Evaluating Web 2.0 Presentation Tools

When previewing tools to use for my presentation, there were three that really stuck out to me as quality choices.  Prezi 2.0, 280 Slide, and SlideShare all seem like they would be easy to use and beneficial to helping me to publicize my endangered species presentation to the web for others to view and learn from.

Prezi 2.0 seemed extremely easy to use, especially after viewing the tutorial.  I really like that it is a free account.  It also seemed that you had artistic freedom to create an original PowerPoint presentation unlike other that were created from Microsoft PowerPoint.  I like that it had one large canvas to work on and that the tools were located in easy to use places.  I especially liked the editing wheel and how you could use it with text, frames and graphics.  It was also nice that to add text you just had to double-click and a text box appeared.  It seems very user friendly and fun to work with.  I am slightly concerned with the reliability because I have read posts regarding the fact that work was lost or that the professor could not open the presentation.  This does make me rather nervous about choosing this Web 2.0 tool for my presentation. 

It does seem to have tutorials available which would be necessary to get the full benefit of the program. There is a set of videos available to learn more. The equipment required seems to be nothing more than access to the Internet.  You do not need to have PowerPoint already on your computer.  I like that you can upload it for file sharing with others and that you can embed it into a blog. Like mentioned above, it is a free service and I could access it from wherever the Internet is available.  My file could be worked on from home or school and I would not have to worry about a USB drive to transfer the work. The nonlinear format is also very captivating to the audience and you have more creative freedom to design an animated show.  I know that you can embed videos and pictures into the presentation as well.  Using Prezi 2.0 sounds like it would be fun and motivating to the audience, I am just nervous about the comments that I read from our instructor regarding the reliability issues.  I will not be using it for this presentation, but plan on using it for other purposes where the projects are not as extensive.

The second presentation tool that I explored was 280 Slides.  This is also a free service and seems very easy to use.  It is comparable to PowerPoint and lets you create a slide show on the Internet.  There are themes and templates all ready for you to use. I really like that it has a centering line for when you are moving around text and graphics.  It really helps to line things up.  It also is very easy to download videos and pictures directly from the Internet.  I did not found sound options with this program, and I was disappointed because it has so many other bonuses.  The final thing that I really liked about 280 Slides was that you could download your final presentation to a PowerPoint like file.  This makes an easy way to save your slide show, especially if you are going to present it in a place that might not have Internet access. You can also use SlideShare with 280 Slides to allow your presentation to be edited by others.  Finally, you can email your presentation or even get an embedding link to put it directly on your personal website or blog.  This tool has a lot of possibilities.  The only thing that it seems to be lacking is sound capabilities and the fact that in order to share it, you have to use another tool like SlideShare.

The final presentation tool and the one that I like the best is SlideShare.  This Web 2.0 tool allows you to upload your already created PowerPoints to the website.  You can then share them with others, where they can  view your work or you can choose to keep them private. After you upload your PowerPoint, you will also be given a link to embed your presentation into blogs, websites, and social networks.  It is a free service that does not even require a download.  Once you have uploaded your PowerPoint, you can add audio to match your slides, video like YouTube videos or notes.  It seems like the best way to get a PowerPoint onto the web and into the viewing eyes of others.  People can leave you comments and you can even work to make your slide shows better based on real feedback.

Another comforting fact about SlideShare is that it was recently voted one of the World's Top 10 tools for education and elearning. It is regularly used by the Whitehouse and other US government agencies.  If that isn't enough, it is among  the 250 most visited websites in the world.  This really makes me feel good about the reliability.  The kicker for me isthat the CEO of SlideShow is a female and she was named one of the top 10 Women Influencers in Web 2.0.  This credibility makes me trust this presentation tool to the fullest degree.

I really feel that using PowerPoint to start my presentation and then uploading it to SlideShare to add audio, video and notes will be my best option.  I really like the sharing capabilities and the fact that I can use it easily with the PowerPoint that I already utilize in my classroom.  It is easy to use, free and dependable.  The ratings and feedback from the use of this presentation tool are very positive.  I am excited to use it to enhance my presentation.  SlideShare gets my vote for the best Web 2.0 tool!