools exist online and as apps for mobile devices, and the implications for education can be both time-wasters and time-savers for educators. Let me explain: as I started playing around with available tools, I became enthralled with all of the possibilities, started playing around, and lost track of my real goal, which was to get a sense of what the tools could do, not create something new for my classroom (or myself) with each one. So, as not to waste your time as well, let me get right to my two favorite tools:

ThingLink allows the user to add interactive elements to an image. In my example below, I've provided simple textual analysis of elements of the painting, but users can also add audio, video, web links, or other images. For teachers, this tool can provide an interactive way for teachers to lead students to instructional content. What I made is something that a student analyzing images (paintings, advertisements, photographs) as part of a history, English, or art class could create to show his or her understanding of visual composition and purpose.

Blendspace probably has more uses for teachers than students. It provides templates for content and easily allows users to search and insert content from Youtube, Google, Flickr, and others, link to a webpage, upload a file or image, or create a quiz. I created a Blendspace on MLA formatting where I embedded two Youtube Videos, uploaded two documents I usually give to my students, and linked to a website. All of the information is now in one place for students, and the quiz at the end assesses whether or not they have looked at the content provided. Now, instead of spending 15 minutes of class time explaining this to students, they can look at it in their own time and as many times as they need to. In my classroom, I would probably link this Blendspace to a QR code at the top of every paper assignment I give out.

the future is here!

It used to be that writers such as H.G. Wells held the market for Science Fiction, but sometimes these classic futuristic stories don't seem quite as "fictional" as they once were: enter, the real world of robots. Automated machinery in assembly lines has existed for decades, but new advancements in the fields of computers and robotics make these intelligent machines nearly ready to be marketed for private use. Educators have some very real possibilities to look forward to, especially as libraries across the country start to invest in Makerspaces with 3D printers (a very neat kind of robot!).

Art classes used to focus on a student's skills with paint and mediums such as clay, but 3D printers allow students to create computer-generated artistic designs, a practical application that could prepare students for fields in special or visual effects, engineering, or programming. The same applications exist for students in science or computer classes.

I also like to imagine a library where a robot can have a brief exchange with a student, then be able to recommend a book and take the student to the appropriate place on the shelves or request the book through an interlibrary loan. Such engaging and new technologies might be exactly what it takes to get reticent readers suddenly interested in the process of selecting books to read. Note that these robots would not be replacing school librarians, but could supplement a human's knowledge and experiences with a database of thousands of book options.

There are some pretty obvious applications for robots and coding in computer classes, because instead of just writing code students could test and "see" their coding and evaluate its success. My mind is taking me to some somewhat unrealistic places here, but what if English students could program a robot to act out a Shakespearean monologue?

Ubiquitous access to these technologies is still years in the future, but it's worth bringing to the attention of educators who might be able to petition for funds or at least keep in mind what the future could bring to their students.