Presentations: Alternatives to Powerpoint
Scratch is an online programming tool which students can use to create interactive activies such as games, stories, and videos. This is a great tool for students that have trouble doing oral presentations. Instead of an oral presentation or a powerpoint, students could create an interactive game for classmates. This could also be a great tool for students who have trouble writing stories, as students could create an interactive story or storyboard instead. It would also be a great tool for kinetisc learners , as it allows them to put a game together and then play it. There are no age restrictions on Scratch and it is free to use. Anything created in Scratch can be easily shared online.
Prezi is a Web 2.0 tool for creating interactive presentations. Like Powerpoint, prezi user can create a slide for each topic, but Prezi looks more like a mind map. Prezi is easy to use and very interactive, making it a great tool for visual learners . It's also more eye catching than a typical presentation, which makes it more interesting for students to watch. Students can share their presentations and collaborate on Prezi. Prezi does require users to be above 13, and requires anyone under 18 to have premission from a legal guardian.
Comic books can also be good replacements for powerpoint. MakeBeliefsComix is a straightforward easy to use comic strip creator. Sharing is limited to email. Another great tool (which is more education orientated) is professorgarfield.org. while it is aimed at students in Kindergraton to Grade 8, it is still a great tool for creating games and comics. Students can also explore different subjects and there is a section for students learning English.
