3 more education technologies

Last week, I posted about educational uses for iPads, as well as descriptions and uses for certain applications in the classroom.  I chose the iPad off of the "top 100 tools for learning 2011"list compiled by Jane Hart, and, today, will discuss three more technologies from this collection with educational applications.

Prezi

Prezi is a software for developing presentation, which differs from presentation interfaces such as Microsoft PowerPoint in its use of "Zooming User Interface."  In presentations on Prezi, users can pan and zoom in and out of different areas of their virtual presentation, which can consist of text, images, and/or videos.  The relative size and arrangement of each area of the presentation is controlled by the presenter.  Prezi's goal is to set itself apart from other presentation software by providing a more interesting, intuitive method of presenting through a more dimensional visual display.

Audacity

Audacity is a sound recording and editing software with various digital effects and plug-ins.  It can import and export sound-bytes in most formats, including mp3, wav, and aiff.  It provides clear recordings of normal speech, music, and singing and allows for sound filtering.  Audacity could be a great tool for pre-reading and/or pre-writing students and students with reading/writing disabilities or difficulties.  It also could serve the education application of being used in speech therapy.


Storybird

Storybird is a story-creating software that centers around artistic expression.  Students start a story based on a chosen picture.  The technology encourages creativity, while giving users a starting point from which to formulate their stories.  Its online format makes editing and sharing easy, and its vast art collection makes it fun and idea-inspiring, particularly for school-age children.