Thing 15 Presentations – Slideshare and Prezi

This week it is all about Presentations. Those type of presentations that are done through wiz bang websites like Slideshare. I will admit to you all that I have never done a presentation before so software like Slideshare and Prezi were very new to me.

So first up I went and started my explorations on everything to do with Slideshare. What I found was an interesting online slide hosting service where anyone who wants to can upload a file of a presentation using various file formats like PowerPoint, open office and pdf. As my fellow library colleague, Kate said “A lot of people use Slideshare as a source of ideas and information”. With that statement in mind I can easily see where Slideshare could come into action with regards to working in libraries. Just by using the website you can view and stay in touch with other likeminded library professionals. I did take full advantage of the Search box. I typed in a few key words regarding library content and took some time in reading some of the library based presentations that had been uploaded to the Slideshare site.

I do personally think it’s a great to keep up to date with what other library peers are discussing worldwide.

With Prezi I had some understanding of what this application was. A number of our Liaison Librarians have used Prezi for their own presentations. One thing I thought was great when delving into further examinations of Prezi was that it was a web based presentation tool which had added features of an Ipad viewer along with the zoom able canvas. Prezi takes on a new meaning when it comes to how things are done with presentations. I can remember the old traditional slides or the OHT’s that we had when I was in school.

I took the time to watch the introduction to Prezi clip that I found on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxhqD0hNx4Q

I like that Prezi is an alternate application to PowerPoint. When I was on the Prezi site I managed to go and do some exploring. I decided to go and watch some Prezi presentations that were done by fellow ACU library staff.

I also took the time to view Ned Potter’s - ‘The how to make a great Prezi, Prezi’. Thanks to Kate for suggesting this.

A Prezi that I found interesting and wasn’t library related was the following

http://prezi.com/oopubqldmd6i/syria-the-basics/?utm_source=em0nl0idmatter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gro

Another Prezi which is library related I found interesting was

http://prezi.com/bhahoanus1b7/gsa-induction-talk/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=prezi_landing_related&utm_campaign=prezi_landing_related_author

After looking at both applications and at Ned Potter’s “prezitation” (this word seems somehow fitting)

 I can honestly say that if I were working on a presentation I would turn to something like Prezi. I found the information given on the site to be informative and easy to follow. It gives me hope that someone like me could make a Prezi document J